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This report highlights some of the fascinating and diverse items that have been referred to the Committee, as a result of which 12 items worth £7.6m have been saved for collections throughout the UK.

In 2018-19, 26 cases were considered by the Committee because the appropriate expert adviser had objected to the proposed export on the grounds of national importance. 20 cases were referred to the Secretary of State. 

Six cases resulted in acquisitions by public collections in the UK:  

  • A pair of Champagne Standard Lamps, Salvador Dalí and Edward James – purchased by the Victoria and Albert Museum
  • The Spanish Armada in the Year 1588 – purchased by the National Museums Northern Ireland 
  • Trumpeters by Nainsukh of Guler – purchased by the British Museum
  • Walton Bridges by Joseph Mallord William Turner – purchased by the Norfolk Museums Service
  • A double-manual harpsichord by Joseph Mahoon – purchased by Gainsborough’s House
  • A tear-shaped Bidri tray – purchased by the Victoria and Albert Museum

One case resulted in an acquisition by a UK university:

  • The notebooks of Sir Charles Lyell – purchased by Edinburgh University

In 2019-20, 19 cases were considered by the Committee because the appropriate expert adviser had objected to the proposed export on the grounds of national importance. 15 cases were referred to the Secretary of State. 

Four cases resulted in acquisitions by public collections in the UK:  

  • Manuscript of poetry by John Donne – purchased by the British Library
  • A large anthropomorphic crab by the Martin Brothers – purchased by The Box, Plymouth
  • A sledge and flag from Shackleton’s Nimrod Expedition – purchased by National Maritime Museum and the Scott Polar Research Institute
  • Collected scientific works in Latin by Lewis of Caerleon – purchased by the British Library 

One case resulted in an acquisition by a UK university:

  • Judge’s annotated copy of Lady Chatterley’s Lover – purchased by the University of Bristol