[ Joseph Lewis, senior conductor of the BBC. ] Autograph Letter Signed, a warm letter of condolence to the widow of composer Herman Finck.

1p., 4to. In good condition, lightly aged. Although '[w]ords at these times seem rather empty things', he feels he must write to express his sympathy on her loss: 'To know dear Herman as I knew him, was to love him - & I am ,mindful of many happy times we had together & many kindnesses he has shown me'. He asks her to be consoled by the fact that Finck 'leaves behind him a fine reputation & a grand record of service'. According to a contemporary account: 'Joseph Lewis, senior conductor of the BBC, was born in Brierly Hill Staffs, in 1878. He became famous as conductor of the City of Birmingham Choir, and was invited to conduct one of the leading choirs in Vienna. His first broadcast was from Birmingham in 1923. For 7 1/2 years he was Musical Director at Birmingham and for the last 5 has been in London. Altogether he has appeared more than 2,000 times as conductor. He has been conductor of Wolverhampton Musical Society, Walsall Philharmonic Society and Dudley Madrigial Society...A pioneer of the Community Singing movement.‘ Finck's 'In the Shadows' was one of the last songs played as RMS Titanic went down.