[Sir Walter Gibbons, theatre impressario who built the London Palladium.] Auction catalogue of his effects, with a bookseller’s bids in pencil: ‘A Catalogue of the Contents of Kensington House, Bayswater, W.2’

As the Great Depression hit Gibbons found himself over-extended, and was forced into bankruptcy. The present item is scarce. The only copy on JISC is at the Paul Mellon Centre Library. 68pp, 8vo. In grey printed wraps, and with purchase slip tipped in. In fair condition, lightly aged and worn. At head of title-page: ‘By Direction of Lieut.-Col. SIR WALTER GIBBONS, K.B.E., D.L. Following the Sale of the Freehold, and the proposed conversion of the Property into high-class Residential Flats.’ ‘Conditions of Sale’ on reverse of title. 974 lots. ‘Order of Sale’ as follows: First Day, The Reception Rooms; Second Day, Pictures, Drawings and Engravings / Books; Third Day, The Boudoir, The Study, The Secretary’s Office, The Bedroom Furnishings; Fourth Day, Silver and Plated Ware / China and Glass / Wine, Linen and the Domestic Offices’. Around half of the book lots on the second day, 300-508, are annotated in pencil with a bookseller’s bids. Loosely inserted is a slip of paper with a pencil note in the same hand: ‘clear Saturday / one lot only / 371 12/-/-’.