Autograph Letters

Theatre producer (1908-1973). "Thank you so much for your letter. I entirely appreciate your difficulties and I am most grateful to you. I hope that L. E. Berman can let me have the original manuscript as I should be most grateful. / I am sorry you have not received the photographs as promised and I will look into this immediately." Not in the best of condition: creased and grubby.

English dramatist (1851-1929). One page, 12mo. "Life won't bear looking at, will it; from / "Whitewashing Julia" / by / Henry Arthur Jones". Jones's comedy was printed by the Chiswick Press in 1903. Negligible rust-staining from paperclips in one margin.

Bohemian musician and pianist. One page, 8vo, sl. batterd but the text is unaffected, and clear. "My dear Mr Masson/ Every bottle drawn by your beautiful corkscrew shall be emptied to your good health and that of your sister [presumably Elizabeth Masson, vocalist and teacher, see DNB], and you will both live in our recollection as highly valued and long tried friends. With best thanks . ..... I. Moscheles

(1762-1830), King of Great Britain and Ireland. One page, 12mo. Large florid signature "George PR", 2 inches by 4, on piece of paper 3 inches by 8. To the right and below signature: "By His Royal Highness the Prince Regent of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. / These in the name and on the behalf of His Majesty, to authorize you by beat of Drum or otherwise, to raise so many Volunteers in any County within that part of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and <...>". Slight discolouration to paper.

English comic actor (1795-1842) and manager of the Adelphi Theatre. 2 pp, 4to. Eccentric handwriting, of uncertain decipherment. "We must trouble you by return of Post to send us up the last tune but one & the finale to the Pantomime / Make Puck if you please come out of the Fairy Mounds tell Harlequin & Columbine the Chace is done. Then loves rewards and change to the last tune the Fairy Temple - Then dance & a short finale - one verse <?> & Chorus - / [...] / I hope all goes well with you. We are all alive - Let us have it by return of post".

English dramatist (1851-1929). The first, one page, 12mo, 2 December 1896, with letterhead Townshend House, North Gate, Regents Park. "If Macmillans have no objection I am quite willing for you to include Michael and His Lost Angel in your volume of plays. Will you see or write them?" The second, no date, Townshend House, Regent's Park, on deleted letterhead of the Queen's Hotel, Southsea, one page, 12mo. "I'll see Macmillan's when I am in town and will write you further - meantime I suppose you won't be publishing". Two items,

English music-hall comedian (1869-1954). Fragment, 2¼ inches square, cut from letter. "yours / Geo. Robey". Mounted on a piece of paper, 12mo, docketed "Comedian / known as Prime Minister of Mirth / Made many successes in Pantomime / Invested as a Commander of the order of British Empire for his remarkable work in raising many thousand for war charities."

English actor-manager (1858-1939), knighted in 1916. One page, 8vo. "Dear Miss Paget. / Of course I remember you. I will be delighted to see your protege. / Yours sincerely / F R Benson". Creasing to one corner, and traces of previous mounting on reverse.

English actor-manager (1844-1912). On two pieces of paper. 2 pp, 12mo and one page, 8vo, the second piece with the letterhead of Terry's Theatre in the Strand. "Here again in Harness Thank Goodness - Royalty Glasgow next week then Brum where I hope to see you. Cannot tell you where I shall stay yet as my People are away in Wales did you see the enclosed / Kind regards to all yours / from yours / E. Terry". Postscript on second piece of paper: "P.S.

English Catholic nobleman (1847-1917). One page, 12mo. "Madam, / I beg to comply with your request for my autograph. / I am / Your obedient servant. / Norfolk E[arl] M[arshal]".

Politician and journalist (1831-1912). One page, 8vo, remains for page of album."The Executive of the Radical <?> by me to state that they are not at present disposed to meet the deputation that called upon me on Saturday. . . ". With (conjoined) a copy of the letter his correspondent sent in reply, one page, 8vo, outlining plans for a meeting at the Liberal Control Board and assuming that Labouchere would not "divide the Liberal interest".

Litterateur and Journalist, editor of the "Edinburgh Review" (1813-1895). Four pages, 8vo, foxing, text clear. Reeve has received an article by Tuckwell on "the Literature of the 18th Century . . . Its defect seems to me to be that in title, in spirit, & in substance, it is somewhat too wide & vague - an article more appropriate for an Encyclopaedia than to a Review." He would have preferrd a paper of 20-25 pages on a specific topic such as Latimer's prose. "In writing for the Reviews there is no greater mistake than to embrace too large a field" resulting in a lack of "point".

Statesman (1831-1907). One page, 12mo. "Dear Sir / Please send my parliamentary papers to Portland Place henceforward. / Yours faithfully / George J Goschen". Traces of mount adhering to blank verso.

English dramatist (1838-89). One page, 12mo, on mourning paper. "I am sorry I forgot the card. Did you get the stalls all right / In any way I can serve you / I am / Yours faithfully / J. Albery". Docketed in a small hand in ink. Minimal loss to one corner. Bearing traces of previous mounting.

Loose leaf, presumably formerly endpaper of book, 8vo, inscribed "For A.J.A. Symons from Holbrook Jackson" with address and date.

"Westminster" neatly written on a piece of 12mo paper. Beneath this, in another hand, "With Westminster's Compliments". The recto of the blank second leaf attached to a piece of paper torn from an autograph album.

English journalist and radical politician (1831-1912). One page, 12mo. "Dear Sir / I am afraid that I have no time at my disposal / Yours faithfully / H Labouchere". Slightly discoloured, and with traces of previous mounting on blank verso.

Head Constable of Liverpool. He discusses the prospect of Johnson being appointed Chief Constable of Lancashire, promising instruction and a place inat his office. He praises his active nature and describes the high opinion which "distinguished officers" have of him.

Lord Chancellor of England (1819-85). 2 pp, 12mo. "I am much obliged to you for sending me the resolutions adopted at the large & influential meeting which assembled under your presidency at Belfast to express the opinions entertained in that part of the Kingdom on the Questions of Foreign Policy which now occupy so deeply the public mind.

Politician (1826-93). 2 pp, 12mo. "Sir / In answer to your letter of the 2nd: I agree that the Charing Cross Hotel will be a suitable place for the Kentish Liberal Unionists to meet, and the hours you mention seem convenient: as to the day I think it had better be early in March than February, as there is a better chance of attendance later." Grubby, and with three pieces of gummed paper from mounting adhering to the recto.

2 pp, 8vo. "I am induced by the partiality of my friends, to offer myself as Candidate for the important Office of Chancellor, which has become vacant by the decease of the venerable Marquis Camden, & I am induced to do so with more confidence in consequence of my close official connection with The University. Should you deem me worthy of your choice for an Office so honorable and so dignified, I can with sincerity assure you that my best exertions shall be devoted to maintain the true Interests of the University.

Historian and essayist (1834-1895). One page, 8vo. He discussses Baron Tauchnitz's involvement in one of his books [probably the "Life and Times of Stein; or, Germany & Prussia in the Napoleonic Age" (Todd 1849, Cambridge, 1878)]. "As to the honorarium, I am advised that Baron Tauchnitz ought to make an offer".

British general (1838-1911). 2 pp, 12mo. "Can you tell me Miss Langham's address - / The <?> Hospital people say she has gone to K<?> / She has been appointed to the Ind. <?> Service".

Bold signature on paper cut to 4" x 1", some staining marginally affecting clarity.

Costume architect and archaeologist (died 1950). He was delighted to hear from him again, and is glad that his mother is still with him. "I may be free from my refugee after Christmas: then my one spare room would be free. You might be disposed to come down for a night [...] May the bold venture be a gigantic success".

Essayist and dramatist (1830-1877). 1 page, 12mo. "If you should be in the neighbourhood of the T. R. D. L on Saturday about 3 o'clock, I should like to see you, with any of your quaint music books in your pocket. Have you still got "the ", & "the Vicar still preaches that Peter & Poule." For the latter see "Guard Room" Canto VI." Remains of mount glued to reverse of blank second leaf.

English actor-manager (1862-1951), apparently written to an "angel". "Thank you for your letter. / It is a humorous sketch for 3 or four people lasting 23 minutes with lots of 'Punch' & a wonderfully funny part wh. whould show me off. My offer runs to Easter and all that is if only I can find what they want in advance. Voila!" Negligible traces of previous mounting on blank reverse.

Scottish lawyer and politician, friend of Walter Scott (1751-1839). Damp-staining and some damage not affecting legibility and completeness. He discusses in some detail the lease on the Cock Close Estate at Eton, and the attitude of the family concerned (Slatter).

[Real name Arthur Cecil Blunt] English actor (1843-1896). 2 pp, 12mo. "Dear Mrs Murray / I also was sorry not to put in an appearance on Sunday but I had a little work as you know to look over & after Douglas left me in the afternoon so many "casuals" dropped in that I could not well get out." He will have to give up the dinner party he had planned for Sunday, or postpone it till she returns from abroad. "I shall myself go I think to Brighton next Sunday as I can get two days of "the sea the sea the open sea!" " The letter is signed "Arthur Blunt".

English dramatist, theatre manager, and dramatic critic (1885-1959). One page, 12mo, in stamped envelope addressed in autograph. "Dear Madam / Thanks for your note; I will present myself at King's College at 5.25 on Thursday."