DRAMATIST

[John Palgrave Simpson, English dramatist.] Autograph Letter Signed ('J Palgrave Simpson') to 'Young'

Author: 
John Palgrave Simpson (1807-1887), English dramatist
Publication details: 
9 Alfred Place West, Thurloe Square, [London] SW. 6 July 1870.
£25.00

1p., 12mo. In good condition, on lightly-aged paper. Reads: 'My dear Young | Jack Calthorpe-Clayton is in the country: and I don't know when he will be home. He will be much grieved, I know, not to be here to welcome you back to our dingy old capital, when he knows of your apparition here | Yours very truly | J Palgrave Simpson'. The identity of 'Jack Calthorpe-Clayton' is uncertain. The name is certainly spelt thus, but may be a mistake for 'Colthorpe-Clayton'.

[Arthur Miller, playwright; signed Programme] Gala Performance. An Evening with Arthur Miller

Author: 
[Arthur Miller, playwright]
Publication details: 
UEA Norwich, Sunday 14 May 1989 (University of East Anglia).
£80.00

Programme, [20]pp., 4to, illus. printed wraps (partly in red). Directed by David Thacker, including excerpts from "The Golden Years", "Focus", "Death of a Salesman", Miller's adaptation of "An Enemy of the People", etc., etc. Programme signed by Arthur Miller himself ("For Esther | Arthur MIller). Enclosed Menu for dinner on 14 May 1989 at the Arthur Miller Centre for American Studies, signed "Warren Mitchell". This item derives from the Papers of Sally Worboyes who organised writing courses involving well-know TV personnel, actors, singers and writers as tutors at Fen Farm nr.

[Arthur Miller, playwright; signed Programme] Gala Performance. An Evening with Arthur Miller

Author: 
[Arthur Miller, playwright]
Publication details: 
UEA Norwich, Sunday 14 May 1989 (University of East Anglia).
£120.00

Programme, [20]pp., 4to, illus. printed wraps. Directed by David Thacker, including excerpts from "The Golden Years", "Focus", "Death of a Salesman", Miller's adaptation of "An Enemy of the People", etc., etc. Programme signed by Arthur Miller himself ("For Sally [Worboyesof Fen Farm Arts] | Arthur MIller) and several of the Cast inc. Susannah York, Timothy West, Connie Booth, John Shrapnel prob.others unreadable (but inc. playwright Brian Clark). Enclosed Menu for dinner on 14 May 1989 at the Arthur Miller Centre for American Studies, signed "Warren Mitchell".

Typed Letter Signed "Zeke Berlin", theatre director, to Edward Marsh, translator of Anouilh, Cocteau etc.

Author: 
Zeke Berlin, director (Gramercy Theatre, New York).
Publication details: 
NY, 29 Jan. 1961.
£80.00

Substantial TLS from Zeke Berlin to Marsh, 29 Jan. 1963, 2pp., sm. folio, giving information about rehearsals, the Theatre, the actors, commenting on the "idiom" in the play, music, characters. Play not mentioned but characters named reveal Anouilh's "Dinner with the Family".

A small archive mainly involving correspondence with translator, Edward Marsh.

Author: 
Marc Camoletti, French playwright, best known for "Boeing-Boeing":
Publication details: 
1957-61.
£220.00

Total: 6 items, 1957-1961.One substantial ALS from Marc Camoletti to Edward Marsh, translator, 2pp. 4to, 25 Jan.

A small archive mainly involving correspondence with translator, Edward Marsh.

Author: 
Marcel Achard, French Playwright, French Academician:
Publication details: 
1957-1961
£320.00

Total: 18 items, 1957-1961, including:One ALS, one TLS, one telegram from Marcel Achard to Edward Marsh, translator, only the TLS in French, others in English.Subjects: rights to translation of "Voulez-vous jouer avec moa" (gentleman's agreement for six months); this play "on appelle communément un 'théatre d'avant-garde'", requiring "excellent" actors like Peter Sellers; other information, including his agent's name; [telegram] "Waiting for you Stop Love".Memorandum of Agreement between Achard and Dr Van Loewen, agent, with Donmar Productions Ltd (New Theatre, London), not signed, 4pp., fol.T

Autograph Note Signed "Jules Roy" to [Edward Marsh, translator of Anouilh, Cocteau, etc.],

Author: 
Jules Roy, French writer, friend of Camus
Publication details: 
No place, 3 Nov. 1950.
£56.00

One page, 12mo, 9 lines, In Roy's small hand, 3 Nov. 1950, in French. He is awaiting Marsh's sign, depending on him for how England will receive his work.

A small archive, mainly correspondence involving the translator, Edward Marsh.

Author: 
Georges Neveux, French playwright:
Publication details: 
1953-1968
£450.00

Total: c.38 items, some more than one page, 1953-1968, 1984-1991, including:8 ALsS, Neveux to "Edward" [Marsh, translator], total 13pp., various formats, 1953-1961.

A small archive mainly involving correspondence with translator, Edward Marsh.

Author: 
Félicien Marceau, French playwright, novelist:
Publication details: 
1977-1983.
£250.00

Total: c.21 items, 1977-1983.Four TLsS from Félicien Marceau to Edward Marsh, in French, (1978) saying that he'll go along with Marsh's proposals [about "L'Ami du Président"], reiterating two thirds for him; (1979) declining an adaptation for British television, anxious about the effect on "sa carrière théatrale"; (March 1983) having agreed film rights he is not free to authorise TV production; (May 1983) repeating what he understands about the cinema deal, and saying he'll be in touch on expiration.Eight copy TLs, some very substantial (one heavily worked), from Marsh to Félicien Marceau, 1

A small archive, mainly of correspondence to one of his translators, Edward Marsh.

Author: 
Claude-André Puget, French playwright:
Publication details: 
1953-1961.
£450.00

Total: c.43 items, some more than one page, 1953-1961, including:18 ALsS, TLsS and APCsS, to Edward Marsh, translator, total 26 pages/sides, various formats, with a telegram to him with note from him, and telegram from him to Edward Marsh.

Typed Letter Signed "Bernard" (full name typed beneath) to Edward Marsh, translator of Anouilh, Cocteau, etc.

Author: 
Bernard Miles, actor, Director of the Mermaid Theatre.
Publication details: 
Mermaid Theatre, 27 July 1971.
£35.00

TLS, 27 July 1971, one page, 4to, saying that the Camus Estate only want Robert Baldick to translate, giving background, so he's returning a script..

Typed Letter Signed "Benvenuto Hauptmann" to Edward Marsh, translator of Anouilh, Cocteau, etc.

Author: 
Benvenuto Hauptmann, German writer.
Publication details: 
Munich, 14 Dec. 1951.
£80.00

A very substantial TLS from Hauptmann to Marsh, 14 Dec. 1951, 2pp., 4to, in English, recalling their first meeting, commenting on Marsh's autograph collection from that time (1921), and responding to finding Marsh had adapted his "The Rats". He gives detailed response, complimentary but constructive.

A small archive mainly involving correspondence with translator, Edward Marsh.

Author: 
Armand Lanoux, French writer:
Publication details: 
1979.
£120.00

Total: 5 items, all 1979.Postcard and TLS from Armand Lanoux to Edward Marsh, in French, (13 June and 27 July 1979) about the production in England of "notre fresque télévisuelle" "Zola ou la Conscience Humaine". He has asked his wife, Cathérine Tolstoi-Lanoux, to send Marsh "les deux pieces radiophoniques".WITH:Manuscript Draft, heavily worked over, letter from Marsh to Lanoux, 3pp., 4to, in French, 5 June 1979, broaching the question of an English production of the "Zola" programme (BBC etc).AND: ALS from Renée [de Conquele?

Autograph Card Signed ('Geo R Sims') from the dramatist George R. Sims thanking Thomas Hutchinson for a letter, with reference to a visit to Liverpool.

Author: 
George R. Sims [George Robert Sims] (1847-1922), English dramatist and author [Thomas Hutchinson]
Publication details: 
On letterhead of 12 Clarence Terrace, Regent's Park, NW [London]. 7 September 1900.
£30.00

The letterhead includes a facsimile of Sims's signature. Six lines, on one side of the card. Addressed at foot to 'Thos Hutchinson Esq.' Fair, on aged paper, with strip of gummed paper from mount at head of blank reverse. He sends 'a thousand thanks' for Hutchinson's 'kind letter on Sep 2', which he would have answered earlier, had he not been 'away at Liverpool'. He concludes: 'Your good wishes lay upon my table to welcome me home.'

Autograph Letter Signed ('J. R. Planché') from the dramatist and herald James Robinson Planché, thanking 'Mr. Barnett' for procuring the freedom of Her Majesty's Theatre, Haymarket, for him,with reference to its manager Benjamin Lumley.

Author: 
James Robinson Planché [J. R. Planché] (1796-1880), dramatist, antiquary and Somerset Herald [Benjamin Lumley (1811-1875), manager of Her Majesty's Theatre, Haymarket]
Publication details: 
Garrick Club. 24 April [no year].
£40.00

1p., 12mo. Fair, on aged paper and worn paper. He is 'exceedingly obliged' to Barnett for 'procuring for me the freedom of Her Majesty's Theatre'. He asks if he will 'receive an official commemoration from Mr. Lumley', or whether he should write and thank Lumley on the strength of Barnett's note.

Autograph Letter Signed by the dramatist George Rose, both in his own name and that of his pseudonym 'Arthur Sketchley', to 'My dear Frith', on the death of his brother.

Author: 
George Rose [pseud. 'Arthur Sketchley'] (1817-1882), dramatist, novelist, and humorous entertainer
Publication details: 
96 Gloucester Place, Portman Square [London]. 22 June [post 1874].
£56.00

2pp., 12mo. Bifolium on mourning paper watermarked 'JOYNSON | 1874'. Good, on lightly-aged paper. The letter, signed 'George Rose', covers both sides of the first leaf, with the following written lengthwise on the recto of the second leaf: 'Yrs very truly | [signed] Arthur Sketchley'. He informs Frith that the 'long impending blow has fallen' on him, and that his 'very dear brother died on Wednesday last & will be buried tomorrow'. He would 'willingly send on some autographs', but cannot lay his hand on any. 'I am sorry to be able only to send as pr opposite page', i.e.

Autograph synopsis and notes by the dramatist and editor of 'Punch' Tom Taylor of part of Act III of his 1866 play 'A Sister's Penance', written with Augustus W. Dubourg.

Author: 
Tom Taylor (1817-1880), playwright and comic writer, author of 'The Ticket of Leave Man' (1863) and editor of 'Punch [Augustus W. Dubourg]
Publication details: 
On government letterhead; undated [c.1866].
£750.00

4pp., 12mo. Bifolium. Good, on lightly-aged paper. The first page headed 'Act III', and the whole tightly-written and filled with deletions, interpolations and marginal notes, providing a valuable insight into the creative process of one of Victorian England's most successful dramatists. The last page breaks off: 'Handeside confesses his own desperate attachment. Markham <...>'. 'A Sister's Penance' was a great success, with 83 performances at the Adelphi between 26 November 1866 and 2 March 1867.

Autograph Letter Signed from the dramatist and editor of 'Punch' Tom Taylor, to the actor 'Charles Neville' [Charles Sugden], praising his performance as King WIlliam III in Taylor's play 'Clancarty' and giving advice on 'modulation of the voice'.

Author: 
Tom Taylor (1817-1880), playwright and comic writer, author of 'The Ticket of Leave Man' (1863) and editor of 'Punch' [Charles Sugden ['Charles Neville'] (1850-1921), actor]
Publication details: 
Lavender Sweep, Wandsworth; 18 March 1874.
£150.00

4pp., 12mo. On aged paper, with minor traces of gum from mount. Taylor begins: 'My dear Charles Neville | I was glad to receive your letter, for it showed that the seed I had taken pains to sow had not fallen, as most seed so sown in the theatre does fall, upon an ungrateful soil.

Autograph Letter Signed from the dramatist and editor of 'Punch' Tom Taylor to Francis Mewburn of Darlington, announcing his retirement from the Northern Circuit, and describing his appointment as Assistant Secretary of the Board of Health.

Author: 
Tom Taylor (1817-1880), playwright and comic writer, author of 'The Ticket of Leave Man' (1863) and editor of 'Punch' [Francis Mewburn (c.1785-1867) of Larch Field, Darlington, 'railway solicitor']
Publication details: 
near Thirsk; 23 March [1850].
£80.00

4pp., 12mo. Bifolium. Good, on aged paper, with remains of stub along one edge. Written in a difficult hand. Taylor begins: 'Dear Mr Mewburn, I shall not be at Sessions [as a barrister on the northern circuit] any more. I have just accepted an appointment as legal Assistant Secretary to the Board of Health, and I enter on the duties of the place on Monday. The salary is £500 per: an: to begin with, with the prospect of increase.

Autograph Letter Signed from the dramatist and editor of 'Punch' Tom Taylor to J. Watkins [the photographer John Watkins?], regarding the construction of a case for a portrait of him.

Author: 
Tom Taylor (1817-1880), playwright and comic writer, author of 'The Ticket of Leave Man' (1863) and editor of 'Punch' [John & Charles Watkins, London photographers]
Publication details: 
On letterhead of the Local Government Act Office, 8 Richmond Terrace, Whitehall; 30 January [1864?].
£60.00

3pp., 8vo. Bifolium. Good, on lightly-aged paper, with remains of stub along one edge. Second leaf inserted into a paper windowpane mount. Written in a hurried and difficult hand. Taylor writes that he wishes to have a portrait put into a case 'by the workman you employ for such work'. He gives instructions, concluding 'The portrait I think the most satisfactory that has yet been taken of me.' The National Portrait Gallery possesses an albumen carte-de-visite of Taylor ('1864 or before') by John & Charles Watkins.

Autograph Letter Signed ('Laman Blanchard') from the dramatist E. L. Blanchard [Edward Litt Laman Blanchard] to 'Carpenter'.

Author: 
E. L. Blanchard [Edward Litt Laman Blanchard] (1820-1889), English dramatist, writer of numerous pantomimes for the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane
Publication details: 
Without date or place.
£90.00

2pp., 12mo. Good, on aged paper. He writes to decline Carpenter's 'flattering' offer: 'I now find my acceptance of an office in your Society though purely honorary, would be apt to be misinterpreted [...] I have another reason - that I am taking some part in endeavouring to form a great Author's Society of another kind, and it would look rather <?> and impudent to be playing the fiddle in all parts of the orchestra.'

Typed Letter Signed ('John van Druten'), giving advice to an actor named 'France'.

Author: 
John Van Druten [John William Van Druten] (1901-1957), Anglo-American dramatist
Publication details: 
6 December 1928; 5 Harewood Court, Hanover Square, London W1.
£80.00

4to, 1 p, 21 lines. On creased and lightly-foxed paper, with a couple of closed tears (not affecting text, which is clear and entire). May refer to the 1928 revival of van Druten's play 'Young Woodley' (previously banned by the censor), or (which is more likely) to his 'After All' (1929).

Autograph Signature ('P. Hoare') on fragment of letter.

Author: 
Prince Hoare (1755-1834), English Painter and dramatist; son of William Hoare
Publication details: 
Place and date not stated.
£23.00

On a piece of wove paper roughly 4.5 x 9 cm. Good, clear signature on lightly aged paper. Reads 'my dear Sir, | Yrs always truly | [signed] P. Hoare'. Reverse reads '<...> am at a loss how to answe<...> | <...>ing the progress of the Anna<...> | <...>- opportunity of asking "Ho<...> | <...>t of the Elgin Marbels, whic<...>'.

Autograph Epigram Signed "William Moncrieff".

Author: 
William Thomas Moncrieff, dramatist (DNB).
Publication details: 
Dated 26 Oct. 1844.
£56.00

One page, creased and marked, text in pencil but legible. An explanatory docket in another hand: "Epigram by Moncrieff - a blind man's writing". The Epigram reflects this situation, text "translated" below in another hand: "Oer me, you've this advantage, great indeed | What I may write at pleasure you may read | But still I've one advantage in Fate's spite - | You cannot make me read the stuff I write!"

Autograph Letter Signed ('Alfred Savoir'), in French, to 'Monsieur le Major'.

Author: 
'Alfred Savoir' (1883-1934, pen name of Alfred Poznanski), French dramatist and editor of Polish/jewish extraction
Publication details: 
Paris, 37 rue Bassano; date not stated.
£75.00

One page, quarto. Good, on lightly aged and creased paper, with strip from mount adhering to right-hand margin. He is pleased to be of assistance to General Ponsonby and his officers, and is happy to agree to the authorisation for Banso, as far as it concerns him. His English rights have been purchased by Curtis & Brown of London, to whom application must be made. He does not think they will ask for any remuneration. Asks the recipient to pass on his respects to the general, and in a postscript wonders whether he can tell him a good story concerning a lion hunt.

Autograph Card Signed from Sutro to Hicks.

Author: 
Alfred Sutro (1863-1933), British author and dramatist; Seymour Hicks (1871-1949)
Publication details: 
26 October [no year, but c.1910]; on letterhead 31 Chester Terrace, Regent's Park [London].
£35.00

One page, on piece of grey card roughly three and a half inches by four and a half wide. Very good. Twelve lines and one-line postscript in Sutro's tiny and difficult hand. Sends his 'sincerest congratulations on the best volume of memoirs I have read this many a day' (Hicks published his autobiography in 1910). 'There isn't a dull line in it from start to finish; I could dine out for a week on the stories'. Reference to Irving and other actors. Ends 'A damned good book, Seymour! Tous mes compliments!' Postscript reads 'This does NOT require an answer!'

Autograph Letter Signed ('Florence Warden') to the actor and dramatist Wybert Reeve.

Author: 
Florence Warden (pseudonym of Florence Alice Price James, 1857-1929), English novelist
Publication details: 
17 May 1904; Beach House, Islandgate.
£36.00

Four pages, 12mo. Very good, with unobtrusive remains of stub along one edge. In interesting letter discussing the state of the English stage. Her tardy response is due to 'pressure of work". 'What you say about the present condition of the stage is only too true.

Autograph Note Signed "Josephine Preston Peabody (Mrs Lionel Marks)" to The Four Seasons Company, publishers.

Author: 
Josephine Preston Peabody.
Publication details: 
192 Brattle Street, Cambridge, Mass., 8 Jan. 1916.
£56.00

American children's author, etc. One page, 8vo, good condition. "I beg to enclose my subscription to 'The Poetry Journal' for 1916."

Autograph Letter Signed to 'My dear Scott'.

Author: 
William Gorman Wills (1828-91), Irish dramatist
Publication details: 
No date; on embossed letterhead of the Garrick Club.
£33.00

One page, 12mo. Good, though aged and foxed. 'My best thanks & gratitude for your noble notice | Were you ever in low spirits If so sympathise with me I feel as if I would never wish to be acted again . . Chastelard the first night my god almighty ! ! ! - | Your sincere friend | W G Wills'. Chastelard is a character in Wills's play 'Marie Stuart' (1874).

Autograph Letter Signed to an unnamed correspondent. En francais.

Author: 
Octave Feuillet
Publication details: 
[Paris, October 1860].
£36.00

Dramatist and novelist. One page, 8vo, good condition. In a difficult hand, he says that he has heard from [M. Rey?] that he hasn't concluded his engagement in Brussels and has no interest in the role mapped out except in a few days. He goes on to talk of the work involved in corrections which has prevented him from sending a "manuscript exact". Note: The place and date are written in another hand on the reverse.

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