Goldsmith

Ten items relating to Percy Nash’s unsuccessful attempt to turn Goldsmith’s ‘She Stoops to Conquer’ into a musical, casting light on English theatre production practices in the immediate postwar period. Despite interest from the theatre impressario Jack Gladwyn, the project stalls. Percy Nash (1868-1958), who made around 70 films between 1912 and 1927, was a key figure in the creation of Elstree Studios. His career as a film maker was effectively ended following the screening of his 1921 film 'How Kitchener was betrayed'.

1p, 12mo. In fair condition, on browned paper, with glue from mount adhering to blank reverse. The last leaf of a letter, evidently detached for an autograph hunter. Good bold handwriting. Reads: 'I shall be only too glad to avail myself of it | Yours very sincerely | Alfred Gilbert'.

1p., 12mo. In fair condition, laid down on part of brown paper leaf from album. Annotated at head in a contemporary hand: 'Author of the life of Burke'. Reads: 'I shall feel obliged if you can forward the accompanying letter to its destination under a cover. It contains an inclosure which I do not like to entrust to the common channel, but with the cover I shall deem it safe.' In a postscript he reports that he is returning to Margate the following day, 'to scribble'.

A correspondence with Clement Shorter concerning the placing of a statue of Oliver Goldsmith (a replica of Foley's in Dublin) somewhere in London. Shorter had suggested this in "The Sphere", etc. The collection comprises ten letters and three related newspaper clippings, dating 7 June 1912 to 27 February 1914.