MYSTERY

[Francis Vivian, writer of popular fiction, author of the Inspector Knollis mysteries.] Typed Letter Signed to Eileen Cond, assessing his books and giving a synopsis of forthcoming story ‘The Frog was Yellow’.

Author: 
Francis Vivian [pen name of Arthur Ernest Ashley (1906-1979), writer of popular fiction, author of the Inspector Knollis mysteries, brother of photographer Hallam Ashley [Eileen Cond]
Publication details: 
11 November 1939; The Chalet, Skegby, Mansfield.
£120.00

An excellent letter to enthusiastic autograph collector Eileen Margaret Cond (1911-1984). It shows Cond’s ability to draw a more than perfunctory response from her targets. 1p, 8vo. In fair condition, lightly aged and folded for postage. Signed ‘Francis Vivian’. He is ‘very grateful’ for her ‘appeciation of my book, The Three Short Men. I have to confess that I thoroughly enjoyed writing it, even though both Pam and Hathersage at times refused to obey my orders, and went their own sweet way.

[‘My British public is not being discriminated against’: Lawrence G. Blochman, American writer of detective fiction.] Typed Letter Signed to Eileen M. Cond, English autograph collector, discussing English publication of his books.

Author: 
Lawrence G. Blochman [Lawrence Goldtree Blochman] (1900-1975), American writer of detective fiction
Publication details: 
18 September 1954; 370 Riverside Drive, New York 25, N.Y.
£280.00

1p, 4to. Twenty-three lines. Large sprawling signature ‘Lawrence G. Blochman’. In fair condition, worn and creased on lightly-discoloured paper. The recipient, an enthusiastic autograph collector, has evidently asked him to sign a bookplate to be stuck in his latest book ‘’Recipe for Homicide’. Her note has finally reached him ‘through channels (via my English publisher through my London agent to my New York agent)’. He is glad she finds the book entertaining, ‘even though you had not yet, at the time of writing, discovered the culprit’.

[ Murder mystery concerning crime writers in 1950s London. ] Two typewritten drafts of the play '"Death in Act IV" by Basil Francis', accompanied by Typed Letter Signed from the author to theatre historian W. Macqueen-Pope.

Author: 
Basil Francis [ W. Macqueen-Pope [ Walter James Macqueen-Pope ] (1888-1960), theatre manager and historian ]
Publication details: 
Letter on Francis's letterhead of 115 Kenilworth Court, S.W.15. 14 November 1950. Both typescript with same address; neither dated.
£320.00

ONE: Letter. 1p., landscape 12mo. Aged and creased. Addressed to 'My dear Popie'. He is sending the revised version of the play, 'which has been tightened up considerably from the earlier draft', asking whether it has 'commercial possibilities', or 'stinks'. He feels that five minutes with Pope gives him 'more practical dope on the theatre than 5 years at the RADA!' TWO: Early typescript of 'Death in Act IV'. The letter ends with a reference to 'Fanny K', Francis's 1950 biography 'Fanny Kelly of Drury Lane'. 68pp., 8vo. In fair condition, on aged and worn paper.

Seven coloured pen and ink drawings illustrating Agatha Christie's 'Sittaford Mystery', by German artist 'GZ', mounted and together in an illustrated folder, with title 'Agatha Christie | Das Geheimnis von Sittafort [sic] | 7 Federzeichnungen | GZ'.

Author: 
'G Z' [German watercolour artist] [Agatha Christie]
Seven coloured drawings illustrating Agatha Christie's 'Sittaford Mystery'
Publication details: 
Each illustration signed 'GZ', and dated between January and April 1966.
£250.00
Seven coloured drawings illustrating Agatha Christie's 'Sittaford Mystery'

Each drawing 22 x 16 cm, and each neatly mounted on card 31.5 x 22 cm. In good condition, in slightly discoloured mounts and folder. The mounts numbered in pencil in top left-hand corner. In cream folder, with blue cloth spine. Title in blue pencil on front of folder, together with image of hand holding glasses. Illustration of hand painting with brush, surrounded by ink pots, on back of folder. First illustration signed 'GZ | 5.3.66' and last 'GZ 7.4.66' Folder dated 'GZ. | 20.7.66'. Pleasant compositions, with something of an Edward Ardizzone feel about them.

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