PORTRAIT

[‘the greatest theatrical comic of his age’: Ken Dodd, Liverpool comedian and singer.] Typed Letter Signed with biographical details, and signed publicity postcard with photographic portrait.

Author: 
Ken Dodd [Sir Kenneth Arthur Dodd] (1927-2018), Liverpool comedian and singer, ‘the greatest theatrical comic of his age’
Ken Dodd
Publication details: 
Letter dated ‘C/o B.B.C. Manchester. / October 9th 1957.’
£100.00
Ken Dodd

Dodd’s entry in the Oxford DNB by Michael Billington concludes with the assessment that he was ‘the greatest theatrical comic of his age and the last link with the hallowed days of music hall’. The two items are in good condition, lightly aged. ONE: TLS, 9 October 1957. 1p, 4to. Good large signature ‘Ken Dodd’. The male recipient is not named. He apologises for the late reply to the recipient’s letter. ‘May I also thank you for the compliments paid to my performance on Television. / I am a Liverpudlian, residing in Knotty Ash Liverpool.

[King George VI [as Prince Albert].] Printed post card of portrait photograph by Olive Edis (Mrs Galsworthy), with [facsimile?] signature ‘Albert’.

Author: 
King George VI [as Prince Albert]; Olive Edis (Mrs Galsworthy) (1876-1955), photographer
King George VI [as Prince Albert)
Publication details: 
[Part of a photoshoot by Olive Edis, England, 1920.]
£90.00
King George VI [as Prince Albert)

A very nice print in grey tones. Landscape: 7.5 x 13 cm. With the words ‘POST CARD’ printed on the reverse. Image in very good condition; traces of black paper mount adhering to the reverse. A head and shoulders shot of the future king, taken from the left, with right shoulder slightly forwards, face turned to the right and eyes staring vacantly ahead over the viewer’s right shoulder. Clean-shaven with parting on left; arms folded across chest, smartly attired in double-breasted check lounge suit with white shirt and ‘oriental-knot’ tie.

[ Sir Henry Mendelssohn Hake, Director of the National Portrait Gallery, London.] Typed Letter Signed (‘H M. Hake’) to S. Hodgson recording portraits of George Cruikshank and Sir Benjamin Ward Richardson.

Author: 
Sir H. M. Hake [Sir Henry Mendelssohn Hake] (1892-1951), Director of the National Portrait Gallery, London, 1927-1951 [George Cruikshank (1792-1878), caricaturist; Sir Benjamin Ward Richardson]
Publication details: 
11 June 1937; on letterhead of the National Portrait Gallery, London.
£56.00

1p, 4to. On discoloured and somewhat grubby paper, folded twice for postage. Addressed to ‘S. Hodgson Esq.’ and signed ‘H M. Hake’. Hodgson has sent Hake ‘a manuscript fragment’, which does not seem to indicate either of ‘the portraits in the Gallery’. He has ‘looked up the record of portraits offered in the past but there is no mention of Mrs. Cruikshank or her executors.’ He asks a related question before turning to the subject of the physician Sir Benjamin Ward Richardson (1828-1896), who was in Hake’s opinion ‘more of a professional worthy than a national one’.

[Charles Dickens, Britain's best-loved novelist.] Albumen carte-de-visite by John Watkins, Photographer to the Queen, London.

Author: 
Charles Dickens, Britain's best-loved novelist [John Watkins, Photographer to the Queen, London]
Dickens
Publication details: 
[September 1863.] John Watkins, Photographer to the Queen The Prince of Wales and The Ex Royal Family of France, 34 Parliament Street, London, S.W.
£80.00
Dickens

The National Portrait Gallery copy of this item is NPG Ax17292, and the dating to September 1863 is theirs. A 5.8 x 8.8 cm photographic print, laid down on 6.2 x 10.3 cm piece of card. On the card beneath the portrait: 'JOHN WATKINS PHOT. / Copyright Secured'. On the reverse Watkins's full address, with crest. The image is faded and indistinct, compared with the NPG copy; otherwise the item is In fair condition lightly aged. A head and shoulders shot with a sepulchral Dickens turned almost to a left profile, eyes barely open, with a clenched right hand to the side of his face.

[John Ruskin.] Carte de visite by Elliott & Fry, London, with facsimile signature.

Author: 
John Ruskin, pre-eminent Victorian art critic; Elliott & Fry, nineteenth-century London photographers noted for their cartes de visite
Ruskin
Publication details: 
1867 or 1869. Elliott & Fry, 55, Baker Street, Portman Square, London, W.
£150.00
Ruskin

Rather long for a carte de visite: 6 x 9 cm albumen print laid down on 6.5 x 10.5 cm card. In fair condition, lightly discoloured and worn. On the card beneath the photograph is a facsimile of Ruskin’s signature (‘John Ruskin’) and ‘ELLIOTT & FRY Copyright. 55. BAKER ST.’ Printed on the reverse is the royal crest and the firm’s address. A copy of the present item was offered by Sotheby’s in 2021, dated to 1867, with the claim that it was ‘signed on the mount’. That claim is erroneous: the signature to that copy is identical with the present lithographed one.

[Gladstone and photography: ‘It is a process he particularly dislikes’.] Autograph Letter Signed from his private secretary Spencer Lyttelton [to A.G.L. Rogers, Secry, Liberal Publications Dept], conveying Gladstone's refusal to sit for a portrait.

Author: 
Spencer Lyttelton [George William Spencer Lyttelton] (1847-1913), private secretary to Liberal prime minister William Ewart Gladstone, outstanding cricketer for Cambridge University [A. G. L. Rogers]
Publication details: 
14 October 1893; on letterhead of 10 Downing Street, Whitehall.
£65.00

Lyttelton was Gladstone’s private secretary during three of his terms as prime minister. The recipient Arthur George Liddon Rogers (1864-1944, son of the editor of the economist Thorold Rogers) is not named, but the item is from his papers, and was written while he was Secretary of the Liberal Publication Department, a position to which he was appointed in November 1891. 2pp, 12mo. Signed ‘Spencer Lyttleton.’ In good condition, lightly aged and folded for postage.

[‘Clemence Dane’, i.e. Winifred Ashton, playwright, novelist and Oscar-winning screenplay writer.] Typed Letter Signed discussing a misunderstanding of her book ‘Legend’, with inscribed photographic portrait.

Author: 
‘Clemence Dane’, nom de plume of Winifred Ashton (1888-1965), playwright, novelist and Oscar-winning screenplay writer [G. Ralton Barnard of York]
Clemence Dane
Publication details: 
TLS: 17 January 1922; on letterhead of 26 Castellain Mansions, Maida Vale, W.9. [London.] Photograph without date or place.
£120.00
Clemence Dane

See Ashton’s entry in the Oxford DNB. Both items in good condition, lightly aged, with evidence of mount to blank reverse of photograph. ONE: TLS. 17 January 1922. 1p, 12mo. Folded once. Signed ‘Clemence Dane’. Addressed to G. Railton Barnard, 6 The Crescent, York. She thanks him for his ‘interesting letter’: ‘If the same question had not already crept up once or twice, I should not have thought it possible for anyone so to misunderstand Legend, but I know people do, clear as I thought I had made it.’ Barnard is ‘absolutely right’: ‘Madala Grey is head over ears in love with her husband.

[Pigault-Lebrun [Charles-Antoine-Guillaume Pigault de l'Espinoy], French novelist and playwright.] Autograph Letter Signed ('Pigault'), a warm letter to 'Monsieur Mathias', with an engraved portrait of 'Pigault le Brun'.

Author: 
Pigault-Lebrun [Charles-Antoine-Guillaume Pigault de l'Espinoy] (1753-1835), French novelist and playwright
Publication details: 
Letter: Saint Quentin [Aisne, Upper Picardy]. 21 January 1816. Engraving without place or date.
£150.00

LETTER: 3pp, 4to. Bifolium addressed on reverse of second leaf, with Saint Quentin postmark, 'A Monsieur | Monsieur Mathias | pour inspecteur des Douanes.' in good condition, neatly written, with repair to corner cut off in breaking of the wafer, and with stub from mount adhering. 43 lines of closely-written text. A warm letter of good length, addressed to 'mon cher Camarade'. The handwriting is difficult.

Robins Millar; Canadian emigre in Scotland; Playwright ] Eleven, usually substantial, Typed Letters Signed Robins to theatre historian, W. Macqueen-Pope (Popie).

Author: 
Robins Millar, Robins Millar (1889-1968), emigre Canadian journalist, playwright, artist poet and writer.. based in Glasgow.
Publication details: 
9 Park Quadrant, Glasgow C 3, 27 September 1950-28 December 1953.
£450.00

Twelve TLSs, 1-3pp. each, total 27pp., 4to. His subjects are predictable: his plays, his portraits, the contemporary theatre, performances (Brigadoon etc), actors, films, art exhibition, personal matters (eg his wife's ill heath, children), his writing activities,Popie's works (showing enthusiasm), drawing and writing activities, visitors to Glasgow (Hannan Swaffer writing articles on Scotland), portrait he did of Popie, the life of Novello (ghost-written then done in earnest by Popie), Edinburgh Festival, anecdotes, suggestions for theatrical books, insider gossip, anecdotes, etc etc.

['Max O'Rell' [Léon Paul Blouet], French author and journalist.] Cabinet Card photographic portrait by Taber of San Francisco, signed 'Max O'Rell'; with Autograph Letter Signed to his lecture agent E. W. Appleton, regarding fees.

Author: 
'Max O'Rell' [Léon Paul Blouet] (1847-1903), French author and journalist who wrote in English for British and American markets, crossed swords with Mark Twain [E. W. Appleton; Taber of San Francisco]
Publication details: 
Letter to Appleton: 14 December 1885; 2 Lime Grove, Uxbridge Road, W. [London] Cabinet Card by Taber, 8 Montgomery Street, 'opposite the Palace and Grand Hotels', San Francisco; undated.
£120.00

ONE: Cabinet Card: 13.5 x 10 cm photographic head-and-shoulders portrait of Blouet, smartly-dressed with glasses and handlebar moustache, mounted on 16.5 x 10.5 cm card, with printed details of the photographers Taber's printed in gold below the image, and an elaborate advertisement for the firm printed in brown on the reverse. In fair condition, lightly aged. Inscribed on the base of the print: 'Yours Sincerely | Max O'Rell'. TWO: Autograph Letter Signed to 'Mr Appleton', i.e. E. W. Appleton. 1p, 12mo. On bifolium. 14 December 1885; 2 Lime Grove, Uxbridge Road, W.

[Count d'Orsay, French painter and dandy.] Individual etched portraits of Prince Talleyrand and Comte Montrond, on the same leaf, each with caption stating 'Sketched by D'Orsay'.

Author: 
Count d'Orsay [Alfred Guillaume Gabriel Grimod d'Orsay, comte d'Orsay] (1801-1852), French painter and dandy, linked with Marguerite Gardiner, Countess of Blessington (1789-1849); Talleyrand; Montrond
Publication details: 
[London? Circa 1831?]
£280.00

Two etchings in black ink, printed side by side on a 23.5 x 18 cm piece of wove paper, with a thin printed line dividing them. Possibly proofs of two plates on conjoined leaves in a book. In fair condition, lightly aged and creased, with a tiny nick at foot and dog-eared corners. Each of the sketches is full-length, and has a caption at foot, in a facsimile of D'Orsay's hand.

[Count d'Orsay, French painter and dandy.] Individual etched portraits of Prince Talleyrand and Comte Montrond, on the same leaf, each with caption stating 'Sketched by D'Orsay'.

Author: 
Count d'Orsay [Alfred Guillaume Gabriel Grimod d'Orsay, comte d'Orsay] (1801-1852), French painter and dandy, linked with Marguerite Gardiner, Countess of Blessington (1789-1849); Talleyrand; Montrond
Publication details: 
[London? Circa 1831?]
£180.00

Two etchings in black ink, printed side by side on a 23.5 x 18 cm piece of wove paper, with a thin printed line dividing them. Possibly proofs of two plates on conjoined leaves in a book. In fair condition, lightly aged and creased, with a tiny nick at foot and dog-eared corners. Each of the sketches is full-length, and has a caption at foot, in a facsimile of D'Orsay's hand.

[Edmond Brock, painter.] Five Autograph Letters Signed (four signed 'Edmond Brock' and one 'E. Brock') to Colonel F. H. L. Oldham, regarding a commission to paint his wife Christabel Josephine Oldham.

Author: 
Edmond Brock [Charles Edmond Brock] (1882-1952), painter [Colonel Frederick Hugh Langston Oldham Overley Hall, Shropshire]
Publication details: 
Four from 1920, the other undated but from the same period. Four from 2 St John's Wood Studios, Queens Terrace, [London] N.W.8., three of them on letterheads; the other from Merrieweathers House, Mayfield, Sussex.
£250.00

An interesting correspondence, casting light on the practicalities of early twentieth-century English portrait-painting. The recipient is Colonel Frederick Hugh Langston Oldham, D.S.O., D.L., of Overley Hall, near Wellington, Shropshire, eldest son of the Archdeacon of Ludlow, and the letter concerns Brock's portrait of Oldham's wife Christabel Josephine Oldham. The five letters in good condition, lightly aged. The four dated letters are dated between 25 February and 13 July 1920. The total 9pp (seven in 8vo and two in 12mo).

[Frederick Burnaby, British traveller and national hero.] Engraving by Elizabeth Adela Forbes, of a drawing of Burnaby by Mary Blanchard Reed, signed by both women ('Mary B Reed' and 'Elizabeth A. Armstrong').

Author: 
Frederick Burnaby [Frederick Gustavus Burnaby] (1842-1885), soldier, traveller and balloonist; Elizabeth Adela Forbes [née Armstrong] (1859-1912), Canadian artist; Mary Blanchard Reed; Sidney Redrup
Publication details: 
'London Published July 8th. 1885 by Sidney Redrup. 175. New Bond Street. Copyright Registered.'
£1,500.00

See the Oxford DNB entry on Burnaby ('He was commemorated in verse, song, and Staffordshire pottery').

[James Sant, RA, portrait painter.] Autograph Letter Signed ('Jas: Sant') to 'Miss Nolan', requesting to see the daughter of 'Mrs Horsfall', whom he has arranged to paint.

Author: 
James Sant (1820-1916), RA, portrait painter noted for his images of women and children, and studies of childhood
Publication details: 
On letterhead of 43 Lancaster Gate, Hyde Park, W. [London] 10 May [no year].
£50.00

1p., 12mo. In fair condition, lightly aged. Presumably written to the governess of a child he had arranged to paint. Reads: 'Madam | I have Mrs. Horsfall's permission to ask if you could make it convenient that I should see her little daughter tomorrow at ¼ past 2 oC – for the purposes of arranging sittings for her portrait.'

[Hall Caine, novelist: studio portrait and signed autograph inscription.] Signed Autograph Inscription ('Hall Caine') to Lady Campbell Clarke, with print of studio portrait photograph.

Author: 
Hall Caine [Sir Thomas Henry Hall Caine] (1853-1931), popular Isle of Man author [Lady Campbell Clarke]
Publication details: 
No place. 9 November 1905.
£220.00

An attractive item, in good condition, lightly aged and spotted. On one side of a piece of 17.5 x 25 cm landscape paper, with the autograph writing on the right-hand side and the 15 x 10 cm print of a studio portrait laid down on the left-hand side. Caine was a striking and instantly-recognisable individual, and the photograph shows him in characteristic style, bare-headed in his usual dress of long double-breasted coat with white cravat, staring intently at the camera, with a book in his right hand, and his right hand draped across his left thigh, his left leg being elevated on a chair.

[ Horace Annesley Vachell, Edwardian novelist and playwright. ] Studio photograph by Swaine's, with autograph signature ('Horace Annesley Vachell.').

Author: 
Horace Vachell [ Horace Annesley Vachell; H. A. Vachell ] (1861-1955), prolific popular author
Publication details: 
Photograph by Swaine of London and Southsea. Undated [ First World War or just after ].
£45.00

Sepia-coloured studio photograph on 19 x 14 cm card. Backed on the reverse with brown paper on which are printed the details of the photographic studio responsible, Swaine's of London and Southsea. The print itself is in good condition, lightly aged and worn; the reverse is heavily-worn with traces of glue from previous mounting. Vachell has written his underlined signature in black ink diagonally upwards at the bottom right-hand corner: 'Horace Annesley Vachell.' This studio photograph of Vachell is not present in the National Portrait Gallery collection.

[ Sir William Boxall RA, Director of the National Gallery. ] Autograph Letter Signed ('W Boxall'), regarding painting a portrait of the wife of either Sir W. J. Hooker or his son Sir J. D. Hooker, successively Directors, Royal Botanical Gardens, Kew.

Author: 
Sir William Boxall RA (1800-1879), English artist and Director of the National Gallery, London [ Sir William Jackson Hooker and Sir Joseph Hooker, Directors of the Royal Botanical Gardens, Kew ]
Publication details: 
14 Welbeck Street [ London ]. 'Monday' [no date].
£65.00

4pp., 12mo. Bifolium. In fair condition, lightly aged, with some damage ay foot of reverse of second leaf (not affecting signature) caused by removal from mount. The letter presumably dates from before Boxall's appointment as Director of the National Gallery in 1866, when he all but gave up painting. It is addressed to 'Dr. Hooker', and the recipient is either Sir William Jackson Hooker (1785-1865) or his son Sir Joseph Hooker (1817-1911), successively Directors of the Royal Botanical Gardens, Kew.

[ Walter William Ouless,, leading Victorian portrait painter. ] Autograph Letter Signed ('W. W. Ouless.'), asking 'W. K. Allchin Esq | M.D. [sic, for the future Sir W. H. Allchin ]' to convey a message to Sir George Burrows.

Author: 
Walter William Ouless (1848-1933), RA, British portrait painter from Jersey [ Sir William Henry Allchin (1846-1912), physician; [ Sir George Burrows (1801-1887), physician ]
Publication details: 
On letterhead of 12 Byranston Square, W. [ London ] 8 March 1886.
£35.00

2pp., 12mo. On bifolium with mourning border. In good condition, lightly aged. He writes that he has only just received Allchin's letter on his return from the country. 'Please ask Sir George Burrows to call at any hour in the day most convenient to himself.'

[ Edward Caruana Dingli; Art and the War in Malta ] Autograph Letter Signed E Carnana Dingli to Mr Tuckwell

Author: 
Edward Caruana Dingli, Maltese artist.
Publication details: 
52 South St | Valetta, 2 Dec. 1943.
£350.00

Four pages, 12mo, a word for a part of a destroyed building cut out (text runs, including part of the [...cut out, in fact CENSORED]), otherwise clear and in good condition. He begins by discussing Tuckwell's recent operation, praising doctors,concluding that it's no wonder your nation heads the world in all that pertains to civilization, science, art, politics, &c. He continues, It gives me great pleasure to know that my pictures are still a source of pleasure to you [...]. He refers to Tuckwell's loss of his wife and his kindnesses when Dingli was in England.

[ Harold Coster, 'Photographer of Men'. ] Typed Letter Signed "Howard Coster", to Secretary of Authors' Syndicate Ltd, accompanied by typed list of his sitters, and brochure containing portraits of G. K. Chesterton, Algernon Blackwood, M. R. James,.

Author: 
Howard Coster [ Howard Sydney Musgrave Coster ] (1885-1959), 'Photographer of Men', London
Publication details: 
Letter from 8 and 9 Essex Street, Strand, W.C.2. [ London ] 2 April 1930. The brochure containing portraits from the 'Supplement to 'The Bookman'" Christmas, 1929.
£350.00

The items are in good condition, lightly aged and worn, with slight rusting from a paperclip. ONE: TLS from Coster to the Secretary, The Authors' Syndicate Ltd., London. 2 April 1930. 1p., 8vo.

[ Samuel Jones-Loyd, 1st Baron Overstone [ Lord Overstone ], banker and politician. ] Autograph Letter Signed ('Overstone') to 'G. Scharf Junr Esqr' [ the future Sir George Scharf ], regarding the possibility of a meeting in Brighton.

Author: 
Samuel Jones-Loyd, 1st Baron Overstone [ Lord Overstone ] (1796-1883) of Overstone Park, Northampton, British banker and politician [ Sir George Scharf (1820-1895); National Portrait Gallery, London ]
Publication details: 
On letterhead of Overstone Park, Northampton. 20 November 1856.
£30.00

1p., 12mo. In good condition. At the time of writing Scharf was on the verge of appointment as first Director of the National Portrait Gallery. Regarding a note he has received from Scharf he writes that the following Monday he goes 'thro' London direct to Brighton. This movement I fear does not hold out much facility for our meeting - but if your business carries you to Brighton you will find me at the Bedford Hotel.'

[ Henry Petty-Fitzmaurice, 3rd Marquess of Lansdowne. ] Autograph Letter Signed ('Lansdowne') [ to the future Sir George Scharf ]

Author: 
Henry Petty-Fitzmaurice, 3rd Marquess of Lansdowne (1780-1863), Whig Chancellor of the Exchequer and Home Secretary [ Sir George Scharf (1820-1895), Director of the National Portrait Gallery, London ]
Publication details: 
Bowood [ Bowood House, Derry Hill, Wiltshire ]. 23 December [ 1859 ].
£35.00

3pp., 12mo. On bifolium. In good condition. Year not given, but with '1859' in a contemporary hand at top-right of first page. The recipient is not named, but the letter is from the papers of Sir George Scharf. It begins: 'I remember your saying in the course of last winter you would be glad an [sic] opportunity of coming to see me, & what little I have to shew you. | I conclude the Portrait Gallery as well as <?> Institutions admits of some holidays at this season'. Consequently he suggests a time when the recipient might 'spend a few days' at Bowood, if his 'engagements admit'.

[ Charles Somers Somers-Cocks, 3rd Earl Somers. ] Autograph Letter Signed ('Somers.') to Lord Stanhope

Author: 
Charles Somers Somers-Cocks, 3rd Earl Somers (1819-1882), English peer and politician [ Philip Henry Stanhope, 5th Earl Stanhope [ Lord Stanhope ] (1805-1875); the National Portrait Gallery, London ]
Publication details: 
33 Princes Gate, Kensington. [ London ] No date. [ 1859 watermark. ]
£40.00

1p., 12mo. With mourning border. Reads: 'Dear Lord Stanhope | I am most unfortunately compelled to go into the country this evening, or I should not have failed to have attended the meeting of the trustees of the Nat. Portrait Gallery. | Very truly yours | Somers.' It was Stanhope who had been mainly responsible for the foundation of the National Portrait Gallery in 1856.

[ Peter Wardle, British portrait painter. ] Around 90 items from his papers, including incoming material relating to his work for the National Portraiture Association; correspondence with Ruskin School of Drawing, Oxford; receipts; payslips; tax.

Author: 
Peter Wardle (b.1929), British portrait painter [ William Deeves (1893-1977), Director, The National Portraiture Association; ]
Publication details: 
Mainly from London. Dating from between 1972 and 1974.
£320.00

Peter Wardle studied at Leicester School of Art and the Ruskin School of Art, Oxford. He began his career as a professional portrait painter and sculptor in the 1970s, and has work in a number of institutions including the Ashmolean Museum, Oxford. Ten of his works in the National Portrait Gallery collection include portraits of Athol Fugard, H. J. Eysenck and Edmund Blunden. He was also responsible for the portrait of Sir Geoffrey Keynes used as the frontispiece to his 1973 festschift. The present collection, containing around ninety items, is in aged and worn condition.

[ Peter Wardle, British portrait painter. ] Notebook containing original drawings and autograph text.

Author: 
Peter Wardle (b.1929), British portrait painter
Publication details: 
Undated [ 1960s? ].
£250.00

Wardle studied at Leicester School of Art and the Ruskin School of Art, Oxford. He began as a professional portrait painter and sculptor in the 1970s, and has work in institutions including the Ashmolean Museum, Oxford. Ten of his works in the National Portrait Gallery include portraits of Athol Fugard, H. J. Eysenck and Edmund Blunden. Among his other sitters was Sir Geoffrey Keynes. The present item comprises 35 pages of sketches in pen and pencil, and 21 pages of text, making a total of 56pp in a 20 x 13 cm French notebook with spiral binding. In fair condition, lightly aged and worn.

[ Eileen Chandler, artist. ] Personal album relating to her portrait work, mainly in Hollywood, and including photographs of her portraits, and original photographs of children of celebrities.

Author: 
Eileen Chandler [ born Eileen Harris ] (1904-1993), English artist who worked in Los Angeles on portraits of Hollywood children [ Liza Minnelli; Mia Farrow; Deborah Kerr; Maureen O'Sullivan ]
Publication details: 
Undated [ 1950s and 1960s ]. Mainly relating to her time in Los Angeles, California.
£800.00

For more information about Chandler, see the appreciative obituary by Vy Reiners in the Independent, 5 February 1993, which describes how 'An article in the Illustrated London News launched her on a successful career that took her to Hollywood, painting sensitive, charming watercolour portraits of the children of the stars, and many of the stars themselves.' The present item contains 70 photographs in a 24 x 33 cm album. The photographs, ranging in size from 19 x 23 cm. downwards, are in good condition, with light signs of age and wear.

[ Sir John Watson Gordon, artist. ] Part of Autograph Letter Signed ('John Watson Gordon') to unnamed recipient, regarding a visit to Edinburgh and his 'kind and generous sentiments'.

Author: 
Sir John Watson Gordon (1788-1864), Scottish portrait painter and President of the Royal Scottish Academy
Publication details: 
123 George Street, Edinburgh. 21 February 1858.
£45.00

Previously laid down in an autograph album. On both sides of a 12 x 10.5 cm. piece of paper, cropped down from 12mo. In fair condition, but with some loss of text due to cropping, and with traces of glue on first page (i.e. the page without the signature). On the first page he approves the postponement of the recipient's visit to Edinburgh, and on the second he expresses admiration for 'the kind and generous sentiments displayed on both sides and described with such perfect simplicity' in 'the presented papers'.

[ William Ewart Gladstone, English Liberal prime minister. ] Portrait photograph of Gladstone in middle-age, with conclusion of Autograph Letter Signed ('W E Gladstone') addressed to W. H. Pennington.

Author: 
William Ewart Gladstone (1809-1898), English Liberal prime minister
Gladstone
Publication details: 
Neither item with place or date.
£65.00
Gladstone

Both items are laid down on a leaf removed from an autograph album. Both in good condition, with light signs of age. The photographic print of Gladstone measures 9 x 5.5, with the head and shoulders image in an oval 7.5 cm high by 5 cm wide, and showing a middle-aged Gladstone with dark bow tie and frock coat, staring to the right. Beneath the photograph is a 9.5 x 9 cm piece of paper, cut from the conclusion of a letter, reading: '[...] difficult however to follow circumstances with which we are imperfectly acquainted | We are now on the eve of going abroad for a

[ Dame Sybil Thorndike. ] Typed Letter Signed ('Sybil Thorndike') to 'Mrs. Radcliffe', explaining her reasons for being unable to sit for 'Mr. Priest'.

Author: 
Dame Sybil Thorndike [ Agnes Sybil Thorndike ] (1882-1976), English actress [ Alfred Priest (1874-1929), English artist ]
Publication details: 
On her letterhead ('Under the Direction of Bronson Albery & Lewis Casson'), from the Criterion Theatre, London. 1 February 1923.
£35.00

1p., 4to. In fair condition, aged and creased, with slight tearing at edges. She begins: 'Please forgive me for not answering your letter before, but I have been so rushed!' She is not able to 'sit for Mr. Priest just at present': 'We are just on the point of starting rehearsals for several plays to be toured and, in addition, my two small girls are ill, so that I want to spend all my spare time with them.' She is trying to 'get out of' sittings for another artist.

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