STAGE

[ Helen Faucit, English actress. ] Autograph Letter Signed ('Helen Faucit') requesting a private box for a performance of James White's 'John Savile of Haysted'.

Author: 
Helen Faucit [ Helena Saville Faucit, latterly Lady Martin ] (1817-1898), English actress
Publication details: 
55 Brompton Square [ London ]. 15 November [ 1847 ].
£35.00

2pp., 12mo. In good condition, lightly aged. She asks for a 'Private Box at your Theatre on Wednesday evening if your new play of "John Saville" [sic] is acted.' Rev. James White's 'John Savile of Haysted' was performed in London in November 1847.

[ Edward Fitzball, writer of melodramas. ] Autograph Letter Signed ('Fitzball') to an unnamed recipient, regarding changes to the last scene of his play 'The Haunted Hulk'.

Author: 
Edward Fitzball (1792-1873), English playwright specialising in melodrama [ Benjamin Nottingham Webster (1797-1882), actor-manager ]
Publication details: 
'Monday Evng.' [ London?, 1831. ]
£56.00

1p., 12mo. In fair condition, on aged and worn paper. He has had a conversation with 'Tomkins', and as a consequence has 'made a few alterations in the last scene of the "Hulk"'. He asks him to read the last scene and 'manage, if possible, to get the Prompter's Copy set right before the reading of the Piece'. He feels his changes make the play 'more original, and more likely to render the Piece effective'. With postscript. 'The Haunted Hulk', a Nautical Drama in two Acts was performed at the Adelphi in 1831.

[ Helen Faucit, actress. ] Autograph Signature ('Helena Martin') on part of letter.

Author: 
Helen Faucit [ Helena Saville Faucit, latterly Lady Martin ] (1817-1898), English actress
Publication details: 
31 Onslow Square [ London ]. No date.
£20.00

On 6 x 11 cm piece of paper., torn from the foot of a leaf. In good condition, lightly aged. Reads: 'Mr Martin sends kind wishes with Yours | Very affectionately | Helena Martin. | 31 Onslow Square.' The reverse reads: '[...] attend to <?> William's little ones are all laid up with scarlet fever, so there is no [...]'.

[ Percy Burton. ] Typescript of unpublished play 'The Lady Killer', 'Rough adaptation of Aime des Femmes'.

Author: 
Percy Burton (1878-1948), impressario and theatrical manager of Sir Henry Irving, Sarah Bernhardt and Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree [ Maurice Hennequin; Georges Mitchell ]
Publication details: 
Marked 'Private'. 'c/o. Messrs Shubert, 1416, Broadway, New York City.' [ Circa 1922. ]
£350.00

107pp., 4to. With each of the play's three acts bound with brass studs in separate grey paper wraps, with typed labels on covers. Internally in good condition, with light signs of age, in aged and worn bindings. With a handful of minor manuscript corrections. ' Aimé des femmes! Pièce en trois actes' by Maurice Hennequin and Georges Mitchell, was published in Paris in 1922..There is no record of Burton's adaptation having been published.

[ Phyllis Hartnoll, theatre historian. ] Correspondence with her agent W. T. Macqueen-Pope, impressario Jack Hylton and actress Freda Jackson regarding her translation of 'The Lady of the Camellias', together with two versions of the translation.

Author: 
Phyllis Hartnoll (1906-1997), theatre historian [ Jack Hylton (1892-1965), impressario; Freda Jackson (1907-1990), actress; W. Macqueen-Pope ]
Publication details: 
Correspondence dating from 1948, except for single items from 1947 and 1950. Hartnoll's letters either from Hobbits, Nether Westcote, Kingham, Oxon, or on Oxford University Press letterheads. Other correspondence from various London addresses.
£950.00

An interesting collection, giving an insight into theatre practices in post-war Britain. Hartnoll is commissioned by the actress Freda Jackson, then at the height of her popularity, to produce an adaptation of the play, Jackson gets impressario Jack Hylton and producer Anthony Hawtrey on board, and there is the inevitable falling out between the actress and the author, with Macqueen-Pope, who is acting as Hartnoll's agent, playing the mediator, as matters become acrimonious.

[ Olga Brandon, Australian actress. ] Corrected Typed prompt copy of first act of unpublished translation of 'La Tosca. A Drama in Four Acts by Victorien Sardou.'

Author: 
Olga Brandon (1863-1906), Australian actress; Victorien Sardou (1831-1908), French dramatist
Publication details: 
'Miss Olga Brandon, 4 Seaton Mansions, 213 Shaftesbury Avenue | W.C. [ London ]' [ Circa 1895. ]
£550.00

[1] + 32pp., 4to. Bound with brass clasps in grey paper wraps. On aged paper, in worn binding. A 'Duplicate Carbon Copy', with the stamp of Miss Dickens's Type Writing Office, 3, Tavistock Street, Strand. The first of the play's four acts. Text typed on rectos only, with stage directions in pencil on facing versos, and with numerous emendations (presumably by Brandon) in pencil throughout, including the deleting of a number of passages. Facing the first page is a pencil diagram of the stage setting.

[ A. J. Cronin, Scottish author. ] Typescript of his play 'Jupiter Laughs'.

Author: 
A. J. Cronin [ Archibald Joseph Cronin ] (1896-1981), Scottish author
Publication details: 
'All communications to: Mrs. T. C. Dagnall, Messrs. A. M. Heath & Co., Ltd., 188, Piccadilly, W.1. [ London ]' Undated [ circa 1941 ].
£250.00

144pp., 4to. Stapled into red card wraps, with typed label on cover. A carbon copy with label of the London typing bureau Curtis and Page. The play was published in London by Victor Gollancz in 1941, with a second edition from the same publisher in 1954.

[ Val Gielgud and Nicholas Vane. ] Unpublished Typescript 'Death Comes to the Hibiscus. A New Play by Val Gielgud and Nicholas Vane'.

Author: 
Val Gielgud (1900-1981), actor, director and author; and 'Nicholas Vane' [ Francis Durbridge (1912-1998), playwright and author ] [ BBC Radio; British Broadcasting Corporation ]
Publication details: 
'Val Gielgud | Broadcasting House [ BBC ], London, W.1.' and 'Nicholas Vane | (Francis Durbridge) | c/o Christopher Mann Ltd, 45, Fountain House, Park Lane, London, W.1.' Undated [ circa 1941 ].
£450.00

149pp., 4to. Carbon copy. On rectos of leaves only, and bound in a buff card folder with metal clasps. Internally in good condition, on lightly-aged paper, in worn binding. The play centres around 'the "Hibiscus" night-club, one of those London resorts which are alike the despair of Social Reformers and the delight of the Forces when on Leave. It is situated somewhere between Berkeley Square and Dover Street.' The typescript is clearly an actual play and not a radio play, but there is no record of it having been performed on stage.

[ Max Halbe, German 'Naturalist' dramatist. ] Typescript of an unpublished English translation of 'Youth. A Love Drama in Three Acts. By Max Halbe'.

Author: 
Max Halbe (1865-1944), German dramatist, a main exponent of Naturalism
Publication details: 
Mrs. Marshall's Type Writing Office, 126, Strand. [ London. ] 8 May 1900. Translated from the '(6th Edition) | Berlin, 1898.'
£350.00

86pp., 4to. With each of the three acts bound into separate grey wraps, with typed labels on covers. Internally in good condition, on aged paper, in worn and aged wraps. This unpublished anonymous translation predates the one by Sara Tracy Barrows, with an introduction by Ludwig Lewisohn, published in New York by Doubleday in 1916. There is no record of an English production.

[ Nigel Playfair and Philip Carr. ] Typescript of ' "Shock-headed Peter" A Children's Farce with Songs, Adapted by Philip Carr and Nigel Playfair from The well-known Pictures and Verses of "Struwwelpeter" Music by Walter Rubens'.

Author: 
Nigel Playfair; Philip Carr; Walter Rubens [ Struwwelpeter; Shock-headed Peter; Edith Craig ]
Publication details: 
[ London, circa 1900. ] With label and stamp of Samuel French, Ltd, 26, Southampton Street, Strand, London, W.C.2.
£450.00

106pp., 4to. In good condition internally, on lightly-aged paper, in worn grey-cloth binding, with large and wordy French label on front cover. Rubens's score is not present. The text is preceded by twelve pages carrying: a 'List of Scenery and Properties', 'a 'Scene Plot', 'Light Plots', 'Property Plot', 'Hand Properties', 'Prompter's Cues' and 'Costumes and Wigs'. Possibly a prompt copy, with a number of passages deleted, and a few minor emendations made, in pencil, as well as call notes typed on the versos of some leaves, opposite the relevant text.

[ Robins Millar, Scottish author. ] Duplicated typescript of unpublished play titled 'Lord Perricklees. Comedy in Three Acts.'

Author: 
Robins Millar (1889-1968), Canadian-born Scottish journalist, playwright, poet and writer, based in Glasgow
Publication details: 
Robins Millar, 9 Park Quadrant, Glasgow C3 [ Scotland ]. Undated [ 1920s? ].
£300.00

93pp., 4to. Bound with pink ribbon in buff card wraps. Creasing to front cover and first few leaves, otherwise in good condition, on aged paper, in aged and worn wraps. Ownership inscription on front cover and title-page: 'Robins MIllar | 9 Park Quadrant | Glasgow C3'. A high-society comedy, set in London. No record regarding this play has been discovered. Millar's papers are in the University of Glasgow.

[ Robins Millar. ] Typescript of unpublished play titled 'Bedside Manner. Comedy in 3 Acts'.

Author: 
Robins Millar (1889-1968), Canadian-born Scottish journalist, playwright, poet and writer, based in Glasgow
Publication details: 
Robins Millar, 9 Park Quadrant, Glasgow C3 [ Scotland ]. Undated [ 1930s? ].
£300.00

107pp., 4to. Stapled and attached with pink ribbon. Aged and worn, with last few leaves detached, with worn front cover only also detached. With a couple of manuscript emendations. Millar begins a full-page introduction: 'The mood of this play is gay comedy. | It arises from the threat of gossip in a small country town.' No record regarding this play has been discovered. Millar's papers are in the University of Glasgow.

[ Sir Charles Wyndham and Percy Burton, translators. ] Typewritten drafts, with extensive emendations in Wyndham's autograph, of 'The Blind Passenger. A Play in Three Acts by Oscar Blumenthal and Gustav Hadelburg.'

Author: 
Sir Charles Wyndham [ born Charles Culverwell ] (1837-1919), English actor-manager, and Percy Burton; Oscar Blumenthal and Gustav Hadelburg
Publication details: 
Place and date not stated. [ London, circa 1904. ]
£750.00

Item Three below does not name the translators, while Items One and Two do not. Item Three has the characters' names anglicised and the text more stilted than that of One and Two. In fair condition, lightly aged and worn. ONE: Typescript of the whole play, with each of the three acts bound separately. 127pp., 4to. The first two acts bound in grey card wraps, with typed labels on covers, the unbound leaves of the third act attached with a brass stud. First two acts with stamp of Miss Christian of the Trafalgar Type Writing Office, London.

[ Joe Corrie, Scottish miner and playwright. ] Corrected typescript of the 'English Version' of his play 'A Master of Men', with Typed Letter Signed to the theatre manager W. J. Macqueen-Pope.

Author: 
Joe Corrie [ Joseph Corrie ] (1894-1968), Scottish miner and playwright [ W. Macqueen-Pope [ Walter James Macqueen-Pope ] (1888-1960), theatre manager and theatre historian ]
Publication details: 
Hill's Hotel, 41 Princes Square, London W2. Undated. [ Performed at the Glasgow Citizens' Theatre, Scotland, circa 1944. ]
£600.00

For more about Corrie see his entry in the Oxford DNB, which states that 'His most effective mature work, A Master of Men, about the conflict between a mine manager, the mine owners, and the miners, was performed by the Glasgow Citizens' Theatre in 1944.' 111pp., 4to. On paper of various colours. Autograph title-page: 'English Version | A Master of Men | A Play | Joe Corrie | Hill's Hotel | 41 Princes Sq. | London W2 | Tel. Bay. 0118'. (Many of Corrie's plays were written in Lowland Scots.) In good condition, lightly-aged, in worn buff card wraps. With a few autograph emendations.

[ Richard Walton Tully, American dramatist. ] Typescript of his play 'The Bird of Paradise'.

Author: 
Richard Walton Tully (1877-1945), American dramatist
Publication details: 
'Please Return | R. Percy Burton | Farmers Loan & Trust Co | 15 Cockspur Street | London SW'. Undated. [ Circa 1912. ]
£750.00

'The Bird of Paradise', Tully's best-known play, is set in Hawaii during the 'Revolutionary Days of the Early Nineties'. It was the subject of what the New York Times called 'one of the bitterest plagiarism suits on record'. A schoolteacher named Grace Fender was initially successful in her claim that it was based on her play 'In Hawaii', but the case was reversed on appeal. It was first produced in Rochester, USA, in December 1911, with productions at Daly's in New York in 1912, and the Lyric Theatre, London, in September 1915. A total of 158pp., 4to.

[ Peter Ustinov, actor and playwright. ] Corrected typescript of his unpublished play 'The Man behind the Statue', performed under the management of Robert Donat at the Opera House, Manchester, in 1946.

Author: 
Peter Ustinov [ Sir Peter Alexander Ustinov ] (1921-2004), English actor and author [ Robert Donat (1905-1958), Oscar-winning actor ]
Publication details: 
'The property of: Robert Donat, 23 Three Kings' Yard, Davies Street, W.1. [ London ]' Undated [but only performed at the Opera House, Manchester, in 1946. ]
£580.00

158pp., 4to. Typed text on rectos only. With manuscript emendations (possibly in the hand of Judith Spearman, stage manager) throughout, including deletions and a few short additional passages, as well as stage directions. Makeshift thumb index at head. In fair condition, with moderate signs of age and wear, bound with pink ribbon into buff card covers. Typed label on front cover, together with 'Judith Spearman' and 'Effects' in pencil.

[ Lajos Bíró, Alexander Korda's scenario chief at London Film Productions. ] Unpublished typescript of '"Hollywood of Course" A Play In Three Acts By LAJOS BIRO'.

Author: 
Lajos Bíró [ Lajos Biro ] [ born Lajos Blau ] (1880-1948), Austro-Hungarian novelist, playwright and screenwriter who worked for Alexander Korda at London Film Productions
Publication details: 
'Copyright 1942 by British and Continental Plays Ltd.'
£400.00

168pp., 4to. Pages typed in black and red (by Active Secretarial Bureau, Wardour Street) on versos only. Bound in grey card wraps, with red tape spine. Typed title on cover, with circular red label of 'British and Continental Plays Ltd'. The main characters include the unnamed members of a continental royal family, together with 'Baroness Sibyl Konigsmark' and 'Section-Leader Grumb', and the scene is set at an Old Castle and Summer Palace, and 'Late in June of the year 1941. Three o'clock p.m.' and periods shortly following.

[ Nisim Aloni, Israeli playwright. ] Typescript, in French, of 'La Princesse Americaine de Nissim Aloni. Traduit par Ruth Koppel-Debel'.

Author: 
Nisim Aloni [ Nissim Aloni ] (1926-1998), Israeli playwright and translator, born in Bulgaria [ Ruth Koppel-Debel, translator ]
Publication details: 
[ Israel, circa 1963. ]
£350.00

74pp., 8vo. Stapled duplicated typescript, with pages on rectos only. In fair condition, with moderate signs of age and wear. Light staining at head, and discoloured title-leaf detaching. A few minor manuscript emendations, and '-Debel' added in manuscript to the translator's name. 'La Princesse Americaine' was first performed in 1963, and like Aloni's other early work was influenced by the European Theatre of the Absurd. An English translation of the play appeared in 1980, but OCLC WorldCat has no record of the publication of a French translation.

[ John Coulter, Irish Canadian playwright. ] Typescript of 'Sleep My Pretty One. A Play in Three Acts'.

Author: 
John Coulter (1888-1980), Irish Canadian playwright [ Laurence Olivier ]
Publication details: 
'Please return to: Laurence Olivier Productions, St. James' Theatre, King Street, London, S.W.1.' [ Circa 1951. ]
£400.00

136pp., 4to. Duplicated typescript (by Catherine Billinghust, Westminster) with pages on rectos only. Bound in grey card wraps, with red and black cloth spine and title typed on front cover. In good condition, with light signs of age and wear. '12' in manuscript at head of cover. 'Sleep My Pretty One' has been described as 'a study of a young girl driven to distraction by the death of her mother and the, to her, totally unacceptable remarriage of her father'.

[ Unity Theatre, London, 1944. ] Unpublished typescript of the first Soviet thriller performed in London, under the title 'Comrade Detective': '"Face to Face" | A Soviet Thriller | by | Bros. Tour and L. Sheynin | Translated by Herbert Marshall'.

Author: 
Herbert Marshall [ Herbert P. J. Marshall ] (1906-91), English Russophile author, filmmaker, theatre designer and husband of Fredda Brilliant (1903-99) [ Bros. Tour and L. Sheynin [ Herbert Marshall ]
Publication details: 
'All enquiries to: | HERBERT MARSHALL | 5, Kensington Palace Gardens, | W.8. | Tel. BAYswater 3214.' [ London, 1944. ]
£500.00

114pp., 4to. Typescript by May Hemery Ltd in black and red ink, with pages on rectos only. In black card covers, with label on front. In good condition, with light signs of age and wear, in worn covers. See Steve Nicholson, 'British theatre and the Red Peril: the Portrayal of Communism 1917-1945': 'Originally called 'Face to Face', 'Comrade Detective' was translated, designed and produced by Herbert Marshall on the suggestion of the wife of the Soviet Ambassador.

[ F. Britten Austin, novelist. ] Typescripts of acts I and 3 of his unpublished only play, 'The Thing that Matters'. With numerous manuscript additions and directions, plus extra typed material.

Author: 
F. Britten Austin [ Frederick Britten Austin ] (1885-1941) [ Percy Burton, theatrical agent and motion picture pioneer; Arthur Bourchier; Helen Maud Holt (1863-1937) [ Mrs Beerbohm Tree; Lady Tree ] ]
Publication details: 
F. Britten Austin, Northgate House, Bishops Stortford, Herts. Undated [ circa 1921 ].
£580.00

126pp., 4to. (Act 1 has 55pp. and Act 3 has 71pp.) Each act bound in grey card covers. Worn and aged, with the remains of the purple ribbon used to bind the leaves into their covers. A heavily reworked typescript. As is customary, the typed text of the play is on the rectos only, but leaves with additional typed and manuscript (presumably autograph) text have been inserted. Numerous manuscript additions and deletions to the text on the rectos, with additional typed passages on pieces of paper laid down onto the facing versos, which also carry further manuscript changes.

[ The Théâtre Dramatique Yougoslave, Belgrade, Yugoslavia. ] Duplicated typescript, in French, of Dobrica Cosic's 'Revelation | Adaptation acenique d'un chapitre du roman "PARTAGES" | Adapte pour la scene par: | Miroslav BELOVIC | Jovan CIRILLV'.

Author: 
Dobrica Cosic (1921-2014), Serbian author and nationalist theorist; Miroslav Belovic (1927-2005); Jovan Cirilov; Mata Milosevic; Predrag Bajcetic; Théâtre Dramatique Yougoslave, Belgrade, Yugoslavia
Publication details: 
[ First performance on 26 May 1961 at the Théâtre dramatique yougoslave, Belgrade, Yugoslavia. ]
£280.00

52pp., 4to. Duplicated typescript with pages on rectos only. Perfect bound in plain grey paper wraps. In fair condition, with moderate signs of age and wear. A page giving the names of the members of the cast and crew begins with the following: 'La première représentation de "REVELATION" a eu lieu 26 mai 1961 au Théâtre dramatique yougoslave, dans une mise en scène de Mata Miloševic et Predrag Bajcetic, avec la distribution suivante: | [...]'.

[ Edward Knoblock, playwright and novelist. ] Unpublished typescript of 'The Great Exhibition | A Play in two Acts | with songs of the Victorian Days | by | Edward Knoblock'. With a Typed Note Signed from Joan Ling Ltd to W. J. MacQueen Pope.

Author: 
Edward Knoblock [ born Edward Gustavus Knoblauch ] (1874-1945), American-born British playwright and novelist, author of 'Kismet' (1911) [ W. J. MacQueen-Pope (1888-1960) ]
Publication details: 
21 Ashley Place, SW1, under label of Joan Ling Ltd, London. Without date.
£450.00

137pp., 4to. Typed text on rectos only. Bound with red ribbon into red wraps, with typed label on front cover. In fair condition, aged and worn, in heavily-aged wraps. Pencil annotations to the list of characters. Bound in before the beginning of almost every scene is a manuscript leaf carrying a page giving the layout of the set. The label of Joan Ling Ltd, Gloucester House, 19 Charing Cross Road, WC2, is pasted over Knoblock's typed address 21 Ashley Place on the title page. Knoblock's papers are at his alma mater Harvard.

[ Maria Ann Lovell, English actress and playwright. ] Autograph Letter in the third person to Dillon Croker, regarding his assistance.

Author: 
Maria Ann Lovell [ née Maria Ann Lacy ] (1803-1877), English actress and playwright, wife of the author George William Lovell (1804-1878)
Publication details: 
7 Mornington Crescent [ London ]. In envelope with postmark of 20 March [ no year ].
£25.00

1p., 12mo. In good condition, lightly aged, with traces of glue from mount on reverse of letter and envelope. Envelope, with penny red, addressed by Lovell to 'Dillon Croker Esq. | 3 Gloucester Road | Old Brompton'. Reads: 'Mrs. Lovell begs to thank Mr. Croker for his polite note and for the trouble he has kindly taken - | Should there be any occasion Mrs Lovell will gladly avail herself of Mr. Croker [sic] offer of further assistance.'

[ George William Lovell, playwright. ] Autograph Letter Signed ('Geo W Lovell') to theatrical publisher T. H. Lacy, regarding the publication of 'The Wife's Secret' and 'The Trial of Love'. With autograph prelims of the former play by Lovell.

Author: 
George William Lovell (1804-1878), playwright and novelist [ Thomas Hailes Lacy (1809-1873), actor, playwright, and theatrical publisher; Charles Kean [ Charles John Kean ]; Ellen Kean ]
Publication details: 
Letter: Vale Lodge, Hampstead Heath. 28 July [ no year, but after the death in 1868 of Charles Kean ].
£150.00

Both items in good condition, on lightly aged paper. Letter: 2pp., 12mo. The letter begins: 'Mrs. Kean has given me back possession of the two Plays. The Wife's Secret & The Trial of Love. & the advice of Mr. Coyne was that I should add them to the Dram[ati]c. Authors Society's list.' Under the circumstances, he asks whether Lacy would be 'desirous of printing them & if so what would be your arrangement?' He suggests a meeting the following day. Autograph prelims: 3pp., 4to. Bifolium, with bottom half of second leaf torn away.

[ Victorian bookseller's catalogue. ] Catalogue of Books & Portraits, comprising Miscellaneous, Theatrical, Old Newspapers, Views of Theatres, London, Trials, Collections, &c. &c.

Author: 
F. Kornman, Book and Printseller, 168 High Holborn, London, W.C.
Publication details: 
On sale by F. Kornman, Book and Printseller, 168 High Holborn, London, W.C. (Nearly opposite the end of Drury Lane.) No. 9. 1888.
£65.00

8pp., 12mo. Stapled. Heavily aged and worn. A trim little catalogue, with 158 books described on the first seven pages, and the last page devoted to prints. Beneath the drophead title: 'Post Office Orders to be made payable at High Holborn. | No books or prints sent on approval.

[ Raymond Mander and Joe Mitchenson, theatre historians. ] Printed catalogue for a 'George Bernard Shaw' exhibition at the Odeon, Penge, inscribed and with several manuscript emendations.

Author: 
Raymond Mander (1911-1983) and Joe Mitchenson (1911-1992) [ Mander & Mitchenson Theatre Collection, Bristol University; George Bernard Shaw ]
Publication details: 
At the Odeon, Penge [London], from Dec. 18th. 1950. to Jan. 14th. 1951'.
£56.00

8pp., 8vo. Unpaginated. Stapled and unbound. In fair condition, aged and worn. Foreword on 'The Raymond Mander and Joe Mitchenson Theatre Collection', and 'Introduction to the Exhibition by Raymond Mander & Joe Mitchenson'. The body of the pamphlet is taken up by a list (52 items) of 'The Plays of George Bernard Shaw in order of writing'. The final page lists the five films of plays by Shaw, with a photograph of Mander and Michenson. In manuscript at head of front cover: 'With Compliments | Raymond Mander & Joe Michenson'.

[Pamphlet] The London Stage in Elizabeth's Reign

Author: 
[Royal Institution of Great Britain] Henry B. Wheatley, Esq., F.S.A.
Publication details: 
London: Printed by William Clowes and Sons [...], 1890.
£65.00

"Royal Institution of Great Britain. Weekly Evening Meeting, Friday, February 7, 1890. John Rae [...] in the Chair". Seven pages, unbound as issued, stapled, good condition. No copy listed on COPAC or WorldCat.

[Lottie Venne, Edwardian actress and comedienne.] Autograph Letter Signed to unnamed male recipient, describing her painful separation from her husband Walter H. Fisher of the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company.

Author: 
Lottie Venne (1852-1928), English actress and comedienne, wife of Walter H. Fisher [Walter Henry Fisher], singer with the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company
Publication details: 
On letterhead of 5 Norfolk Road, St John's Wood, NW [London]. 18 July 1910.
£35.00

2pp., 8vo. In very good condition, on lightly-aged paper. She begins by asking whether the recipient is 'the same gentleman who wrote to me from Bournemouth', and to whom she replied that she was 'unable to give the information required, for many years before my husband's death we were seperated [sic]'. She explains that when Fisher was not 'travelling about in the Country he lived with his Father I believe, who has now been dead some years. The whole thing was very tragic and painful, & I shall feel obliged to you not writing to me again on the subject'.

[Thomas John Dibdin, playwright.] Autograph Letter Signed ('T Dibdin') to the Pall Mall bookseller Clement Chapple, regarding terms for his 'New Opera'. With Signed Autograph Copy of Chapple's reply on reverse.

Author: 
Thomas John Dibdin (1771-1841), playwright and actor [Clement Chapple (d.1835), bookseller and publisher in Pall Mall, London]
Publication details: 
Dibdin's letter: place not stated; 'Sep 11 - mn' [dated in pencil in another hand '1824']. Copy of Chapple's reply: 'Pall Mall [London] Sep 12'.
£280.00

Dibdin's letter: 1p., 12mo. On bifolium, with the Signed Autograph Copy of Chapple's reply (also 1p., 12mo) on the reverse of the same leaf. Reverse of second leaf addressed to 'C. Chapple Esq', with a nineteenth-century shelfmark at the foot of the page: 'C.68.Coll.CR.' In fair condtion, on aged paper.

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