swinging

It was around the time of this autograph that Donovan travelled with the Beatles to India to see the Maharishi, during which he gave Lennon and McCartney tips on guitar playing. A couple of months later he would release one of his biggest hits, ‘Hurdy Gurdy Man’. On 14 x 10.5 cm piece of grey paper, extracted from an album. In good condition, lightly aged. Large flowing inscription in red ink, diagonally down from top left: ‘love / To Clare / from / Donovan’. Also in red ink, in another hand at top left: ‘ROYAL ALBERT / HALL / MARCH ’68’.

Sprawling but not unattractive signature, with curled flourish, on piece of wove paper which has been cut into an irregular 9.5 x 6 cm oval to match the curve of the signature. In good condition, lightly aged. The recipient has noted the singer's name on the reverse, which carries traces of glue and brown paper from mount. See Image.

See his entry in the Oxford Dictionary of Art. 1p, 16mo. On a leaf, with curved corners, extracted neatly from an address book or diary. In good condition. A n oddly attractive item. Apart from the word 'MEMO' printed at the head of the page above a thick-thin rule, the only writing on the leaf is the name 'PETER BLAKE', with his address and phone number (both withheld), written in black ink a neat and childlike hand. See Image (onitting address and phone number).

These two items date from the 1960s, a period during which Saville was a notable 'face' on the London scene: he dated the 'Avengers' actress Diana Rigg and the Pop artist Pauline Boty, and flew Bob Dylan to Britain for his first acting role.

Both items in good condition, with minor signs of age and wear. The black and white photographic print is 24.5 x 19.5 cm, and depicts a chubby Hall, in shirtsleeves and tie, leaning over a seat at the back of a darkened theatre, with a positive look of concentration on his face, as he stares at the stage, a playscript in his hand. The reverse carries two stamps by 'Tony Armstrong Jones, one of them declaring his copyright. Also on the reverse are pencil calculations of dimensions for cropping for publication.

Most of the documents are typewritten on A4, some are creased and torn but the overall condition is good. A fascinating glimpse into the world of sixties publishing. Three-page typewritten contract between Hunter Davies and Anthony Blond Ltd initialled on each leaf by Davies and with his autograph signature on the last leaf, together with agreements relating to foreign and paperback rights with Holt-Blond Ltd, Corgi and Bantam Books, Sugar Editore and Editions Robert Laffont. Five Autograph Letters Signed, Three Typed Letters Signed and twenty-one contracts.

Contract for an article entitled "'English' London" included in "The New London Spy" (1966) ed. Hunter Davies, signed by Mikes.With: ANS, one page, 8vo, Mikes to Anthony (Blond), 25 Oct. 1965, enclosing contract (signed) and saying he has finished the article.