TEMPEST

See her entry and his in the Oxford DNB. 2pp, 8vo. In fair condition, on aged and lightly creased paper. Folded for postage. Addressed to ‘Dear Mr Robey’ and signed ‘E Londonderry.’ Begins: ‘We are holding a gigantic Jumble Sale on the 10th. of July – to help the Legion funds – We are calling it the Jazz Jumble Sale as there is a the dansant as well – A kind of fair we intend to make it & a member of the Royal family is going to open it in the afternoon. Will you be very kind and come and auction some of the things for us at four oclock.

All twenty-four illustrations have been laid down on leaves removed from an album of prints. Both series are numbered to twelve, and each is complete. The plates in the Retzsch series appear to have had their margins cropped. All images clear and complete, on lightly-aged paper, with occasional light spotting and discoloration. Laid down at the head of the first illustration in the first series, and slightly (0.5 cm) encroaching onto it, is a printed label reading 'Illustrations to Shakespeare's | TEMPEST | in 12 plates'.

1p., 8vo. In fair condition, aged and worn, with slight loss to one corner and creasing to another. Strengthened on reverse with a small piece of tape. Letterhead in red, with Tempest writing in green ink. She writes warmly: 'I've read your Play, and I think it charming up to the point of the two people who are crooks! It suffers from the same thing that our present Play suffers from. Too sudden a jump!' She invites him to go and see the play, 'and you will gather what I mean'. She ends by describing his play as 'amusing and witty'.

[2] + 29pp., 4to. On rectos only. Heavily-aged and worn, with some damp staining, stapled, with remains of grey front cover and last leaf loose. With numerous emendations to almost every page. Ends abruptly on p.29. A fast-paced comedy, with a seance connecting past and present. Two exchanges: 'Bobbie. I suppose you're going to wear tights again? | Maud. Well, I've a ripping good reason for doing so - two, in fact.' and (during the seance): 'Nerea. Dance for me, I pray you, Oh embodiment of lissom grace. | Bobbie.

The collection in a contemporary green leather quarter-binding, with grey paper boards and title in gilt on spine. Good, in heavily worn binding splitting at rear hinge. The letters are expertly mounted on leaves in the volume. 'Excerpta Cantiana': folio: 23 pp of letterpress, with illustrations and with three full-page engravings by J. S. Agar and one fold-out pedigree. PRESENTATION COPY from Streatfeild to the antiquary and historian Charles James Palmer of Great Yarmouth.

Two pages, 8vo, minor defects, mainly good. He apologises for not using (or knowing) her full married name and tries to persuade her to give a part to his son whose career he summarises (Athos in "The Three Musketeers", juvenile lead in the "Absent-Minded Beggar"). In a postscript he suggests he would make "an ideal Rochester".