Music and Theatre

Theatre producer (1908-1973). "Thank you so much for your letter. I entirely appreciate your difficulties and I am most grateful to you. I hope that L. E. Berman can let me have the original manuscript as I should be most grateful. / I am sorry you have not received the photographs as promised and I will look into this immediately." Not in the best of condition: creased and grubby.

Dramatist (1849-1904). One page, 12mo, in stamped envelope addressed in autograph. "I am very much obliged for the ticket, and will certainly go. I am so glad you have got such a good chance, and I will "signify the same" (i.e. my gladness) "in the usual way".

English dramatist (1838-89). One page, 12mo, on mourning paper. "I am sorry I forgot the card. Did you get the stalls all right / In any way I can serve you / I am / Yours faithfully / J. Albery". Docketed in a small hand in ink. Minimal loss to one corner. Bearing traces of previous mounting.

English comic actor (1795-1842) and manager of the Adelphi Theatre. 2 pp, 4to. Eccentric handwriting, of uncertain decipherment. "We must trouble you by return of Post to send us up the last tune but one & the finale to the Pantomime / Make Puck if you please come out of the Fairy Mounds tell Harlequin & Columbine the Chace is done. Then loves rewards and change to the last tune the Fairy Temple - Then dance & a short finale - one verse <?> & Chorus - / [...] / I hope all goes well with you. We are all alive - Let us have it by return of post".

English actor-manager (1837-1910). 4 pp, 12mo. Interesting letter in which he declines a play. "Its an awful shame to have kept your mss. so long, but I think I told you, I was too deep in promises &c. to give immediate attention! / If domestic Drama were popular now, I should not hesitate to play yours, it is full of pure incident and effective situations, and the dialogue is clear and interesting. [...] In my opinion this is not big & bold enough for "Drama" and not "elegant" enough or adapted to "up to date" models. [...]" Somewhat grubby.

English actor-manager (1837-1910). "Dear Miss Tennyson, / "Reading a play" is very actable, and would suit an actor like Chas. Collett, & important & voluble, & there are several who would make a success of it. But I'm afraid I am not one of them. Sorry to have kept the MS. so long. [...] MS. [not present] returned herewith registered."

Irish-born playwright (1784-1862). A cutting from a letter of irregular shape, 12mo, made by an autograph hunter. "Thank you my dear fellow. Tho' on the score of friendship I was quite well satisfied before as I am now / Yours ever / J. S. Knowles." Docketed on the otherwise blank reverse "The autograph of Mr. Sheridan Knowles, the author of the plays called "Virginius," William Tell, &c. &c.". -"

English actor-manager (1837-1910). Interesting letter exemplifying the importance of dentistry to the acting profession. 3 pp, 12mo, on mourning paper. "You know I've been away, on Tour with the "Lions" and after that, I took a jaunt to Tronville & Rouen, just returned with a broken tooth. - I've had to be patched up on tour, & have quite given up the idea of a good looking mouth. Any way I shall be glad if you will put a lower front tooth in. I will come to you to-morrow Wednesday afternoon about 3.30. in the hope you'll be free.

Bohemian musician and pianist. One page, 8vo, sl. batterd but the text is unaffected, and clear. "My dear Mr Masson/ Every bottle drawn by your beautiful corkscrew shall be emptied to your good health and that of your sister [presumably Elizabeth Masson, vocalist and teacher, see DNB], and you will both live in our recollection as highly valued and long tried friends. With best thanks . ..... I. Moscheles

English actor-manager (1844-1912). On two pieces of paper. 2 pp, 12mo and one page, 8vo, the second piece with the letterhead of Terry's Theatre in the Strand. "Here again in Harness Thank Goodness - Royalty Glasgow next week then Brum where I hope to see you. Cannot tell you where I shall stay yet as my People are away in Wales did you see the enclosed / Kind regards to all yours / from yours / E. Terry". Postscript on second piece of paper: "P.S.

English actor-manager (1837-1910). One page, 12mo, in stamped envelope adressed in autograph. "Dear Miss Tennyson. / There are no vacancies at present at the Adelphi. I shall be happy to remember you when opportunity affords - With congratulations on your progress. / Yours very truly / Henry G. Neville

English actor-manager (1837-1919), knighted in 1902. Of difficult decipherment, due to Wyndham's truly diabolical handwriting. "As you so kindly said you would both come & spend a little time with me at St Moritz, it may be as well to tell you that I leave town tomorrow & shall arrive at my destination 2 weeks from now. / A line to the Hotel St Moritz after 2 weeks [...] so that I may secure you comfortable quarters". Creased, and with closed tear to the edge of both leaves.

Dion Boucicault the younger. Actor-manager (1859-1929), son of the actor and dramatist. Formal acceptance of an invitation in the third person. "Mr Boucicault accepts with pleasure Mr. & Mrs George 's invitation for Tuesday July 4." Paper and glue from previous mounting on blank reverese.

English actor-manager (1811-68), the son of Edmund Kean. A piece of paper, 2½ by 4½ inches, mounted on a torn piece of grey paper. The note, written in pencil, gives directions: "Charles Kean / Key-Dell / Horndean / Hants / 9 miles from the Fareham Station on the Gosport line". Docketed in pencil "Kean's hand".

English actor-manager (1862-1951), apparently written to an "angel". "Thank you for your letter. / It is a humorous sketch for 3 or four people lasting 23 minutes with lots of 'Punch' & a wonderfully funny part wh. whould show me off. My offer runs to Easter and all that is if only I can find what they want in advance. Voila!" Negligible traces of previous mounting on blank reverse.

English actor (died 1914). "Dear Sir / My height is five feet three & a half inches in my half hose". Negligible traces of previous mounting to the blank reverse.

English actor-manager (1862-1951). The first, April 29, Rivoli, with letterhead of The Playhouse, Northumberland Avenue, one page, 8vo. "Dear Miss Trevelyan, / Very many congratulations. You are absolutely 'sweet' in the piece. It is so many years since we met. Your performance is beautiful. I wished to come round & see you but didnt like to intrude." The second, 1 September [no year], with letterhead 26 Cleveland Gardens, Lancaster Gate, 2 pp, 12mo. Affectionate letter to "Dear little Manageress" (Trevelyan was for a time co-manageress of the Vaudeville Theatre).

[Real name Arthur Cecil Blunt] English actor (1843-1896). 2 pp, 12mo. "Dear Mrs Murray / I also was sorry not to put in an appearance on Sunday but I had a little work as you know to look over & after Douglas left me in the afternoon so many "casuals" dropped in that I could not well get out." He will have to give up the dinner party he had planned for Sunday, or postpone it till she returns from abroad. "I shall myself go I think to Brighton next Sunday as I can get two days of "the sea the sea the open sea!" " The letter is signed "Arthur Blunt".

Journalist and playwright (1831-94). One page, 12mo. "Very many thanks for your kindness in sending me the records. I knew Bolland well, and many of the others who have 'gone over'. So the book is very interesting to me. "

English actor-manager (1862-1951). One page, 12mo. "I am so sorry that owing to some money losses I cannot send more for poor Charlie Rocks widow."

English actor (1846-1909). "Dr Dr. Davis / I have not sufficient time at my disposal to tell you of interview with Mrs. & your son her solution - I have settled to take her house & have paid £50 as deposit. I think you will agree with me that the house is really a much better one than 15. I cannot sufficently thank you Dr. Davis for your - Please accept renewed thanks". Negligible traces of previous mounting.

English theatre manager (1881-1971). One page, 4to. He thanks him for his note about "A Woman of No Importance". In an apparent reference to a letter written by him to The Sunday Times about that newspaper's drama critic James Agate (1877-1947) he writes: "My letter was somewhat emasculated, as not only was a sentence left out in the middle, but the concluding sentence ran as follows: - / "Mr. Agate will never cease being provocative but his influence will necessarily diminish in proportion to the contempt he feels for his job.

English actor (1846-1909). One page, 8vo. "Dear Sir / If I can get original Cast I shall do a scene from 'Drink" / Yours faithfully / Charles Warner". Warner's most memorable part was Coupeau in 'Drink' (1879), an adaptation of Zola's 'L'Assommoir'. Not in the best of condition: creased, dusty and torn.

English actor-manager (1862-1951). One page, 12mo, cropped to an uneven shape. "Dear Miss Webster Brough / How very very kind of you to write like that. I have so greatly appreciated your thoughtfulness. I loved your dear father - bless him / Yours sincerely / Cyril Maude". Negligible traces of previous mounting at head of page.

English dramatist, theatre manager, and dramatic critic (1885-1959). One page, 12mo, in stamped envelope addressed in autograph. "Dear Madam / Thanks for your note; I will present myself at King's College at 5.25 on Thursday."

English actor-manager (1837-1919), knighted in 1902. One page, 8vo. "Dear Mr / Thanks for enclosure & letter. / Yrs sincly / Charles Wyndham". Grubby, ruckled, and with traces of previous mounting on blank reverse.

English actor-manager (1862-1951). One page, 12mo. "I have I regret to say already promised to do more than I ought to during this season, I mean in addition to all my regular work & so I am very sorry I cannot do what you suggest, although I am honoured by the wish of your Committee." With traces of previous mounting to the reverse of the blank second leaf.

Illustrator (1893 or 1896-1940). Crude sketch in pencil, on piece of lavender paper, 6¼ inches by 3¾, of garret with two beds, headed "Housemaster", and with "Drorn [sic] in the dark at the Apollo - / - / Aubrey Hammond / 1936 -" written beneath it. Mounted on fragment of blue paper carrying typewritten label and showing traces of brown paper strip.

One page, 12mo, written in purple ink on grey paper. "My dear Sir / Could you lunch with me at 2. on Tuesday at my rooms in Midland Hotel St. Pancras? / Yrs always / E. A. Sothern". With traces of previous mounting to the reverse.

English dramatist and actor-manager (1871-1949), knighted in 1935. One page, 8vo. "Just to say au revoir I hope it will not be long before we meet again & until then - the best of good luck / Yours / Seymour Hicks / Ever so many thanks for your jolly wire - / Bless you". Piece of adhesive tape stuck along head of recto.