[ Herman Finck, composer and conductor, musical director of the Palace Theatre, Shaftesbury Avenue. ] Nine items from his personal papers, including an ACS from him to his wife, book contract, autograph notes for a memoir.

Finck was a well-respected and much-loved figure on the London musical and theatrical scene. His 'In the Shadows' was among the last tunes played as RMS Titanic went down. This miscellaneous collection of nine items in fair overall condition, on lightly aged and worn paper. ONE: Autograph Manuscript by Finck, contained names and outlines of anecdotes for inclusion in his memoirs. 2pp., 12mo. On letterhead of 212 Finchley Road, London. As an example, here is the text at the foot of one page: 'Include A. C. M. Club in Club stories. | R. A. Roberts – Colisseum | “By God! I'll ride to York.” | Ralph Reader | “Have you ever written a Ballet – about 50.” | “Have you ever arranged one.”' TWO: Autograph Card Signed ('Paps') from Finck to his wife Mabel ('Darling Mams'). On letterhead of the Grand Hotel, Eastbourne; 27 December 1918. A high-spirited missive beginning: 'I hope you all arrived safely & lost neither the bags or dogs.' On the address side Finck writes: 'I sent the wires | I had a share | I'm sending parcel to . | I tipped the Chambermaid. | I cannot get Laundry done. | I've been for a week | I had a rotten lunch. | I'm having tea | I bid you adieu.' THREE: Typed contract between Finck and the London publishers Hutchinson & Co., for a book to be titled 'In the Chair'. 19 October 1937. Signed by the firm's chairman Walter Hutchinson (1887-1950), and witnessed by 'W. T. Kimber' who was to go on and found his own firm. Possibly an intended follow-up to Finck's 'My Melodious Memories', which the firm published in 1937. FOUR: Typed Letter Signed from of London literary agents Curtis Brown Ltd. 20 October 1937. Regarding Item One, which has been 'duly stamped at Somerset House'. FIVE and SIX: Manuscript Letter addressed to 'Dear George', the author's initials as signature being indecipherable. On letterhead of the Savage Club, London. 6 December 1920. Thanking him for the 'generous cheque': 'but for those damned Cassells I would not have taken a penny'. Enclosing a Barclays Bank cheque for four guineas to 'Dr. Conran', signed by Finck, 29 October 1927. Endorsed on reverse: 'p.p. P. C. Conran | F. E. Munt'. SEVEN: Photographic image of Elizabethan gentleman, on which is written (by one of Finck's daughters?) the heading 'My 21st. Birthday April 17th. 1926.' Written over the image are various signatures in pencil, including that of Finck. EIGHT: Typed carbon copy of letter [from Finck] to Sir Landon Ronald at the Guildhall School of Music. 19 May 1924. Accepting 'the Diploma of Fellowship of the Guildhall School of Music, which the Music Committee of the Corporation of the City of London have so graciously offered to me.' NINE: Typed note: 'Mr. Herman Finck is of the opinion that there is something very illogical in the demand for a tax on his income from a Government, which, by rendering, through noise, his house useless for a composer to work in, makes the earning of that income impossible.' On reverse, in pencil: 'Book | Mams | “You've done a job of work in your time!”'