[Percy Anderson, D'Oyly Carte stage designer.] Four Autograph Letters Signed to theatrical wigmaker William Berry Clarkson, praising the work he has done on his behalf, in connection with several productions.

Total of 7pp, 12mo. All in good condition, lightly aged and worn. Each folded once. All signed 'Percy Anderson'. ONE: 12 March 1912. Begins: 'Your properties are quite splendid.' He thanks Clarkson and his assistant for the trouble they have taken 'over the “M[?]”'. Ends: 'I thought everything as good as it cd be – I refer to yr work of course'. TWO: 31 December [1912]. He thanks him for his 'delightful' card, and for 'yr. good wishes & for the tickets you so kindly send me for The Miracle. It was most thoughtful of you.' He ends in the hope that 1913 will be a crowning success you for [sic] & that you will have a very happy time'. THREE: 19 January [no year]. He is seeing 'Mr. Simmons' at 11 am the following day, and will 'look in' on Clarkson afterwards. He thanks him 'for all the good work' on 'The Country Girl', adding: 'I want you to put all yr “guts” please into the “Ulysses” wigs'. FOUR: 10 September [no year]. 'It is too kind of you to send me those lovely figs. There's nothing I like better, & I am most grateful.' FOUR: 31 December [1912]. The recipient William Clarkson was the owner of Clarkson's Wigs, Wellington Street, London. James Morton, in his 'Gangland Soho' (2012), alleges that Clarkson (who has a blue plaque to his name at 41-43 Wardour Street) was not only a repeated insurance fraudster, but a notorious homosexual blackmailer, after whom the public lavatory in Dansey Place was named 'Clarkson's Cottage'. RE Anderson & G & S: "The artist and costume designer Percy Anderson (1851-1928) was based in London where he exhibited watercolours at the New Water Colour Society in 1886. He designed costumes for the original productions of the last four Gilbert and Sullivan operas at the Savoy Theatre - The Yeomen of the Guard (1888), The Gondoliers (1889), Utopia, Limited (1893), and The Grand Duke (1896), and for several D’Oyly Carte revivals including that for Utopia, Limited considered by Rupert D’Oyly Carte in 1926 and but never realised. Given Gilbert’s exacting attitude to his productions it is an accolade to Anderson that he worked with Gilbert on so many, including Gilbert and Edward German’s Fallen Fairies (1909), when Gilbert said Anderson: ‘surpassed himself’".