[Mabel Constandurous, star and writer of BBC radio series ‘The Buggins Family’.] Two Autograph Letters Signed to her agent ‘Miss Booth', discussing the success of her radio work, a fan letter from Compton Mackenzie, future engagements.

According to Barry Took’s entry on Constanduros in the Oxford DNB, ‘The Buggins Family’ was ‘the first radio family’, and she played all six parts, writing and performing in more than 250 episodes between and 1928 and 1948: ‘The popularity of the family was such that the Ministry of Food used Mrs Buggins to broadcast recipes during the Second World War.’Constanduros is also credited with having written more than one hundred plays. The recipient of these two letters, 'Miss Booth', is clearly her agent. Two items, the first in good condition and the second fair, on lightly discoloured paper. Both signed ‘Mabel Constanduros’. ONE: Undated ALS to ‘Miss Booth’, signed ‘Mabel Constanduros’. 1p, 12mo. Folded twice. She is sending the stamps she had forgotten to send previously, ‘Also these two articles, and a Cockney story which I had forgotten. I can do a series of the articles if wanted. Don’t worry about these things if they aren’t any good.’ She ends with an enquiry after the recipient’s health. TWO: Undated ALS [to ‘Miss Booth’], signed ‘Mabel Constanduros’. On Sutton letterhead. 2pp, 4to. 48 lines of closely-written text. Recipient not named, and no salutation. Begins: ‘I felt sure you were ill again and have been cursing myself for increasing your burdens in any way. Don’t worry at all about my business - those compositions of mine will do any time. I looked upon them as dead so if they do sell I shall be delighted but if they don’t I shan’t be at all disappointed. I should make capital out of my broadcasting name, though when offering them’. She lists thirteen ‘Future engagements’ from ‘Dec. 1 & 2 Nottingham (Bazaar)’ to ‘Jan 7 Aylesbury.’ At end: ‘My future after that is uncertain.’ She has been ‘asked by Messry Wylie & Tate to go out in their Wireless Revue - the prospect of many months away from home fills me with dread’. She describes an alternative to this before remarking about the recipient: ‘It must be maddening for you not to be allowed to work - poor dear’. Switching to another topic she states that she is ‘so pleased because I’ve just had the most wonderful letter from Compton Mackenzie about my wireless work. He even asks me to stay with him in his Channel Island home. I am so pleased.’ She will ring to know how she is. ‘You’re not to fag yourself in the least about my things.’ She ends by stating that she is sending ‘one more story’: ‘the Royal wont have it, but as I say I look upon them as dead heads & shan’t worry about them but I shall worry about you if you don’t get better.’