[Sir Anthony Carey Lewis, Principal of the Royal Academy of Music.] Typed Letter Signed to the cellist Ambrose Gauntlett, thanking him for participating in the RAM 150th Anniversary Concert. With copy of the programme.

See his entry in the Oxford DNB. For Gauntlett see the excellent article on the ‘Semibrevity’ blog: ‘Ambrose Gauntlett, forgotten gamba player and continuo cellist’, beginning: ‘Although Ambrose Gauntlett (1889–1978) spent most of his career as a full-time orchestral principal, he was the most sought-after continuo cellist and gamba player in the UK for many years. In his obituary, published in The Times, Sir Anthony Lewis mentions “his beautiful playing of the important 18th-century viola da gamba obbligato roles”.’ Both items in good condition, lightly aged. ONE: Letter, 1 June 1972. Signed ‘Tony’ and addressed in autograph to ‘Dear Ambrose’. He thanks him for participating in the concert, which he is sure will be ‘remembered as one of the high points of the 150th Anniversary Celebrations’. He continues: ‘Sir Arthur Bliss was delighted with the performance of his Music for Strings, and may I say again how much I appreciated your invitation that I should conduct the remainder of the programme.’ Not only did he find this ‘a privilege’, but also ‘a most satisfying experience’. TWO (printed programme for ‘Special Celebration Concert’, 30 May 1972): 6pp, 12mo, stapled into wraps which are printed in black and red. Slight spotting on front wrap. Newspaper cutting from the Daily Telegraph (‘Orchestrated appeal’) on blank verso of front wrap, at the head of the recto of which is written in pencil: ‘A G’s last public appearance (aged 82)’. Gauntlett is listed among the 51 members of the orchestra. From the Ambrose Gauntlett papers.