[Sir Thomas Noon Talfourd, author, judge and Radical politician.] Autograph Letter Signed to ‘T Davis Esq’ regarding the acting of Henry Thomas Betty, son of 'the young Roscius'.

Talfourd’s entry in the Oxford DNB notes that he was ‘particularly loved’ by Dickens, and that he ‘provided the archetype of the idealistic Tommy Traddles in David Copperfield; his children Frank and Kate gave their names to two youngsters in Dickens's Nicholas Nickleby.’ The subject of the letter is the actor Henry Thomas Betty (1819-1897), son of ‘the young Roscius’ Henry Betty (1791-1874), whose entry in the ODNB also see. 1p, 4to. In good condition, lightly aged, and with slight traces of mount on reverse. Folded for postage. Begins: ‘My dear Sir, / Mr. Henry Betty, the Son of the sometime famed young Roscius, is about to perform in your Town; - and, among other parts, proposes to try that of Thoas in my Play of “The Athenian Captive”. He is a very meritorious youth; - and if you should know any play-going people (now alas! a small remnant) in the neighbourhood whom you could inspire with a wish to see him either in that or in better parts, you would very much oblige, My dear Sir, / Your’s most truly / T N Talfourd’. See Image.