AUTOGRAPH

See his entry in the Oxford DNB. On 11 x 7 cm piece of grey paper, presumably cut from an album. In good condition, lightly aged, with traces of glue from mount on reverse. Reads: ‘Try & trust will move mountains - / J. M. de Robeck / 1919’. See Image.

Emerson’s novels have undergone a re-evaluation in recent years. The first six were republished by Quartet Books as ‘Rediscovered Classics’ in 2017, and in 2021 by Quadrant Books. ‘Books and Bookmen’ was one of a stable of seven London arts magazines owned by Philip Dosse (1925-1980) of Hansom Books. Emerson, who was the editor of the magazine at the time of Dosse’s suicide, has published an account of her time there: ‘Death of a Bookman’, Standpoint, October 2018.

See his entry in the Oxford DNB. Slip of paper, roughly 15 x 2.5 cm, cut from form. Somewhat discoloured by the glue with which it is laid down on irregularly-cut backing card. Good firm signature ‘Samuel Cooper’, followed by the lithographed word ‘Professor.’ in gothic script. See IMage.

See his entry in the Oxford DNB. In good condition, lightly aged, with light ink mark beside date. Folded for postage. The recipient’s Hampstead Garden Suburb address at foot. He thanks him for his letter ‘about my “usage and abusage” of the English language’. All he can do is ‘plead guilty, and hope that that plea will not prejudice the chance of you being prepared to forgive me!’ The word ‘prepared’ is underlined, and may be the cause of Collins’s complaint.

See the entry what was wrote about him in the Oxford DNB. The archives of the recipient, Vere Henry Collins (1872-1966), are now housed in the library at Yale. All four items signed ‘Ernest Gowers’ ONE: ALS, 27 June 1952. 2pp, 12mo. In fair condition, worn and spotted, with pin holes to one corner and short closed tear at edge of one of the two folds. Begins: ‘By all means. The more I look into your book the more I realise how true what I said was.

The recipient Philip Dosse was proprietor of Hansom Books, publisher of a stable of seven arts magazines including Books and Bookmen and ‘Plays and Players’. 2pp, small 4to. Addressed to ‘Dear Philip Dossé’ [sic] and signed ‘Richard Ingrams’. He is enclosing ‘a rather rude review of the Clive James book for the June B & B’, and sends renewed apologies for missing the May issue. He will ‘do Thurber next’ and reminds Dosse that he still has ‘the biography of Thurber which you sent me many moons ago’: ‘Would it be too late to embrace that as well?’ He thanks him for ‘continuing to print the P.

See his entry in the Oxford DNB. The recipient Philip Dosse was proprietor of Hansom Books, publisher of a stable of seven arts magazines including ‘Books and Bookmen’ and ‘Plays and Players’. 1p, 4to. In good condition, lightly aged and worn. Folded twice for postage. In autograph: ‘Dear Philip Dossé [sic]’ and ‘Yours sincerely / Richard Acland’. He begins by thanking Dosse for his ‘most generous letter’ with regard to his autobiography ‘Four Years Hard Labour’, and for the offer of a free advertisement in ‘Books and Bookmen’, continuing: ‘But how sad.

1p, landscape 12mo. On ruled paper. In fair condition, but with traces of glue from mount from reverse, a strip of which shows through along the outer edge, not affecting text. Good firm signature, underlined: ‘Robert Leighton’. Clearly a response to a request for an autograph: ‘Dear Scout Sibson, / I have much pleasure in acceding to your wish. / Very truly yours / Robert Leighton’.

See his entry in the Oxford DNB. The recipient Philip Dosse (Hoggart addresses him as Dosse) was the proprietor of Hansom Books, which operated a stable of seven London arts magazines, including ‘Books and Bookmen’ and ‘Plays and Players’. 1p, 4to. In fair condition, slightly aged, worn and creased. Folded twice. Signed ‘Richard Hoggart’ (‘Assistant Director-General (Social Sciences, Human Sciences and Culture)’. He presumes that the letter with the copies of ‘Books and Bookmen’ was delayed by the French customs.

See his entry in the Oxford DNB. Slip of paper, roughly 18 x 2.5 cm, cut from form. Somewhat discoloured by the glue with which it is laid down on irregularly-cut backing card. Good firm signature ‘James Copland’, followed by the lithographed word ‘Professor.’ in gothic script, which is followed by ‘pro temp.’ in Copland’s autograph. See Image.

See his entry in the Oxford DNB. The two items in good condition, lightly discoloured, and each folded twice. Both addressed to ‘Doyne . C . Bell’. ONE (17 December 1886): 2pp, 12mo. On first leaf of bifolium. Signed ‘J. Callcott Horsley. He explains the reason for not writing sooner: ‘I waited to see how our wants were likely to be as to small pictures’. The picture that Bell describes ‘must be a very interesting one’, and Horsley would ‘much like to see it’.

See his entry in the Oxford DNB, and his Guardian obituary by Kemp’s collaborator Michael Coveney, 26 August 2018. Sprawling autograph inscription in green ink (‘with love for Paul from lindsay X’) across top of centre pages of an attractive programme for Kemp’s celebrated treatment of the works by Jean Genet and Oscar Wilde, with numerous photographs and illustrations: 16pp, 8vo, in black and white, on glossy paper, stapled into glossy red covers. Full page introductory piece on the Lindsay Kemp Company by David Haughton. See Image of autograph.

See her entry and his in the Oxford DNB. 2pp, 8vo. In fair condition, on aged and lightly creased paper. Folded for postage. Addressed to ‘Dear Mr Robey’ and signed ‘E Londonderry.’ Begins: ‘We are holding a gigantic Jumble Sale on the 10th. of July – to help the Legion funds – We are calling it the Jazz Jumble Sale as there is a the dansant as well – A kind of fair we intend to make it & a member of the Royal family is going to open it in the afternoon. Will you be very kind and come and auction some of the things for us at four oclock.

From the Henry Williamson papers. The present text does not feature in Williamson’s 1941 memoir of Lawrence ‘Genius of Friendship’, and appears to be unpublished. (According to Williamson’s entry in the Oxford DNB, the publication in 1927 of ‘Tarka the Otter’ ‘attracted the attention of T. E. Lawrence, whose letter of praise started a correspondence and friendship between the two.

See the entry on his son Horatio Ross (1801-1886) – named after his father’s friend Lord Nelson who was the boys godfather and died the year after the writing of this letter - in the Oxford DNB. 1p, 4to. Twenty-two lines of closely and neatly written text. In good condition, lightly aged and creased, with strip of paper from mount to one edge. With fold lines. The recipient is addressed as ‘My dear Sir’ and not named, and the letter signed ‘H. Ross’. Written in a spirited style.

See the entries for Cathcart and Dundas in the Oxford DNB. 1p, folio. In fair condition, on aged paper, with wear along one edge, and repair with archival tape along folds. Addressed ‘To / The Paymasters General of His Majesty’s Forces, or the Paymasters General for the time being -’. Signed ‘G Hotham Lt Genl. / D. Dundas Lt Gl.

See his entry in the Oxford DNB, with that of the presumed recipient, the Manchester bookseller William Ford. 1p, 4to. On recto of first leaf of bifolium, the verso of the second addressed, with two postmarks, to ‘Mr. Wm. Ford / 11 Strangates / Lambeth.’ In good condition, lightly aged, with spots of paper from mount at corners on address page. Folded for postage. Signed ‘Geo: Chalmers’. He begins by thanking him for his ‘obliging Note’ of the previous day, before stating that he has ‘the curious Tract, which was printed, by Raban of Aberdeen’.

See her entry in the Oxford DNB. On 15.5 x 5.5 cm slip of paper, cut from an autograph album. In good condition, lightly aged, with some show-through from the writing on the reverse. Reads ‘To Minna May / With my love / “Auntie” Gladys / Gladys Cooper / 1935’. See Image.The writing rises slightly across the page, and a small section at the bottom of the initial ‘G’ and the ‘y’ of ‘Gladys’ have been trimmed away. On the reverse is the following, in an unidentified hand: ‘Philatelic Minna May / Came to lunch with me today: / took my box of stamps away, / Says she’ll bring ’em back – some day!

See her entry in the Oxford DNB. 1p, 12mo. In good condition, lightly aged, with slight discoloration around edges caused by the show-through of glue from the reverse. As editor of ‘London Society’ she writes: ‘Dear Mr Cork - / The next Number is in the Press, & I should not have room for the Article in question until the subject was stale / Yrs faithfully / F Marryat. Ross Church’.

Felix Mendelssohn was his godfather. See the entry on his father Ignaz Moscheles (1794-1870) in the Oxford DNB. Moscheles discusses his acquaintance with Kate Terry and her husband Arthur Lewis in his 1896 reminiscences ‘In Bohemia with Du Maurier’. 1p, 12mo. On first leaf of bifolium. In good condition, lightly aged and creased, with part of mount adhering to the blank second leaf. Addressed to ‘Dear Mrs Lewis’ and signed ‘Felix Moscheles’. He asks her to ‘let the bearer have the necklace you spoke of the other day’, as he ‘can just use it this morning’.

See his entry in the Oxford DNB. A 17.5 x 9.5 cm rectangle of grey paper, torn from the conclusion of a letter, evidently in response to a request for an autograph. In good condition, lightly aged, with central vertical fold. Reads: ‘[…] part or else the picture will be gone. / Yours sincerely / F Brangwyn’. The ‘F’ of the signature is more lightly inked than the rest. See Image.

See his entry in the Oxford DNB. The archives of the recipient are at Yale. Addressed to ‘Vere H. Collins Esq.’ and signed ‘Frank Swinnerton’. Written in Swinnerton’s distinctive minuscule hand. The central part of the letter has smudging from another letter lightly blotted over it (not near the signature), otherwise in good condition, lightly aged, and folded twice. He thanks him for sending a copy of his book ‘One Word and Another’. He has ‘already glanced through the book; but we have visitors here, with children, and I am writing an urgent article under great difficulties’.

See the entries for his mother and father in the Oxford DNB. The recipient Philip Dosse (Guinness spells it ‘Dossé’) was proprietor of Hansom Books, publisher of a stable of seven arts magazines including Books and Bookmen and ‘Plays and Players’. 1p, 12mo. In good condition, lightly aged. Folded once for postage. Large signature, underlined. Reads: ‘Thankyou! [sic] I should be glad to review “Lost Demesnes” and “Classic Irish Houses” by Craig (see the enclosed) if it is sent to you.’

Sprawling but not unattractive signature, with curled flourish, on piece of wove paper which has been cut into an irregular 9.5 x 6 cm oval to match the curve of the signature. In good condition, lightly aged. The recipient has noted the singer's name on the reverse, which carries traces of glue and brown paper from mount. See Image.

It was around the time of this autograph that Donovan travelled with the Beatles to India to see the Maharishi, during which he gave Lennon and McCartney tips on guitar playing. A couple of months later he would release one of his biggest hits, ‘Hurdy Gurdy Man’. On 14 x 10.5 cm piece of grey paper, extracted from an album. In good condition, lightly aged. Large flowing inscription in red ink, diagonally down from top left: ‘love / To Clare / from / Donovan’. Also in red ink, in another hand at top left: ‘ROYAL ALBERT / HALL / MARCH ’68’.

See Kennington’s entry in the Oxford DNB. All six items in good condition, lightly aged. Previously pinned together, with Kennington’s letters folded for postage, and all three are 1p, 8vo, and signed ‘Eric Kennington’. ONE: Kennington ALS, 11 June 1956. Having conferred with Ackroyd’s clerk ‘Mr. Osborne’, he explains that he cannot give his attention to the portrait until September.

See her entry, and those of Robey and her husband, in the Oxford DNB. 2pp, 4to. In good condition, lightly aged. With two folds. Addressed to ‘Geo Robey. Esq. C.B.E.’ and signed ‘Margaret Lloyd George.’ She gives details of a concert she is having at Downing Street the following month, ‘in aid of the Electrical Industries Association’, and has been asked by its committee to ‘invite your kindly assistance’.

See her entry, and her husband’s, in the Oxford DNB. The recipient Philip Dosse was proprietor of Hansom Books, publisher of a stable of seven arts magazines including ‘Books and Bookmen’ and ‘Plays and Players’. Postcard of 14 x 9 cm, with letterhead and no illustration. Monogram signature ‘RK’. In good condition, lightly aged, with slight smudging to a couple of words in one corner. Addressed to ‘Mr Philip Dossé. [sic] / Hansom Books. / Artillery Mansions. / 75, Victoria Street. / LONDON.

1p, landscape 12mo. In good condition, lightly aged. In response to a request for an autograph: ‘Para Paul-Marcel como recuerdo afectuoso. / Alicia de Larrocha / 18. 6 – 1975’. See Image.

Humphris wrote a number of books, including biographies of Fred Archer, Mathew Dawson, Adam Lindsay Gordon. See Power’s entry in the Oxford DNB. From Power’s library. The material is in good condition, lightly aged, in good tight green cloth binding made for Power, with ‘BOB POTT’ in gilt on spine. The printed article is 36pp, 4to, paginated 69-104, with two plates: black and white photographs of George Romney’s portraits of Pott and his wife Emily. A couple of minor manuscript emendations by the author at the start, and a few pencil annotations by Power.