DRYHURST

Unpublished youthful autograph poem by Sylvia Lynd [née Sylvia Dryhurst], dealing in a humorous style with the perils of buying footwear in Edwardian Finchley, North London, beginning: 'By some devil surely sent | Sandal hunting off I went'.

Author: 
Sylvia Lynd [née Sylvia Dryhurst] (1888-1952), Anglo-Irish poet, novelist and essayist, wife of the Irish essayist Robert Lynd (1879-1949)
Publication details: 
Without place or date. [London, before 1909.]
£135.00

2pp., 12mo. On bifiolium of ruled paper, with 'HIERATICA' watermark of 'J. S. & Co.' From the Lynd archive, and judging from the handwriting a youthful effort, almost-certainly dating from before Sylvia Dryhurst's marriage to Robert Lynd in 1909. In fair condition, on aged paper. In seven stanzas, the first three giving a taste of an amusing and unusual jeu d'esprit and excellent piece of Edwardian social history: '1) By some devil surely sent | Sandal hunting off I went, | And my footsteps never slowed | Till I reached the Finchley Road. | Chorus: (with fervour) Damn them ! | Damn them !

Bookplate by Edward Gordon-Craig for Martin Shaw, with Autograph Note by Shaw to 'Mrs. & Mr. Dryhurst', requesting 'as a Xmas present a new member' [of the Purcell Operatic Society], and explanatory note by the Dryhursts' granddaughter Maire Gaster.

Author: 
Edward Gordon Craig (1872-1966) and Martin Shaw (1875-1958), founders of the Purcell Operatic Society; Maire Gaster [née Lynd] (1912-90), granddaughter of A. R. Dryhurst and N. F. ('Nannie') Dryhurst
Publication details: 
[London.] 1901.
£220.00

The bookplate is 3.5 x 2.5 cm, and shows a troubadour with a lute, with the initials 'M S' at the foot. It is affixed to a piece of 14 x 9 cm card. Bookplate in good condition, on aged card with one creased corner. The card carries the message in pencil by Shaw: 'Mrs. & Mr. Dryhurst.

Autograph Letter Signed ('Teddy Craig') from Edward Gordon Craig to Nannie Florence Dryhurst, anarchist, suffragette, giving details of his charges for designing and printing bookplates. With proof of Craig's bookplate for Dryhurst.

Publication details: 
Letter on letterhead of 17 Sunderland Terrace, London W2. Neither item dated.
£250.00

Letter: 1p., 12mo. On letterhead of 12 Sunderland Terrace, London, printed in orange with orange border. Good, on lightly-aged paper. He states that his daughter Nelly (1904-1975) has given him her bookplate block 'to get printed for you'. He quotes prices for 100 and 300 prints, 'only to old friends so please dont tell anyone else!! If you will just let me have a P.C I will get them done in two days.' Nelly has also told him that Mrs Dryhurst's husband Alfred Robert Dryhurst (1859-1949) 'wanted to know my price for a bookplate (but perhaps she got that wrong) anyhow I generally charge £10.

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