FILM

[ Percy Nash, English pioneering film director. ] Collection of miscellaneous material, from the Percy Nash papers, including typescripts of unpublished and unperformed plays, poetry collections, autobiographical account, correspondence.

Author: 
Percy Nash [ Percy Cromwell Nash ] (1869-1958), pioneering British film director and dramatist
Publication details: 
Most items undated, others from between 1923 and 1957. From London, Brighton and other locations.
£1,250.00

The material, from the Percy Nash papers, is in fair condition, with light signs of age and wear. It is arranged in the following description in ten sections. ONE: Two drafts of an autobiographical account by Nash, ending in 1933. Both 2pp., 4to. The first is headed 'Percy Nash' and the second 'PERCY NASH. born December 5th 1868'. Of interest are the following statements: 'Owing to indisposition of Harry Loveday, was engaged by Sir Henry Irving to Stage Manage (associated with Laurence) the production of "Robespierre" at the Lyceum Theatre, and remain with him for several years.

[ Percy Nash, English film director. ] Unpublished pantomimes: typewritten drafts of 'Cinders | A Tabloid Version of a Famous Story' and 'Sweet Cinderella | The Flower of the Family'; 'Puss in Boots' and 'Sinbad the Sailor'.

Author: 
Percy Nash [ Percy Cromwell Nash ] (1869-1958), pioneering British film director and dramatist
Publication details: 
Nash's address given on 'Sweet Cinderella" as 2 Bristol Court West | Marine Parade | Brighton'.The other two items without place. None of the three dated.
£500.00

The four items in fair condition, on lightly aged paper. Typed on rectos only, and with all three attached with brass studs. From the Percy Nash papers. ONE: 'Cinders | A Tabloid Version of a Famous Story' [ retitled in manuscript from 'Cinderella | A Fantasy in Two Parts'. 16pp., 4to. Characters include 'The Baron Orpington . . . A Henpecked Old Bird' and 'Prince Ministroni . . . The Broth of a Boy'. With a few minor manuscript changes. Referred to as 'our Pantomime' in the finale. TWO: 'Sweet Cinderella| The Flower of the Family | Potted by | Percy Nash'. 9pp., 8vo.

[ Henri Lucas and Percy Nash, film score. ] Manuscript orchestral muscial parts of 'The Golden Ballot. Two-Step composed by Percy Nash. Orchestrated by Henri Lucas.'

Author: 
Henri Lucas, composer; Percy Nash [ Percy Cromwell Nash ] (1869-1958), pioneering British film director and dramatist
Publication details: 
New Theatre [ London ]. 4 April 1920.
£450.00

38 items, in fair condition, lighty aged and worn. The main item is the complete score, containing all the parts, on 12pp., folio, and signed at foot of last page: 'New Theatre | April 4th. 1920 | Henri Lucas'. This is accompanied by 37 parts for separate instruments, each 4pp.in a 4to bifolium. According to the British Film Catalogue a film by the title 'The Golden Ballot' appeared in 1920.

[ Sidney Morgan, English film director ] Autograph Letter Signed to fellow film-director Percy Nash, regarding the British Association of Film Directors and the 'great fight to obtain The Quota'.

Author: 
Sidney Morgan (1874-1946), English film director, who acted for Alfred Hitchcock [ [ Percy Nash [ Percy Cromwell Nash ] (1869-1958), film director and dramatist; Cinematograph Films Act of 1927 ]
Publication details: 
On letterhead of the British Association of Film Directors, The Players Club, Denman Street, London. 30 May 1927.
£90.00

1p., 4to. In good condition, lightly aged. Nash is named on the letterhead as the Association's president, and Morgan as Honorary Secretary and Treasurer. The letter begins: Dear Percy / | For various reasons we did not get a largely attended meeting on Friday, but the better feeling between members seems still to grow.' Nash's 'protracted illness' has clearly necessitated his stepping down as president, and '[a]fter considerable discussion it was decided to ask Pearson & Elvey [i.e. George Pearson (1875-1973) and Maurice Elvey (1887-1967)] to be President & Vice with myself to continue'.

[ MIles Malleson, film actor and dramatist. ] Autograph Letter Signed ('Miles Malleson') to Kenneth Sephton, regarding his work as a playwright.

Author: 
Miles Malleson [ William Miles Malleson ] (1888-1969), English film actor and dramatist
Publication details: 
135 Harley Street, W1 [ London ]. 3 May 1960.
£35.00

2pp., 12mo. In good condition, on lightly-aged paper. He thanks him for his 'most generous & warming letter' about his 1927 comedy 'The Fanatics'. He has not answered sooner as he was 'suddenly caught up in some very hectic & engrossing rehearsals for "Rhinoceros" at the Court Theatre'.

[ Jack Denton, film director. ] Four Autograph Letters Signed to film maker Percy Nash, with copy of the script of his play 'The Fairyland Express' ('A Xmas Fairy Play By Jack Denton').

Author: 
Jack Denton (fl. 1924), British actor and film director of the silent era [ Percy Nash [ Percy Cromwell Nash ] (1869-1958), actor, dramatist and film director ]
Publication details: 
The first two of Denton's letters from 12 Montague Road, Richmond, Surrey, and the last two from the Opera House, Coventry. All four from 1933. The playscript from 25 Monmouth Road, Watford, and undated.
£450.00

ONE: Typed playscript. 64pp., 8vo. Typed in purple ink, on rectos only. In pink card 'Ludgate File', with white typed label on front cover: 'THE FAIRYLAND EXPRESS'. In fair condition, aged and worn, with the leaves bound in with a rusted metal bar. Initial blank leaf with ownership inscription: 'Jack Denton | 12 Montague Road | Richmond | Surrey', as well as 'Mr Percy Nash | see phone'. The first page gives Denton's typed address as '25 Monmouth Road | Watford', and lists the cast, headed by 'Prudence . . . a little girl from Kensington', and 'Eric' and 'Marjorie', who are 'Her cousins . .

[ Bryan Forbes, film director. ] Autograph Card Signed to Ken Sephton, regarding a letter and its 'nostalgic reference'.

Author: 
Bryan Forbes [ John Theobald Clarke ] (1926-2013), English film director
Publication details: 
Place and date not stated.
£25.00

In blue ink on one side of a 10 x 16 cm piece of white card with Forbes's name printed at the head. In very good condition. He thanks him for the 'kind and interesting letter': 'I particularly liked your nostalgic reference to snak where I had many a meal "on the slate"!'

[ Will Day, British cinema pioneer. ] Typed Letter Signed ('W. Day | F.R.P.S. FRSA') to firm of royal photographer Marcus Adams, regarding his desire to end a 'film somewhat of a national character' with 'a short length of little Princess Elizabeth'.

Author: 
Will Day [ Wilfred Ernest Lytton Day ] (1873-1936), cinema historian, showman and dealer in film equipment [ Marcus Adams (1875-1959), royal photographer ]
Publication details: 
On letterhead of Will Day, Ltd, Wireless Apparatus, 19 Lisle Street, Wardour Street, W.C., London. 22 May 1928.
£65.00

1p., 4to. In good condition, on lightly-aged paper. Ornate letterhead printed in red and black, with engraving of a rising sun ('The Mark of Excellence'). Addressed to 'Messrs. Marcus Adams Ltd. | Child Photographers, | 43, Dover Street, | W.1.' The letter begins: 'I have in hand the production of a film somewhat of a national character, including all the episodes in the reigns of our Royal Family, from Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee onwards, and I thought it would be a very nice idea to finish the film with a short length of little Princess Elizabeth.

[ Don Ameche, American Oscar-winning actor. ] Autograph signature.

Author: 
Don Ameche [ Dominic Felix Amici ] (1908-1993), American Oscar-winning actor
Publication details: 
On letterhead of the Savoy Hotel, London. Undated.
£30.00

Good firm inscription on 19.5 x 16 cm letterhead. In good condition, lightly aged and creased, with slight rust staining to top left-hand corner from paperclip. Inscription reads: 'Sincere best wishes | Don Ameche'.

[ Unmade British film noir based on the Burke and Hare murders, apparently intended as a vehicle for Sir Donald Wolfit. ] Typed screenplay of 'The Body Snatchers by John Lemont and Leigh Vance', 'Treatment by Bill Strutton'.

Author: 
John Lemont (1914-2003), Canadian director; Leigh Vance (1922-1994), producer; Bill Strutton (1918-2003), Australian screenwriter; Zodia Productions, London [Sir Donald Wolfit; Burke and Hare murders]
Publication details: 
'A Master Film Treatment for Zodiac Productions | Copyright: Zodiac Productions Ltd: 171, Shahftesbury Avenue, London, W.C.1.' Undated [ circa 1958 ].
£400.00

[1] + 62pp., folio. On rectos only. Bound with metal studs into yellow card covers, with the spine reinforced with cloth tape. In fair condition, lightly aged and worn. Loosely inserted is a five-page carbon typescript describing 'Approximate number of costumes necessary'. Also inserted is a typed page beginning with an 'Extract from letter from Sir Donald Wolfit: 8.7.58. | At the moment it looks like an opening date in the second half of September out of London for six or seven weeks first. Mr. Laurence Irving will be in touch with you in the near future for a preliminary discussion'.

[ Lajos Bíró, Alexander Korda's scenario chief at London Film Productions. ] Unpublished typescript of '"Hollywood of Course" A Play In Three Acts By LAJOS BIRO'.

Author: 
Lajos Bíró [ Lajos Biro ] [ born Lajos Blau ] (1880-1948), Austro-Hungarian novelist, playwright and screenwriter who worked for Alexander Korda at London Film Productions
Publication details: 
'Copyright 1942 by British and Continental Plays Ltd.'
£400.00

168pp., 4to. Pages typed in black and red (by Active Secretarial Bureau, Wardour Street) on versos only. Bound in grey card wraps, with red tape spine. Typed title on cover, with circular red label of 'British and Continental Plays Ltd'. The main characters include the unnamed members of a continental royal family, together with 'Baroness Sibyl Konigsmark' and 'Section-Leader Grumb', and the scene is set at an Old Castle and Summer Palace, and 'Late in June of the year 1941. Three o'clock p.m.' and periods shortly following.

[ F. Britten Austin, novelist. ] Typescripts of acts I and 3 of his unpublished only play, 'The Thing that Matters'. With numerous manuscript additions and directions, plus extra typed material.

Author: 
F. Britten Austin [ Frederick Britten Austin ] (1885-1941) [ Percy Burton, theatrical agent and motion picture pioneer; Arthur Bourchier; Helen Maud Holt (1863-1937) [ Mrs Beerbohm Tree; Lady Tree ] ]
Publication details: 
F. Britten Austin, Northgate House, Bishops Stortford, Herts. Undated [ circa 1921 ].
£580.00

126pp., 4to. (Act 1 has 55pp. and Act 3 has 71pp.) Each act bound in grey card covers. Worn and aged, with the remains of the purple ribbon used to bind the leaves into their covers. A heavily reworked typescript. As is customary, the typed text of the play is on the rectos only, but leaves with additional typed and manuscript (presumably autograph) text have been inserted. Numerous manuscript additions and deletions to the text on the rectos, with additional typed passages on pieces of paper laid down onto the facing versos, which also carry further manuscript changes.

[ Sabu, Indian film actor. ] Autograph Note Signed, given during the shooting of the film for which he is best known, 'The Thief of Baghdad'.

Author: 
Sabu [ Sabu Dastagir; Selar Shaik Sabu; Sabu Francis ] (1924-1963), Indian film actor working in England and Hollywood
Publication details: 
No place [ Twickenham Film Studios ]. 1939.
£65.00

Good firm inscription on 18 x 16 cm leaf of blue paper removed from album. Reads: 'To Ann | with very Best wishes | from | Sabu | THE THIEF OF | BAGHDAD | 1939'. The recipient was the daughter of a cameraman at Twickenham Film Studios.

[ 'Carnival', 1946 British film. ] Autograph Signatures of director Stanley Haynes and actors Sally Gray, Michael Wilding, Stanley Holloway, Jean Kent, Catherine Lacey, Hazel Court, and two members of the crew.

Author: 
Michael Wilding; Stanley Holloway; Sally Gray; Catherine Lacey; Stanley Haynes; Michael Clarke; Hazel Court, Jean Kent, Guy Green [ Twickenham Film Studios; 'Carnival', 1946 British film ]
Publication details: 
No place [ Twickenham Film Studios ]. 1945.
£80.00

On 18 x 16 cm leaf removed from an album. In good condition, lightly-aged. Headed '"Carnival" July 1945' and with the following signatures: 'Stanley Haynes (Director) | Guy Green . (Camera) | Sally Gray | Stanley Holloway (actor) | Catherine Lacey | Michael Clarke | Hazel Court. | Michael Wilding | Jean Kent | <?> (stills)'. The recipient was the daughter of a cameraman at Twickenham Film Studios.

[ George Sanders, English film actor. ] Typically-caddish Autograph Inscription to a six-year-old girl, given during shooting of 'The Saint in London'. With autographs of the brothers John Paddy Carstairs (director) and Tony Keys.

Author: 
George Sanders (1906-1972), English film actor; John Paddy Carstairs [ born John Keys ] (1910-1970), film director, and his brother Tony Keys, film producer associated with Hammer Films
Publication details: 
No place [ Twickenham Film Studios]. April 1939.
£90.00

The three inscriptions are all on one side of an 18 x 16 cm leaf taken from an album. In good condition, lightly-aged. Given during the shooting of the RKO film 'The Saint in London' (1939), which Sanders starred in and Carstairs directed. Sanders writes, at the head of the page, 'To Anne | I want to see you in about 8 years time! | George Sanders | April 1939.' Beneath this is: 'Anne - let's make it seven! | John Paddy Carstairs: | '39.' And beneath Carstairs' inscription: 'Six years. X. | Tony Keys'. The recipient was the daughter off a cameraman at Twickenham Film Studios.

[ Radio; wartime broadcaster ] Autograph Letter Signed "Bruce Belfrage" to "Brunel".

Author: 
Bruce Belfrage, actor and BBC News Reader
Publication details: 
[Printed heading] Folly Meadow, Penn, Buckinghamshire, 25 Nov. 1947.
£45.00

Two pages, 8vo, good condition. His correspondence reports a "chapter of misfortune" only to be capped by Belfrage's information about his father's cancer, brother's ulcer [Cedric Belfrage, alleged Soviet spy] and son's sending hom from school because of an outbreak of "infantile paralysis2. "All this made me forget to draw your attention to a broadcast discussion on the film industry which I chaoired at Cardiff last Saturday.

[ Catholic Film Institute, London. ] Hon. Secretary's Report, 1949, and Statement of Accounts for the Year ended 30th June, 1949.

Author: 
Rev. John A. V. Burke, Hon. Sec., Catholic Film Institute, London
Publication details: 
[ Catholic Film Institute, London. ] 1949. [ Carey & Claridge, Printers, 253 Fulham Road, Chelsea, S.W.3. ]
£56.00

Stapled printed pamphlet. 11 + [1]pp., 16mo. In good condition, on lightly aged paper with rusted staples. A page of officers, headed by the Archbishop of Westminster as President, and Rt Rev. Abbot Upson as Vice-President, is followed by Burke's five-page report, and then three pages of balance sheets for the organisation, 'Focus', general funds, 'Penny-a-Day' Fund, and 'Fatima' Fund. No other copy traced, either on OCLC WorldCat or on COPAC.

[ John Loder, English stage and Hollywood actor. ] Black and white studio photograph by Cyril Leeston of London, showing Loder in costume of the film 'Java Head' (1934), with signed inscription by Loder to 'Mrs. Wright'.

Author: 
John Loder [ William John Muir Lowe ] (1898-1988), English stage and Hollywood actor [ Cyril Leeston, London photographer ]
Publication details: 
Stamp on reverse of Cyril Leeston, London. Undated (1934).
£40.00

A black and white print, 24 x 19 cm. In good condition, lightly aged and worn. Shows Loder in top hat and nineteenth-century frock coat, with cane. Inscribed: 'To Mrs. Wright | With sincere good wishes | from | John Loder.' In pencil on reverse: 'Capt. William | Java Head | J. K. 67 | For Mrs Wright | Stills'. Stamped on reverse: 'CYRIL LEESTON | LONDON | TELEPHONE 3884 PADDINGTON'. This image is not in the National Portrait Gallery collection, nor is any other by Leeston.

[ Gracie Fields. ] Two black and white prints of photographic studio portraits of the singer and actress Gracie Fields, one promoting 'Sing As We Go' (1934) and the other 'Look Up And Laugh' (1935).

Author: 
Gracie Fields [ stage name of Grace Stansfield ] (1898-1979), English singer and stage and screen actress [ Cyril Leeston, London photographer; A. T. P. Studios]
Publication details: 
The 'Sing As We Go' photograph has the stamp on the reverse of Cyril Leeston, London, and is captioned in pencil '1935 A.T.P. Studios'. The 'Look Up And Laugh' photograph is captioned on reverse 'A.T.P. Studio 1935'.
£60.00

The two prints are in good condition, with light signs of age and wear. The 'Sing As We Go' (1934) photograph is 24 x 19.5 cm. In pencil on the reverse: 'Gracie Fields | S.G.P 4 | "Sing as we go" 1935 [sic] A.T.P. Studios' and is stamped 'CYRIL LEESTON | LONDON | TELEPHONE 3884 PADDINGTON'. It is a head and shoulders shot of Fields, leaning slightly forwards as she looks straight into the camera, smiling. The 'Look Up And Laugh' (1935) photograph is 25.5 x 19.5 cm. It has in pencil on reverse: 'LL | P.24 | Gracie Fields in "Look up & Laugh" | A.T.P. Studios 1935'.

[ 'Baron', society photographer. ] Three family photographs of 'Baron' [ Sterling Henry Nahum ], one with a signed inscripion by him, and a contact sheet of nine shots of his face.

Author: 
'Baron' [ Sterling [ Stirling ] Henry Nahum ] (1906-1956) ], London dance, film and celebrity photographer
Publication details: 
The inscription on the back of the photograph is dated May 1940. The other items undated.
£200.00

Three black and white prints, ranging in size from 12 x 17 cm to 10 x 7.5 cm. The contact sheet is 12.5 x 13 cm. The four items in fair condition, lightly aged and worn. One of the three pictures shows a smiling Baron outdoors with a young blonde boy (his son?), who is holding a camera tripd; another shows him standing with his arm on the shoulder of another man (his brother?), both on skis in the snow; and the third shows him in a heavy wool coat, on the steps of a European building, with a man in Slavic costume. The last is inscribed on the reverse: 'May 1940 |

A complete run of the 14 numbers of 'Cinema Studies The Journal of the Society for Film History Research'.

Author: 
Neville March Hunnings and John Gillett, editor [The Society for Film History Research, London]
Publication details: 
The Society for Film History Research, London. Between March 1960 and September 1967 (all published).
£450.00

[8] + 344 + [7]pp., 12mo, and four pages of plates (vol.2, no.2). Fourteen issues, loose, with volume 1 (issues 1-9) continuously paginated to 244; and volume 2 (issues 1-5) paginated to 90; with the volume's separate prelims (8pp.) and index (7pp.) ready for binding up. Two identical fliers for the society (giving its 'Purpose') loosely inserted. The collection is in good condition, on lightly aged and worn paper, but with rusted staples to all volumes. Hunnings and Gillett are named as editors of the first four volumes, thereafter Hunnings alone.

[Société marocaine de Production cinématographique.] Four items: typed synopsis and press release for Vicky Ivernel's film 'Kenzi' ('Mon Tresor'), with two ALsS from producer J. M. Brandel in Paris to English distributor Wynne-Rushton.

Author: 
[Major Gerald Wynne-Rushton; Société marocaine de Production cinématographique; Moroccan film industry; Simone Berriau, French actress; Habib Reda, actor; J. M. Brandel; Vicky Ivernel]
Publication details: 
Both of Brandel's letters on his letterhead, 23 Rue Raynouard, Paris. One dated 19 October 1947 and the other (earlier) undated. Typed synopsis and press release both undated, but on release of film in 1948.
£180.00

The collection is in fair condition, on aged and worn paper. The six items are from the Wynne-Rushton papers. The first four relate to the 1948 Moroccan film 'Kenzi', for which Wynne-Rushton was working as English distributor, produced by the Société marocaine de Production cinématographique, produced by Brandel's company Eden Film Productions, with French actress Simone Berriau (1896-1984) as art director, and featuring a young Habib Reda (1932-1974). ONE: ALS from Brandel ('Joe') to 'Dear Gerald'. 2pp., 8vo. Slight staining to second page.

[Printed with MS. additions] An Agreement [...] Between Anthony Bernardi [...] Analytical Chemist (hereinafter called the Inventory) of the first part Charles Alfred Bolton [...] Metallurgist [..] and RAYCOL LIMITED [...]

Author: 
[Colour Films Movies; Colour Cinematography] Raycol and Anthony Bernardi, inventor
Publication details: 
13 November 1928.
£220.00

Thre leaves, last leaf blan, folion, fold marks, small closed tear on middle fold, mainly good condition. The agreement covers "Improvements in and relating to Colour Photography and Colour Cinematography" a Patent Application #5271/28 20th Febryaury 1928. Signed C.A. Bolton and Anthony Bernardi, with the Company Common Seal of Raycol, witnessed by two directors and a secretary.

[Dilys Powell, journalist and film critic.] Typed Letter Signed to Robert Swan, declining his 'interesting offer' of 'original portrait drawings' by Swan himself.

Author: 
Dilys Powell [Elizabeth Dilys Powell] (1901-1995), British journalist, author and film critic [Robert Swan]
Publication details: 
On letterhead of the Sunday Times, 135 Fleet Street, London. 14 Octobeer 1936.
£38.00

1p., 4to. On creased and lightly-aged paper, with wear and chipping to edges. She thanks him for his letter 'and for your offer of original potrait drawings by yourself', in which she was 'greatly interested'. She explains that there is a limitation of space, 'and as a general rule we are exhibiting portraits only when we can associate with them some other relic or possession of the writer concerned'. In response to 'our appeal' she has received 'souvenirs of past writers, and I am concentrating on these. This being so, I feel I must very reluctantly decline your interesting offer'.

[Marie Lohr, Australian actress.] Autograph Note Signed ('Marie Löhr') to 'dear Miss Stone'.

Author: 
Marie Löhr [Marie Lohr] (1890-1975), Australian stage and screen actress
Publication details: 
Place not stated. Dated in another hand to December 1944.
£30.00

In pencil on one side of a 6 x 9 cm white card, laid down on a 10.5 x 13.5 cm leaf of grey paper, removed from an album, with the date 'December 1944'. Lohr's note reads: 'with all good | wishes dear | Miss Stone | Marie Löhr'.

[Printed paper.] Colour motion-picture film materials especially suited to presentation by colour television.

Author: 
Georges Hansen, editor [European Broadcasting Union, Technical Centre, Brussels]
Publication details: 
Brussels: European Broadcasting Union, Technical Centre. First edition - November, 1968 (Tech. 3087 - E).
£160.00

11 + [1] pp., foolscap 8vo. Figure and two tables in text. Stapled into brown printed wraps. Very good, on lightly-aged paper. Uncommon: OCLC WorldCat lists copies at the British Library, Library of Congress, Hanover and the German National Library. From the Pat Hawker archive.

14 Autograph Letters Signed and one Typed Letter Signed from French film actor and director Daniel Ceccaldi, 13 of them to his English translator and friend Edward Marsh ('Eddy', 'Teddy', 'Edouard)', with drafts of replies and manuscript notes.

Author: 
Daniel Ceccaldi (1927-2003), French actor, writer and director [Edward Marsh of Edward & Gwen, translators, 35 Tanza Road, London]
Publication details: 
Dating from between 1965 and 1981.
£320.00

Six addressed to 'Edward'; five to 'Teddy'; one to 'Eddy; one to 'Edouard'; one to 'Cher amis' and one to 'Dear Roger'. Totalling 22pp., 4to; 11pp., 8vo; 2pp., 12mo. Ten of the fifteen letters are dated, the other six having only month and year. With copies of two typed letters to Ceccaldi from Edward, one from 1973 in English (1p., 4to), and the other from 1980 in French (2pp., 8vo), the latter accompanied by a synopsis of Ceccaldi's 'The Flight of Icarus', with a foreword by him, and a biography (the three items totalling 4pp., 8vo); also manuscript notes (1p, 8vo; 3pp., 12mo).

Typed Letter Signed ('Oliver G. Pike') from the ornithologist Oliver Gregory Pike, offering his services as a lecturer.

Author: 
Oliver G. Pike [Oliver Gregory Pike] (1877-1963), FZS, FRPS, British ornithologist, wildlife photographer and documentary pioneer
Publication details: 
On his letterhead of 'The Birdland Lectures, The Bungalow, Leighton Buzzard.' May 1925.
£80.00

1p., 4to. In fair condition, aged and lightly-creased. The letterhead includes fourteen endorsements from newspapers in the left-hand margin, with Pike described as 'Author of the Birdland Books. | 100,000 copies sold.' Although bearing a genuine signature, the letter may be a circular. Pike is enclosing 'a copy of my Lecture Prospectus for next season' (not present). He goes on to discuss his 'new Lecture entitled: - "BIRDLAND CAMEOS"', before concluding: 'If your Society should decide to engage me, I can promise them a thoroughly interesting evening.'

Typed Letter Signed "Cav" [Alberto Cavacanti, film director] to Edward Marsh, translator of Anouilh, Cocteau and others.

Author: 
Alberto de Almeida Cavalcanti (1897-198, Brazilian-born film director and producer.
Publication details: 
[Headed] A.de A. Cavalcanti 13 Shooters Hill Road Blackheath SE [London], 25 April 1949.
£120.00

One page, obl. 12mo, good condition. He appreicates being told about the Georges Neveux play on the radio [French playwright], but "unluckily" he missed it. "I had a very pleasant surprise in Italy. As I was entering my room at the hotel a door next door to it opened and Neveux was staying there. I had a long talk with him and he said that some french p[roducers (friends of his) who are interested in the story, might like to have a talk about the possibilities of an English collaboration and they might come to London with Georges. Of course I haven't heard from him since [...]".

Attractive and colourful 1930s scrapbook, compiled by G. H. Manchester of Ashton-under-Lyne, mainly devoted to motoring, but with pages of footballers, boxers, cricketers, tennis players, aircraft, film and radio stars, pretty girls, dandies.

Author: 
[Geoffrey H. Manchester of Ashton-under-Lyne; 1930s scrapbook; motoring; transport; motor sports; football; Hollywood stars]
Publication details: 
Mostly compiled between 1934 and 1937, with a few pages at the end from the 1950s and 1980s.
£160.00

Several hundred images (most illustrations rather than photographs and most in colour), many carefully cut out, all laid down on 68pp. in an album made up from a ruled exercise book roughly 20 x 16 cm, including three fold-outs (the first, beneath a decorative flap that reads 'Birds Unfeathered | Worth A Bit Of Study', carrying eight 1930s illustrations women in underwear). The album has been attractively customised with printed illustrations of motor racing over board covers.

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