KEN

Dodd’s entry in the Oxford DNB by Michael Billington concludes with the assessment that he was ‘the greatest theatrical comic of his age and the last link with the hallowed days of music hall’. The two items are in good condition, lightly aged. ONE: TLS, 9 October 1957. 1p, 4to. Good large signature ‘Ken Dodd’. The male recipient is not named. He apologises for the late reply to the recipient’s letter. ‘May I also thank you for the compliments paid to my performance on Television. / I am a Liverpudlian, residing in Knotty Ash Liverpool.

In blue ink on a 9 x 6 cm rectangle of laid paper. In good condition. Hard signs first ('Darlene | Hard') with Rosewall's signature ('Ken Rosewall') curving upwards beneath hers. Between the two, in another hand is the date 1956, and beneath Rosewall's signature, in the same hand, is '(Rosewall)'. In 1956 Rosewall was on the verge of turning professional. In that year he won the US Open, beating fellow-Australian Lew Hoad. It was one of eight Grand Slam finals he played in as an amateur, winning three. In 1956 Hard was nearing her peak.

Two printed items, both in fair condition, lightly aged and worn. ONE: 'London County Council. Order of Proceedings on the occasion of the opening by His Majesty the King, accompanied by Her Majesty the Queen, of Ken Wood, at 3.30 p.m., On Saturday, 18th July, 1925.' Signed in type at end by Clerk of the Council 'Montagu. H. Cox', at 'The County Hall, | Westminster Bridge, S.E.1. | 18th July, 1925.' 7 + [2]pp, 12mo. Stitched pamphlet with one loose leaf. The text begins: 'His Majesty, accompanied by Her Majesty, will leave Buckingham Palace attended by members of the household-in-waiting.

An interesting artefact from the early days of Akido in the United Kingdom. Akido was introduced into the UK 1955 by Kenshiro Abbe Sensei at the Hut Dojo in Hillingdon. His first student was Ken Williams. In 1957 Haydn Foster joined the Hut and continued to teach there until his death in 2011. The Renown Society was formed in 1966 by Williams after Abbe returned to Japan. This was the original society teaching Akido in the UK. The Renown Society broke up in 1969. 4pp., foolscap 8vo.

1p., landscape 12mo. Spirit duplicated with purple ink. In fair condition, lightly aged and worn, and folded three times. The page is headed 'The Gallery First Nighters' Club', and is divided into two section: 'Profit and Loss Account for year ending September 30th. 1910.' and 'Balance Sheet'. At foot of page: 'G. F. Rigden, Hon. Secretary. | John Page, Hon. Treasurer. | I have examined the Club Books and Vouchers and found them correct. | F. H. Long, Auditor.' From the papers of Ken Sephton (Sefton).

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"!'

1p., 12mo. In fair condition, on lightly-aged paper with a couple of short closed tears at fore-edge. He states that he will derive 'much satisfaction in being allowed to join in any undertaking to do honor to the Memory of Bishop Ken' [ Thomas Ken (1637-1711) ], and subscribes for three guineas. The memorial would appear to have been a stained-glass window in Ken's church at Frome by 'Mr. O'Connor and his son', as reported in the Gentleman's Magazine, February 1845 and February 1849.