NOVELIST

[ Susan Gilruth, crime writer. ] Personal album of material ("guard-book" relating to her seven crime novels, with numerous newspaper cuttings, dustwrappers, a press release, three items of fan mail.

Author: 
Susan Gilruth [ born Susannah Margaret Hornsby-Wright ], crime writer
Publication details: 
[ England. Between 1951 and 1963. ]
£320.00

Gilruth was the author of seven crime novels: 'Sweet Revenge' (1951), 'Death in Ambush' (1952), 'Postscript to Penelope' (1954), 'A Corpse for Charybdis' (1956), 'To this Favour' (1957), 'Drown Her Remembrance' (1961) and 'The Snake is Living Yet' (1963). The material in this collection is in good overall condition, lightly aged and worn. Most of the material is laid down on 41pp. of a 25 x 38 cm. album (ownership signature on front pastedown), with press cuttings of reviews grouped around the cut-down dustwrappers of the first six of Gilruth's books.

[ Dolf Wyllarde [ Dorothy Margarette Selby Lowndes ], popular female novelist ] Autograph Letter Signed and two Typed Letters Signed (all three ''Dolf Wyllarde') requesting information to assist her in the writing of her books.

Author: 
Dolf Wyllarde [ pen name of Dorothy Margarette Selby Lowndes ] (1871-1950), popular female novelist [ Royal Society of Arts, London ]
Publication details: 
The first two from addresses in Crown Hill, South Devon; the third from Oldmixon Manor, near Weston Super Mare, Somerset. 1913, 1915 and 1924.
£120.00

Lowndes was educated at King's College, London, and trained as a journalist. She published two volumes of verse (1911, 1920) and more than forty volumes of fiction between 1897 and 1939. See her entry in Who Was Who. The present three items are in fair condition, lightly aged and worn. In the first two Wyllarde has written 'F.R.G.S.' after her signature. All three carry the Society's stamp. ONE: ALS. 11 February 1913. 2 Belgrave Villas, Crown Hill, South Devon. 2pp., 12mo. She desires an early copy of 'Mr. J.

[ Warwick Deeping, novelist. ] 5 Autograph Letters Signed and 3 Autograph Notes Signed to Margaret Greenwood, regarding the adapation of his work for film. With 3 Autograph Letters Signed from his wife, and 13 copies of Greenwood's letters.

Author: 
Warwick Deeping [ George Warwick Deeping ] (1877-1950), English best-known for 'Sorrell and Son' (1925) and his wife Maud Phyllis Merrill (c.1882-1971) [ Margaret Greenwood ]
Publication details: 
On blind-stamped letterheads of his country house Eastlands, Weybridge, Surrey. 1949 and 1950.
£500.00

21 items. In good condition, lightly aged, held together with a brass stud. Deeping's eight items of correspondence - all signed 'Warwick Deeping' - total 9pp. His wife's three letters total 4pp. One of Deeping's letters is in its envelope, addressed by him to 'Miss Margaret Greenwood | 15 Horsham Road | Bexleyheath | Kent'. The copies of Greenwood's typed letters, totalling 16pp., date from between 27 July 1949 and 22 July 1950, bookending the whole correspondence. They are written on the backs of discarded typed drafts of pages from Greenwood's screenplays.

[ Alec Waugh, novelist. ] Autograph Note Signed ('Alec Waugh') to 'Miss Marshall-Hall' (daughter of Sir Edward Marshall Hall), regarding the 'Invalids tour' and 'Milhanger'.

Author: 
Alec Waugh [ Alexander Raban Waugh ] (1898-1981), author, brother of the novelist Evelyn Waugh
Publication details: 
On letterhead of the Easton Court Hotel, Chagford, Devon. Undated.
£45.00

1p., 4to. In fair condition, on aged paper, with creasing and wear at head. Written in Waugh's close, distinctive hand. Reads: 'Dear Miss Marshall-Hall | It was nice of you to write. I didn't go on the Invalids tour this year. It can't have been the same thing without Milhanger. | Sincerely Yrs | Alec Waugh /'. The reference is presumably to Milhanger, the Surrey country house designed by Harold Falkner.

[ Catherine Stepney, Lady Stepney, 'Silver Fork' novelist. ] Autograph Letter Signed ('C Stepney'), inviting 'Mr Westmacot' [ Sir Richard Westmacott or his son ] to a reunion. With engraved portrait of her by A. E. Chalon.

Author: 
Catherine Stepney, Lady Stepney [ born Catherine Pollok; also Catherine Manners ] (1778-1845), 'Silver Fork' novelist [ A. E. Chalon [ Alfred Edward Chalon ] (1780-1860), artist and engraver ]
Publication details: 
Letter: 'Friday Night'. [ No date or place. ] Engraving: 'London. Published by Henry Colburn. Decr. 1837.'
£65.00

The letter is 1p., landscape 12mo. In fair condition, with light signs of age, placed in a windowpane mount in the remains of a leaf from an album. The letter reads: 'Dear Mr Westmacot [no doubt the sculptor Sir Richard Westmacott or his son] - I have a little reunion - on Monday evening 1st Feby - pray come - I am desired by <?> to present you to her especially - that she may invite you to her next Fete'. The engraving is on a 21.5 x 13.5 cm piece of paper. Similarly-mounted as the letter, above it on the same leaf. In fair condition, lightly aged and worn.

[ Florence Warden ('Mrs. G. E. James'), novelist. ] Autograph Note Signed ('Florence James'), an invitation to dinner.

Author: 
Florence Warden [ 'Mrs. G. E. James', née Florence Alice Price ](1857-1929), novelist
Publication details: 
On letterhead of 21 Addison Road North, Kensington, W. [ London. ] 26 March 1889.
£45.00

On one side of a 9 x 11 cm piece of grey paper. In a minuscule hand, with the recipient's name has been scored through: 'Dear Mr. <?>, | Will you come to supper on Thursday? | Yours sincerely, | Florence James'.

[ Katherine Thomson ('Grace Wharton'), Victorian novelist and historian. ] Autograph Letter Signed ('K. Thomson') to an unnamed man, regarding the publication of a novel after 'the storm of adverse criticism is over'.

Author: 
Katherine Thomson ('Grace Wharton') [ née Katherine Byerley; Mrs A. T. Thomson ] (1797-1862), Victorian novelist and historian
Publication details: 
37 <Sheffield?> Road, Derby. 4 December [ 1861 ].
£56.00

4pp., 16mo. Bifolium. In good condition, lightly-aged. She assumes that her work ('Celebrated Friendships', 1861), 'published with Messrs Hogg', has attracted his attention. 'Now about my novel, about which you have been very kind. Till the storm of adverse criticism is over, I think it will be much better to delay the work. Any notice it may have, will be cursory, & slight.' She wishes to postpone publication: 'My name will not appear in any book next year, that I know of, at present.' She will be in Derby for a few days, and will be happy to hear from him.

[ William Pett Ridge, novelist and humorist. ] Autograph Card Signed ('W. Pett Ridge'), apologising for being unable to attend a meeting.

Author: 
W. Pett Ridge [ William Pett Ridge ] (1859-1930), English novelist and humorous journalist with the St James Gazette
Publication details: 
On letterhead of the Garrick Club, London. 'Wednesday' [no date].
£25.00

On both sides of a card. In good condition, with light aging. He hopes she will have 'a very succcessful meeting', but cannot give 'a promise to attend', as other matters are 'engaging, just now, all the attention I have to spare'.

[ 'Mrs. Oliphant', novelist. ] Autograph Signature ('M. O. W. Oliphant').

Author: 
'Mrs. Oliphant' [ Margaret Oliphant Wilson Oliphant (1828-1897) ], English novelist
Publication details: 
Place and date not stated.
£15.00

On 2.5 x 6.5 slip of paper cut from the end of a letter. Laid down on a small piece of black card. In good condition, lightly aged. In a small tight hand. Reads 'Very truly yours | M. O. W. Oliphant'. With cutting of part of an article. featurinng a photograph of the novelist.

[ Eden Phillpotts,novelist. ] Photographic portrait, with signed inscription.

Author: 
Eden Phillpotts (1862-1960), English writer, author of many works about Dartmoor and his native Devon
Publication details: 
Dated 'May 1950'.
£45.00

The inscription is on a 22.5 cm square piece of card, and reads: 'Eden Phillpotts - somewhat battered, but still telling stories. | May 1950.' Laid down on the card, above the inscription, is a 14 x 18 cm black and white photograph, depicting Phillpotts, book in hand, standing in front of a bookcase, which has apparently been cut by Phillpotts from a magazine. The item is in fair condition, lightly-aged and worn.

[ Eric Linklater, Welsh novelist. ] Autograph Signature.

Author: 
Eric Linklater [ Eric Robert Russell Linklater ] (1899-1974), Welsh novelist
Publication details: 
Without place or date.
£23.00

On 12.5 x 9 cm piece of cream paper. In good condition, with light signs of age. Boldly written and underlined, at the top of the page, reading 'Eric Linklater.' No other writing on either side of the leaf.

[ S. R. Crockett, Scottish novelist. ] Typed Letter Signed ('S. R. Crockett'), to a bookseller, thanking him for sending the book 'Idylls of Spain' and expressing an interest in the subject.

Author: 
S. R. Crockett [ Samuel Rutherford Crockett ] (1859-1914), Scottish novelist
Publication details: 
On letterhead of the Savoy Hotel, Embankment Gardens, London. 30 January 1899.
£45.00

1p., 12mo. In fair condition, on aged paper. He thanks him for sending 'Idylls of Spain' (by Rowland Thirlmere, 1897), which 'Mr. Milner' will settle with him for, and states that he is 'interested in the subject and would be glad of a note of any books you happen to come across on this subject'. In 1903 Crockett would publish 'The Adventurer in Spain'.

[ Bulwer-Lytton ] Autograph Note Signed "E B L" to William Jerdan, author and editor,

Author: 
Edward Bulwer-Lytton, novelist
Publication details: 
[Place illegible to me] Monday [25 July 1853]
£65.00

One page, 12mo, fold marks, good condition. "Pray couch your dedication in the way that pleases you best - but the more [?] & less formal the more agreeable to me." Jerdan has docketed with a date, 25 July 1853, and a one word comment, "dinnering"[?]

Keywords:

[ Eric Ambler, thriller writer. ] Autograph Letter Signed ('Eric Ambler') to military historian Barrie Pitt, regarding the award of an OBE and the gift of a book. With copies of two letters by Pitt to Ambler.

Author: 
Eric Ambler [ Eric Clifford Ambler ] (1909-1998), British writer of crime and espionage novels [ Barrie Pitt ]
Publication details: 
On letterhead of Av. Eugene Rambert 20, 1815 Clarens, Suisse [ Switzerland ]. 1 May 1981.
£450.00

1p. 8vo. In good condition, on lightly aged and worn paper. With envelope addressed by Ambler to Pitt at Kennister in Somerset. Also present are copies of two letters to Ambler from Pitt, dated 2 January and 20 February 1980. In the first Pitt congratulates Ambler on the receipt of an OBE, reminds him of their previous correspondence through Peter Janson-Smith, and sends 'Part I of my trilogy on the North African campaign' ('If it gives you one tenth of the enjoyment I get from every one of your books, it will have been worth writing.').

[ William Black, Scottish novelist. ] Autograph Note Signed, asking Scottish painter Thomas Faed to second his application for membership of the Athenaeum.

Author: 
William Black (1841-1898), Scottish journalist and novelist [ Thomas Faed (1826-1900), RA, Scottish artist ]
Publication details: 
On letterhead of the Reform Club, Pall Mall, S.W. [ London ] 26 July [no year].
£35.00

1p., 12mo. In fair condition, lightly-aged, and laid down on a piece of card. Reads: 'July 26 | My dear Faed, | Would you mind seconding me at the Athenaeum? I believe Tom Hughes has put down my name. | Yours faithfully | William Black.' According to Black's entry in the Oxford DNB, he 'studied landscape painting for a short time in the Glasgow School of Art, but, becoming connected with the Glasgow Citizen, gradually exchanged art for journalism'.

[ Edward Lytton, Lord Lytton. ] Autograph Letter Signed ('L.') to 'Mr. Pearson', offering him a present.

Author: 
Edward Lytton, Lord Lytton [ Edward George Earle Lytton Bulwer-Lytton ] (1803-1873), 1st Baron Lytton, English novelist and politician, friend of Charles Dickens
Publication details: 
Without place or date. On his monogrammed letterhead.
£56.00

1p., 12mo. In good condition, lightly-aged. He writes that he has had 'a very fine p' sent to him, and asks if Pearson might accept it. 'If you dont care about it yourself you may have friends here to whom you might like to give it. Only, unluckily, I must have back the top'. He ends with a complaint regarding a 'Bronchial cough'.

[ Marie Corelli, novelist. ] Autograph signature.

Author: 
Marie Corelli (1855-1924), British novelist
Publication details: 
No place or date.
£23.00

A good, firm signature on the reverse of an 8vo endpaper removed from a book. In good condition, lightly-aged. Reads simply: 'Marie Corelli'.

[ Sir Edward Bulwer-Lytton, author. ] Autograph Letter Signed ('E B Lytton'), thanking an unnamed reviewer for 'altogether the best of the kind' of notices of his work, and explaining his position with regard to 'our journals'.

Author: 
Sir Edward Bulwer-Lytton [ Edward George Earle Lytton Bulwer-Lytton, 1st Baron Lytton ] (1803-1873), English author and friend of Charles Dickens
Publication details: 
Knebworth, Stevenage. 23 June 1860.
£65.00

2pp., 12mo. In good condition, on lightly-aged paper. Attached by one corner to a leaf from an autograph album. 23 lines of text in a difficult hand. He thanks him for his 'notice in L<?>, & for the long & valuable as well as kind & flattering notice of my Novels'. He considers that the review is 'written with great talent - & is altogether the best of the kind notices of these works which I can remember to have seen'. He invites him down to Knebworth and asks whether he has 'succeeded with Lord Malm[esbur]y'.

[Le Queux] Autograph Note Signed "William Le Queux" to an unnamed male correspondent.

Author: 
William Le Queux, novelist
Publication details: 
[Headed notepaper] Castor, Peterborough, 16 Dec. [no year].
£38.00

One page, 12mo, dusted, fold mark, text clear and complete. Docketed on verson "From H.M. T. Dec. [July??} 1902" [H.M. Tomlinson?]. "Perhaps the enclosed is of sufficient interest to merit publication."

Keywords:

[Thurston, novelist] Autograph Note Signed "E. Temple Thurston" to "MIss [Carry?] W. Hay".

Author: 
E. Temple Thurston, novelist
Publication details: 
[Printed heading] 1 Adelphi Terrace House, Flat B., W.C., 10 Nov. 1908.
£56.00

One page, 12mo, minor marking, good condition. "I hope that this will be as useful for your purpose as 'Sally Bishop' [his novel- see note below]. The motive of Sally has been so misunderstood that I should be glad if I could stop the sale of it altogether - for which reason I preferred to give you 'Mirage'. Note: it appears that the Englsih edition of 'Sally Bishop' was published in 1910, the American in 1908 (the year of this letter). 'Mirage' was published in 1908.

[Anne Manning, Victorian novelist.] Autograph Letter Signed to her 'cousin and friend' 'Mr. Maleson', regarding his efforts to obtain a Civil List pension for her.

Author: 
Anne Manning (1807-1879), Victorian novelist [Arthur Hall, Virtue & Co., London publishers]
Publication details: 
Reigate Hill, Surrey. 18 July 1872.
£80.00

2pp., 12mo. 25 lines of text. In fair conditon, on aged and worn paper. Her sister Frances is 'overjoyed at your benevolent efforts for me', and 'Mr Arthur Hall is very glad indeed to hear what you are trying to do, and is quite ready if you and I approve to send a set of my books, with a notification to Mr Gladstone, and also of privately interesting the Archbishop, who will, he has no doubt send an autograph letter privately to the Prirme Minister'. The letter ends with a prayer for her 'kind friends', concluding 'The Lord will provide'.

[Thomas Mayne Reid, Victorian novelist.] Autograph Letter Signed ('Mayne Reid') to 'Captain Bond'

Author: 
Thomas Mayne Reid ['Charles Beach'] (1818-1883), Irish-born novelist and children's writer
Publication details: 
Chasewood, Ross [Chasewood and Frogmore House, Ross, Herefordshire]. No date.
£56.00

1p., 12mo. In fair condition, on aged paper, with light offsetting from another letter. Written in a difficult hand. Concerns 'the Club meeting' at 'Macdougall's Hall'. The recipient is addressed as 'My dear Capt Bond', and at the foot of the letter as 'Capt <?> Bond | &c. &c.'

['Marie Corelli' [Mary Mackay], English popular novelist.] Autograph Signature ('Marie Corelli') removed from letter.

Author: 
'Marie Corelli' [pseudonym of Mary Mackay (1855-1924)], Victorian popular novelist
Publication details: 
Without date or place.
£23.00

On 3 x 12.5 slip of paper cut from foot of letter. In good condition, lightly aged and worn. The reverse reads '[...] think of me! I fear [...] I was threatened your [...]'.

['Marie Corelli' [Mary Mackay], English popular novelist.] Autograph Signature ('Marie Corelli') removed from letter.

Author: 
'Marie Corelli' [pseudonym of Mary Mackay (1855-1924)], Victorian popular novelist
Publication details: 
Without date or place.
£23.00

On 5 x 11 cm slip of paper cut from foot of letter. In good condition, lightly aged and worn. The reverse reads '[...] in these dark days [...] interest! It is so [...] of you to sent it, [...]'.

[Eden Phillpotts, novelist.] Autograph Letter Signed ('Eden Phill<...>') [to A. G. Gardiner, editor of the Daily News], complaining of a review of his book 'Green Alleys', 'the great cause of the natural born child' and the 'Bastardy Laws'.

Author: 
Eden Phillpotts (1862-1960), English novelist, often writing on Dartmoor [Alfred George Gardiner ['Alpha of the Plough'] (1865-1946), editor of the Daily News; Robert Lynd (1879-1949), Irish essayist]
Publication details: 
Place not stated. [1916.]
£56.00

In poor condition, on aged and brittle paper, with significant chipping to edges involving loss of text, including the end of Philpott's signature. Undated, but written in 1916, the year of publication of Phillpotts' 'The Green Alleys'. Headed in blue pencil 'Mr Lynd' (i.e for the attention of Daily News columnist Robert Lynd).

[Andrew Soutar, novelist.] To an unnamed recipient, informing him that he will be sending him a copy of his new novel, 'Some Fell Among Thorns'.

Author: 
Andrew Soutar (1879-1941), English author of approximately 50 novels
Publication details: 
On letterhead of Brooklyn, Ifield, Crawley, Sussex. 15 January 1931.
£45.00

1p., 12mo. In fair condition, lightly aged and worn. Written in purple ink. The letter reads: 'My dear Sir, | Here it is, for what it is worth. To-morrow, Jan 16, a new novel of mine, "Some Fell Among Thorns", should be published. I shall send you a copy & ask your acceptance of it. | Yours Sincerely | Andrew Soutar'. Soutar received a brief obituary in The Times, 25 November 1941.

Autograph Letter Signed to Sylvia Lynd, poet and novelist.

Author: 
John Galsworthy, novelist
Publication details: 
Bury House, Bury, nr Pulborough, Sussex; 12 Nov. 1932.
£45.00

ALS, Bury House, Bury, nr Pulborough, Sussex; 12 Nov. 1932, good condition. 'We have been wondering what those delightful little noises we've been hearing about the house, were.'

[Printed keepsake.] Poem by Austin Dobson, titled 'Henry Fielding. Unveiling by the United States Minister, the Hon. J. Russell Lowell, of the Bust in the Shire Hall, Taunton. Sculptor, Miss Margaret Thomas.'

Author: 
Austin Dobson [Henry Austin Dobson] (1840-1921), English poet and essayist [Henry Fielding, novelist; James Russell Lowell (1819-1891), essayist and American ambassador in London; Margaret Thomas]
Publication details: 
Place not stated [London?]. September 1883.
£135.00

4pp., 12mo. Paginated to 4. Bifolium. In fair condition, on aged and worn paper. On laid paper watermarked 'A PIRIE & SONS | 1883'. Tastefully printed.

[Samuel Warren, Welsh novelist.] Autograph Signature, on an inscription to his father the Wesleyan Minister Dr Samuel Warren.

Author: 
Samuel Warren (1807-1877), Welsh novelist, barrister and MP, son of the Wesleyan Methodist minister of Dr Samuel Warren (1781-1862)
Publication details: 
No place. Dated 12 January 1850.
£56.00

The inscription is on the half-title leaf of Warren's anonymous 'A Letter to the Queen on a Late Court Martial' (1850). In fair condition on aged paper, with traces of previous mount adhering to the reverse. It reads: 'Rev. Dr. Warren | With his Son's love. | Samuel Warren. | 12th. Jany 1850.'

[Tighe Hopkins, novelist.] Autograph Letter Signed to 'Mr. Case', presenting a copy of his 'Iron Mask'.

Author: 
Tighe Hopkins (1856-1919), novelist, journalist and authority on prison life and penal reform
Publication details: 
On letterhead of Frayn, Herne Bay [Kent]. 7 August 1902.
£45.00

2pp., 8vo. Bifolium. In good condition, on lightly-aged paper. He asks him to accept a copy of the Tauchnitz edition of his 'Iron Mask', 'the only one I happen to have by me'. He continues: 'As you are kind enough to express an interest in work of mine, I may say that I expect to be in the West of Ireland next month in the interests of the Daily Chronicle - if you ever happen to see that paper - for which I am to write a special series of letters describing the present condition of that district.' For more on Hopkins see his obituary in The Times, 17 February 1919.

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