TWO

[Gordon Jacob [Gordon Percival Septimus Jacob], English composer.] Four Autograph Letters Signed about musical matters to the violinist Marion Margaret Scott, one, written during wartime, attacking Benjamin Britten and ‘young men who shelter abroad’.

Author: 
Gordon Jacob [Gordon Percival Septimus Jacob] (1895-1984), composer, for forty years professor at the Royal College of Music [Marion Margaret Scott (1877-1953), violinist with her own string quartet]
Publication details: 
Three of the four on letterhead of Mayfield, West Street, Ewell, Surrey: 1 April, 5 May and 13 August 1928. The other dated 14 August 1941; 75 West Street, Ewell Surrey.
£120.00

See his entry, together with that of Benjamin Britten, in the Oxford DNB, the latter explaining the context of the last letter, which is an attack on Britten and Peter Pears for not returning from the United States to wartime England. From the Scott papers. Each letter 2pp, 12mo, on a single leaf (a total of 8pp, 12mo). In good condition, lightly aged. Each letter folded for postage. All four letters addressed to ‘Miss Scott’, and each signed ‘Gordon Jacob’. ONE (1 April 1929): He will be ‘most delighted’ to give her ‘any information you may require about my work’.

[Gordon Jacob [Gordon Percival Septimus Jacob], English composer.] Four Autograph Letters Signed about musical matters to the violinist Marion Margaret Scott, one, written during wartime, attacking Benjamin Britten and ‘young men who shelter abroad’.

Author: 
Gordon Jacob [Gordon Percival Septimus Jacob] (1895-1984), composer, for forty years professor at the Royal College of Music [Marion Margaret Scott (1877-1953), violinist with her own string quartet]
Publication details: 
Three of the four on letterhead of Mayfield, West Street, Ewell, Surrey: 1 April, 5 May and 13 August 1928. The other dated 14 August 1941; 75 West Street, Ewell Surrey.
£120.00

See his entry, together with that of Benjamin Britten, in the Oxford DNB, the latter explaining the context of the last letter, which is an attack on Britten and Peter Pears for not returning from the United States to wartime England. From the Scott papers. Each letter 2pp, 12mo, on a single leaf (a total of 8pp, 12mo). In good condition, lightly aged. Each letter folded for postage. All four letters addressed to ‘Miss Scott’, and each signed ‘Gordon Jacob’. ONE (1 April 1929): He will be ‘most delighted’ to give her ‘any information you may require about my work’.

[Battle of Cape Spartivento, 1940, between the Royal Navy forces under Admiral James Somerville, and Italian ships.] Printed item: ‘Supplement to the London Gazette’, containing a 'Narrative of the action', with fold-out maps.

Author: 
[Battle of Cape Spartivento, 1940, between Royal Navy forces under Admiral James Somerville and Italian ships, during the Second World War Battle of the Mediterranean] The London Gazette
Publication details: 
4 May 1948. Printed and published by Her Majesty's Stationery Office, London.
£120.00

A scarce item. See Somerville's entry in the Oxford DNB, for the controversy, involving Churchill. 8pp, 8vo. With two plates of maps, the first a fold-out extending to the width of three pages. Stapled. In fair condition, on lightly worn and discoloured paper. In the customary double column. Begins, despite the date of the number, 'Wednesday, 5 May 1948 / Action between British and Italian Forces off Cape Spartivento on 27th November 1940. / The following Despatch was submitted to the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty on the 18th December, 1940, by Vice-Admiral Sir James F.

[Tommy Handley, English comedian, star of BBC radio programme 'It's that man again' (ITMA).] Autograph Letter Signed to 'Pte Dean' , explaining that he cannot send him a ticket to his show.

Author: 
Tommy Handley [Thomas Reginald Handley] (1892-1949), English comedian, star of the BBC radio programme 'It's that man again' ('ITMA')
Handley
Publication details: 
'B.B.C. / London'. No date (Second World War).
£50.00
Handley

See his entry in the Oxford DNB. 1p, 12mo. In poor condition, aged, worn and creased, with damage to edges. Tape was previously present as a border along all the edges, and the corners are still strengthened with tape, causing discoloration that affects the end of Handley's signature. Reads: 'B.B.C. / London / Dear Pte Dean. / In reply to Yours. I would send you a ticket with Pleasure but I have no control over same. I'm afraid you will have to write direct to the B.B.C. / Best wishes. / Tommy Handley'. Scan available.

[Major General Sir Noel Galway Holmes, Irish soldier and senior British Army officer in Second World War.] 14 typed and manuscript documents from his papers, all but one relating to his distinguished career, including reports and recommendations.

Author: 
Major General Sir Noel Galway Holmes (1891-1982), KBE CB MC, Irish soldier and senior British Army officer, close colleague of Sir Winston Churchill during Second World War as Director of Movement
Publication details: 
Documents dating from between 1920 and 1953. [British Army; War Office, Whitehall.]
£800.00

Fourteen items from the papers of Sir Noel Galway Holmes, all but the last relating to his three decades of service in the British Army, with reports and recommendations by superior officers from 1920 to 1939.

[Anti-Aircraft Defence, World War II.] Instructional material from the Searchlight Wing, School of A. A. Defence, Shrivendon, Swindon [Royal Artillery]; with manuscript reports; from the papers of Sgt. J. L. B. Royall.

Author: 
Anti-Aircraft Defence, World War II [Searchlight Wing, School of A. A. Defence, Shrivenham, Swindon; Sgt. J. L. B. Royall; Royal Artillery, British Army]
Publication details: 
Five of the sixteen items dated between 17 March 1941 and .6 October 1943 (the rest contemporaneous). Searchlight Wing, School of Anti-Aircraft Defence, Shrivenham, Swindon. Also Longcot, Lyford, Lyndhurst and Romsey.
£350.00

The topic of this material is wartime training (in part during the Blitz) of sergeants for ‘Search Light Control’ or SLC (nicknamed ‘Elsie’). A larger archive of similar material from the papers of Sgt. J. L. B. Royall on the same theme is offered separately. Sixteen items, a few of which are discoloured and creased, but the collection being in good overall condition. The first three items are in manuscript (i.e. Royall’s autograph).

[Sir Winston Churchill: an unpublished assessment by a close colleague.] Two documents from the papers of Sir Noel Galway Holmes: an autograph account and assessment of his wartime relationship with Churchill; and a typescript describing his own work

Author: 
[Sir Winston Churchill: assessment by close colleague] Major General Sir Noel Galway Holmes (1891-1982), KBE CB MC, Irish soldier and senior World War Two British Army officer, D.Q.M.G. ( Movements)
Sir Winston Churchil
Publication details: 
Undated, but 1950s or 1960s.
£450.00
Sir Winston Churchil

Two very interesting unpublished documents, the first giving an assessment of Churchill by a colleague who worked closely with him throughout the Second World War, and the second describing the important part that individual himself played in the logistical management of the war, from before Dunkirk to after D-Day. This material is from Sir Noel Galway Holmes’s private papers, another batch of which, comprising confidential reports on him, recommendations by superior officers, and particulars of his service, is offered separately.

[Battle of Britain, 1940; printed.] Offprint from The Times of ‘An airman to his mother / The fight with evil / “My earthly mission is fulfilled”’.

Author: 
Battle of Britain, 1940 [Royal Air Force; Second World War; The Times]
Publication details: 
Printing House Square, London: ‘Reprinted from The Times, June 18, 1940’.
£80.00

A nice piece of WW2 RAF ephemera, written on the eve of the Battle of Britain. Scarce: the only copies on JISC at the National Library of Scotland and Bishopsgate Institute in London. 3pp, 12mo. Bifolium. In fair condition, lightly aged and worn. The ‘Text of the Letter’ is printed across the centrefold, with an introduction on the first page, reading: ‘Among the personal belongings of a young R.A.F. pilot in a Bomber Squadron who was recently reported “Missing, believed killed,” was a letter to his mother - to be sent to her if he were killed.

[Royal Naval College, Dartmouth.] Printed periodicals: Four numbers of ‘The Britannia Magazine’, all from the 1940s, filled with articles, photographs, illustrations and advertisements.

Author: 
[Royal Naval College, Dartmouth] The Britannia Magazine [Royal Navy; Bernard Partridge]
Publication details: 
Numbers for Easter 1940 (Vol. LIV No. 76), Easter 1946 (Vol. LIX No. 86), Easter 1947 (Vol. LX No. 89) and Christmas 1948 (Vol. LXI No. 94). All four printed by Bendle Brothers of Torquay.
£280.00

Scarce. None of these four numbers is held by the Imperial War Museum. Motto: ‘Pro Rege et Patria.’ 4to and uniform, with covers of various shades of blue paper. Varying in length from 42pp (Easter 1946) to 64pp (Easter 1940). One number with grubby markings, but the four items in good overall condition, lightly worn and aged. The first perfect bound, the other three with slightly rusty staples. On the cover of each is an illustration by Bernard Partridge of Britannia scanning the sea from the White Cliffs of Dover. One copy with newspaper cutting loosely inserted.

[General J. M. Wainwright [Jonathan Mayhew Wainwright IV], US Army general, Commander of Allied forces in the Philippines.] Typed Note Signed, complying with a request for an autograph.

Author: 
General J. M. Wainwright [Jonathan Mayhew Wainwright IV (1883-1953), US Army general, Commander of Allied forces in the Philippines who surrendered Corregidor to the Japanese in 1942
Wainwright
Publication details: 
30 September 1945, on letterhead of the War Department, Washington.
£45.00
Wainwright

The note was written in a momentous month for Wainwright. On 5 September 1945, on his release after three years in captivity following his surrender at Corregidor, Wainwright was promoted to four-star General. On 10 September he was presented with the Medal of Honor by President Truman at the White House. On 13 September a ticker-tape parade in New York City was held in his honor. And on 28 September he was named commander of the Second Service Command and the Eastern Defense Command at Fort Jay, Governors Island, New York.

[Lady Clementine Churchill and the Red Cross Aid to Russia Fund.] Facsimile of a signed autograph letter by the wife of Sir Winston Churchill, a circular to thank contributors to the fund.

Author: 
Lady Clementine Churchill (1885-1977), wife of Sir Winston Churchill; Red Cross Aid to Russia Fund
Publication details: 
Facsimile of letter dated November 1941 and on 10 Downing Street letterhead.
£50.00

According to her entry in the Oxford DNB: ' Also in 1941 she embarked upon what became the most substantial public work she ever undertook when she became chairman of the Red Cross Aid to Russia Fund. Of the £9,000,000 collected in Britain to help the USSR, ‘Mrs Churchill's Fund’, as it was popularly known, raised £6,700,000. In March–May 1945, at the invitation of the Russian Red Cross, she visited Russia to inspect many of the institutions equipped or otherwise helped by her fund.

[Eleanor Roosevelt: the wife of the President's wartime visit to Britain.] Post Office Telegram from Mrs Roosevelt, thanking Vice-Chancellor Sir David Ross for hospitality of Oxford University.

Author: 
Eleanor Roosevelt (1884-1962), wife of 32nd President of United States of America, Franklin Delano Roosevelt [Sir David Ross (1877-1971), Provost of Oriel, Vice-Chancellor of Oxford University]
Roosevelt
Publication details: 
Post Office Telegram sent from Manchester. With Oxford office stamp, 9 November 1942.
£120.00
Roosevelt

Towards the end of 1942, with America having been at war with the Axis powers for a year to Britain’s three, Eleanor Roosevelt accepted an invitation from Queen Elizabeth to travel to Britain in order to ‘study the British home front effort and visit US troops stationed there. [...] she spent almost a month inspecting factories, shipyards, hospitals, schools, bomb shelters, distribution centers, Red Cross clubs, evacuee centers and military installations in England, Scotland and Ireland’ (Eleanor Roosevelt Papers Project, Columbian College).

[Randolph Churchill [Major Randolph Spencer-Churchill], only son of Winston Churchill.] Typed Letter Signed to V. H. Collins, invoking his father’s name in support of his use of the word ‘EGALITARIAN’.

Author: 
Randolph Churchill, only son of Winston Churchill [Major Randolph Frederick Edward Spencer-Churchill] (1911-1968), writer, soldier, and Conservative Member of Parliament [Vere Henry Collins, author]
Publication details: 
7 July 1953. Oving House, Oving, Nr. Aylesbury, Bucks, on cancelled letterhead of 12 Catherine Place, London SW1.
£65.00

See his entry in the Oxford DNB. 1p, 4to. In good condition, lightly aged. Signed ‘Randoph S. Churchill. The recipient Vere Henry Collins (1872-1966), was an author and grammatical stickler. After apologising for the delayed response he administers an effective put-down: ‘I do not pretend to be an expert in these mattes, but I have never heard the word EQUALITARIAN used in ordinary talk. EGALITARIAN, on the other hand, I have heard used by a wide variety of people who speak good English, including Sir Winston Churchill.

[Janet Beverdige, wife of Sir William Beveridge, ‘Architect of the Welfare State’.] Typed Letter Signed to V. H. Collins, regarding her sister’s death, her book on the Beveridge Plan, Sir William’s punctiliousness and ‘the kilt’.

Author: 
Janet Beveridge [born Janet Thomson Philip, later Janet Mair] (1876-1959), second cousin and wife of Sir William Beveridge (1879-1963), ‘Architect of the Welfare State’ [Vere Henry Collins, author]
Publication details: 
20 September 1954; on letterhead of Staverton House, 104 Woodstock Road, Oxford.
£120.00

See Sir William Beveridge’s entry in the Oxford DNB: 'An overbearing and temperamental Scotswoman, Mrs Mair had come to the school [the LSE] with Beveridge in 1919 (having been his secretary and aide during the war) and was highly unpopular with many of the school's professors. Throughout the 1930s there were complaints about the ‘Beveridge–Mair dictatorship’ and a general sense of relief when Beveridge decided to leave the school to accept the mastership of University College, Oxford, in 1937.' 1p, 4to. In good condition, lightly aged, with one dog-eared corner. Folded twice for postage.

[William Temple, Archbishop of Canterbury during the Second World War.] Typed Letter Signed to the ?Vice-Chancellor? [of Oxford University, Sir David Ross], regarding a visit and the possibility of ?dining in Hall?.

Author: 
William Temple (1881-1944), Anglican cleric, Archbishop of Canterbury, 1942-1944 (previously Bishop of Manchester and Archbishop of York) [W. D. Ross] (1877-1971), Scottish philosopher]
Publication details: 
2 June 1942; on letterhead of Lambeth Palace, S.E.1. [London]
£45.00

2pp, 8vo. In fair condition, lightly aged and worn, with slight spotting and single punch hole centred above letterhead. Folded twice. The letter is addressed to 'My dear Vice-Chancellor' without further elaboration, but the item comes from the Ross papers. Temple explains that it has been ?difficult to foresee how this summer could be arranged: the planning of domestic life in two houses under present conditions of staffing is very complicated!? His wife will not be joining him in the visit, as she ?feels obliged to spend that week-end at Canterbury?.

[Second World War Artists' loan scheme, London, between Central Institute of Art and Design and the army.] Mimeographed circular typed letter from T. A. Fennemore to Miss J. Inglis, with receipt, regarding loan of paintings.

Author: 
Central Institute of Art and Design, National Gallery, London (Thomas Acland Fennemore (1902-1959), Director]; Second World War artists' loan scheme [Miss J. Inglis]
Publication details: 
Letter from 'The Central Institute of Art and Design, National Gallery, London. W.C.2. / January 1942.' Receipt of 4 February 1942.
£90.00

An unusual survival, providing details of a little-known Second World War scheme for artists to lend their work to the army for placement in officers’ messes. Three items, in fair condition, lightly-aged. ONE: Mimeographed Typed Circular from ‘T. A. Fennemore. / Director.’, headed ‘The Central Institute of Art and Design, National Gallery, London, W.C.2. / January 1942.’ 1p, 4to. (originally foolscap; a form has been cut away at bottom).

[Sir Dermot Boyle, Marshal of the Royal Air Force and Chief of the Air Staff.] Autograph Letter Signed to ‘Mr. Dean’, regarding a signed photograph he is sending in place of a ‘very bad one’ which he urges him to destroy.

Author: 
Sir Dermot Boyle [Sir Dermot Alexander Boyle] (1904-1993), Marshal of the Royal Air Force and Chief of the Air Staff
Publication details: 
9 August 1963; on letterhead of Pauls Place, Sway, Hampshire.
£50.00

See his entry in the Oxford DNB. 2pp, 12mo. In good condition, lightly aged. Folded once. At the foot of the second page, in another hand (no doubt that of the recipient) are written Doyle’s details in red ink. Signed ‘D. A. Boyle’ and addressed to ‘Dear Mr. Dean’. He is returning the photograph he has sent, ‘endorsed in the way you ask’, but his wife agrees with him that ‘the photo you have got hold of is a very bad one so I am sending you another - also enclosed - which I hope you will use for your collection and destroy the other’.

['Bert Thomas', British political cartoonist.] Copy of his book 'Close-ups Through a childs eyes / by Bert Thomas', with label bearing autograph inscription.

Author: 
‘Bert Thomas’ [Herbert Samuel Thomas MBE (1883-1966)], British political cartoonist who contributed to Punch magazine and created British propaganda posters during the two world wars
'Bert Thomas'
Publication details: 
No date (circa 1943). 'A Tuck Book / Raphael Tuck & Sons Ltd / Copyright Printed in England'.
£120.00
'Bert Thomas'

See his entry in the Oxford DNB. A scarce item: no copy in the British Library and the only copies on COPAC at Cambridge and the V & A. In fair condition, lightly aged and with slight creasing to outer edge of front cover, on which a label has been laid down, carrying an inscription (repaired at one corner with archival tape) by Thomas: ‘From one child to another - Love and I cant thank you enough for everything - I’ll look forward to Janiuary - Muh love I’ll writer later’. A stapled pamphlet in brown card wraps. 16pp, landscape 8vo.

[‘An Admiral with salt in his ears and his tongue’: Admiral of the Fleet Sir Varyl Begg, First Sea Lord.] Autograph Letter Signed to ‘Mr Dean’, listing his ‘appointments as Captain & Admiral’.

Author: 
Sir Varyl Begg [Admiral of the Fleet Sir Varyl Cargill Begg] (1908-1995), First Sea Lord 1966-1968; Governor of Gibraltar 1968-1973; served with distinction in Second World War [Royal Navy]
Publication details: 
Undated [between 1964 and 1965]. On his letterhead as Commander-in-Chief, Far East, Phoenix Park, Singapore.
£100.00

See his entry in the Oxford DNB. See David Owen, who was minister for the navy when Begg was appointed Admiral of the Fleet in 1968, commented on his death that Begg was 'an Admiral with salt both in his ears and his tongue', who 'did not suffer fools gladly' (The Independent, 15 July 1995). 2pp, 4to. In good condition, lightly aged. Folded once. Begins: ‘Dear Mr Dean. / I have signed the photograph as you asked.

[‘BY PERMISSION of the Ministry of Fuel and Power’.] Duplicated ‘typewritten bulletin, containing essential announcements, “Calls” and “Wanteds”, normally appearing in “The Stage”.’

Author: 
The Stage, London theatre magazine [The Ministry of Fuel and Power, Whitehall; post-war restrictions]
Publication details: 
‘Bulletin issued by Carson & Comerford Ltd.’ ‘Not for publication. From “The Stage” Office / 19/21 Tavistock St., W.C.2 / Thursday Feb. 27. 1947.’ [London.]
£120.00

A scarce piece of English theatrical ephemera, illustrative of the restrictions imposed following the Second World War. From the papers of W. Macqueen-Pope. (See his entry in the Oxford DNB.) The item is a duplicated bulletin of six closely-typed 8vo pages, on three loose leaves. The text is complete and clear, but the item is aged and with wear to edges. The first page is headed by the following, in capitals, above the address and phone number of ‘The Stage’: ‘According to latest directions from the Ministry of Fuel & Power this is for private circulation only and is distributed gratis.

[R.A.F. Hospital, Aden; Variety Concert; printed programme] Programme and related photographs. In envelope.

Author: 
[R.A.F. Hospital, Aden; Variety Concert]
Aden
Aden2
Publication details: 
Headquarters N.A.A.F.I. Barrack Hill [...] October 6th to October 10th 1941
£180.00
Aden
Aden2

Programme, 4pp., worn on fold marks but complete, ow good condition, R.A.F. Hospital, Aden. | present the | Aeronuts | in a | Variety Concert | to be held in | Headquarters N.A.F.I. Barrack Hill on [dates given above] | Commencing at 8.30 p.m. | By kind permission of | Air Vice Marshal F.G.D. Hards [Commanding][...]. The programme includes Musical Selections (handwritten list present), Haw Haw's Happy Hour, The Band (handwritten list present), Bare Imagination, Lightning Sketches, etc, etc. WITH names of performers.

[Ronnie Tritton, War Office Publicity Officer.] Two Autograph Letters Signed ('T' and 'R.') [to his wife Andrina], written during the 'Phoney War', writing with evocative immediacy about Claridge's, the Savoy, and a host of friends and acquaintances.

Author: 
Ronnie Tritton [Ronald Edward Tritton] (1907-1990), War Office Publicity Officer 1940-1945 [his wife, née Andrina Frances Schweder; Savoy Hotel, London; The Phoney War, Second World War]
Publication details: 
One: 12 September 1939. On letterhead of White's [gentleman's club in St James's Street, London]. Two: 'Wed.' [no date, but 1939]. On letterhead of the Savoy Hotel, London.
£56.00

Tritton was educated at Winchester College, and in later life held the office of High Sheriff of Essex. He served as War Office Publicity Officer between 1940 and 1945 (the first civilian to hold the post). The present items exhibit the candour and evocative immediacy for which his wartime diaries were praised on their publication in 2012. Two long letters to 'Darling', both 2pp, 4to. Both in good condition, lightly aged, and folded twice. ONE (signed 'R.'): Thirty-eight lines of text. He is writing her a second letter of the day, prompted by boredom and the want of something else to do'.

[Belgian resistance documents.] Typed document titled 'ARMEE SECRETE | C?G?48 bis | Historique de la Section 802 depuis ses debuts'. With typewritten list regarding feeding and lodging of 'refractaires' and manuscript table of agents headed 'Combat'.

Author: 
[The Belgian resistance movement, Maquis; Froidmont, Tournai, Belgium; World War Two]
Publication details: 
The 'Historique' document dated 'Froidmont, le 25 septembre 1944' [Tournai, Belgium]; the other two items without place or date.
£550.00

A scarce survival, providing a mass of valuable information, written during wartime, with nothing else about this section of the Belgian resistance having been discovered. All three documents in fair condition, on aged and lightly-worn paper. ONE: 'Historique de la Section 802 depuis ses debuts.' Typed document. 3pp., 4to. Rust staining from paperclip at head of first page. Type indentation indicates that this is an original document, not a mimeograph. Giving an account of Section 802 from September 1941 to 9 September 1944.

[Battle of Normandy, 1944.] 'Secret' British Army pamphlet titled 'OPERATION “OVERLORD” - 1944 | Report by AQMG (Ops) EASTERN COMMAND', describing 'the part played by Eastern Command in the preparations for and launching of the operation'.

Author: 
[Operation Overlord (Battle of Normandy), 1944] 'AQMG (Ops) EASTERN COMMAND' [i.e. Lieut.-Col. Colin Thornton-Kernsley (1903-1977)]
Publication details: 
[Operation Overlord, Eastern Command, 1944] On final page: 'D 53664-1 175 D/d E.C.2144 11/44 70'. '11/44' signifies the date of the pamphlet, November 1944, and '70' the number of copies printed.
£600.00

Sir Colin Thornton-Kernsley is identified as author from the first of the pamphlet's seven appendices ('Eastern Command | List of officers principally concerned with plans for the mounting of Overlord'), where he is described as: 'Chairman: AQMG(Ops) Lt. Col. C. N. Thornton Kernsley MP-RA'.

[ Fanny Garrison; suffrage; black rights ] Autograph Poem signed Fannie Garrison with autograph verse signed by Francis Jackson] Garrison

Author: 
Fanny Garrison [Helen Frances “Fanny” Garrison Villard (1844–1928), American women's suffrage campaigner, pacifist, co-founder of National Association for the Advancement of Colored People].
Garrison
Publication details: 
{Fannie's verse} Boston, Oct.21, 1860; {Francis Jackson's verse} Boston, Oct.23, 1860.
£500.00
Garrison

One page, 12mo, very good condition. Text, a verse from Gerald Massey's To-Day and To-Morrow (see note below) as follows: [Fanny's quotation marks] Though hearts brood o'er the past, our eyes | With smiling features glisten, | For, lo! our day bursts up the skies! | Lean out your souls and listen! | The world rolls Freedom's radiant way, | And ripens with her sorrows; | Keep heart! who bears the cross to-day, | Shall wear the crown tomorrow. | Fannie Garrison. | Boston, Oct.21st, 1860 | [ 'Mrs Henry villard' in another hand ] || Why ask a name?

[Royal Navy Ophthalmic Department, Second World War.] Letterbook of Surgeon-Commander Edward John Littledale, Ophthalmic Specialist, of HMHS [Hospital Ship] Maine, containing two hundred AFOs [Admiralty Fleet Orders], circulars, correspondence.

Author: 
[Royal Navy Ophthalmic Department, Second World War] Surgeon-Commander Edward John Littledale (1906-2001), Ophthalmic Specialist, of HMHS [Hospital Ship] Maine
Publication details: 
[Admiralty, Whitehall, London.] Dating from between 1924 and 1946, with the greater number issued during the Second World War.
£450.00

Laid down on 138pp of a quarto volume. The contents are in good overall condition, lightly aged and worn, but the binding of the volume is in poor condition, heavily worn, with the leather spine split and damaged and the front board becoming detached. Meticulously arranged, with autograph thumb-index and list of AFOs at front, and autograph emendations in red ink to various orders, many of which are marked 'Cancelled'. Ownership signature and title on flyleaf: 'E. J. Littledale. | A. F. Os etc dealing with Ophthalmic Department'.

[John Anderson, 1st Viscount Waverley, Churchill's 'Home Front Prime Minister' after whom Anderson Shelters are named.] Typed Letter Signed as Home Secretary to Sir James Marchant on 'the Government's plans for a war time regional organisation'.

Author: 
John Anderson, 1st Viscount Waverley (1882-1958), civil servant and politician, 'Home Front Prime Minister' in Churchill's war cabinet [Sir James Marchant (1867-1956), eugenicist and social reformer]
Publication details: 
On letterhead of the Home Office, Whitehall, S.W.1. [London] 14 February 1939.
£150.00

Anderson served as Home Secretary, Lord President of the Council and Chancellor of the Exchequer. Marchant headed the National Vigilance Association and the National Council of Public Morals. 2pp, 4to. On two leaves stapled together. In fair condition, lightly aged, with some staining from rusted staples. Folded three times. A good letter, giving an indication of civil defence preparations on the eve of the Second World War.

[Anne de Vere Chamberlain, wife of Conservative Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain.] Autograph Note Signed ('Anne Chamberlain') to printed notice of thanks for messages of condolence on her husband's death.

Author: 
Anne de Vere Chamberlain [née Cole] (1883-1967), wife of Conservative Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain [Arthur Neville Chamberlain] (1869-1940), who pursued a policy of appeasement against Hitler
Publication details: 
Printed notice is dated from Highfield Park, Heckfield, Basingstoke; November 1940; Autograph Note undated.
£100.00

1p, 12mo. In good condition, lightly aged. Conventionally-presented printed notice, in copperplate with mourning border, with address and date at foot. Reads: 'Mrs. Neville Chamberlain is deeply grateful for the wonderful messages and letters which she has received and she sends you her heartfelt thanks for your sympathy.' At the head of the notice is the ANS: 'Thank you Sir Egerton so much. I [?] you are right in what you say about my husband's efforts & work. & I like to have your sympathy. | Anne Chamberlain'.

[Christopher Fry edits and contributes to] Seven numbers of 'Springboard | The Barnardo Magazine for Schools'

Author: 
Christopher Fry (1907-2005), playwright [Dr. Barnardo's Homes [National Incorporated Association for the Reclamation of Destitute Waif Children], British charity founded in 1866]
Publication details: 
Dr. Barnardo's Homes, Stepney Causeway, E1 [London]. Seven numbers: Vol.1 No.2 (Winter 1935); Vol.1 No.3 (Spring 1936); Vol.1 No.4 (Summer 1936); Vol.1 No.5 (Winter 1936); Vol.1 No.6 (Spring 1937); Vol.3 No.1 (Summer 1939); Vol.3 No.3 (Spring 1940).
£320.00

Seven volumes, the first three in 4to, the last four small 4to, ranging in length from 32pp to 44pp. Each stapled into coloured printed wraps, the first six carrying a stylised drawing of a boy doing a jump (from a springboard). In fair condition, on lightly aged and worn paper, with rusted staples. Each volume is filled with prose, poetry, illustration and photographs by a number of different contributors, including pieces taken from public school magazines. The only unattributed items are the book reviews, which are clearly the work of Fry himself.

[Paddy Carstairs, film and television director.] Two Autograph Letters Signed to 'Mrs Greenwood', the first encouraging her screenwriter aspirations, the second rejecting one of her scripts.

Author: 
Paddy Carstairs [John Paddy Carstairs, born John Keys] (1910-1970), film and television director
Publication details: 
Both on letterhead of Two Cities Films Ltd, 15 Hanover Square, London. The first undated (but with date of receipt noted as 10 July 1949; the second dated 22 July 1949.
£50.00

Both 1p, 8vo, and each in fair condition, on aged paper, with creasing along one edge. The first letter with smudged date of receipt in one corner. The first letter signed 'Paddy Carstairs', the second 'John Paddy Carstairs'. ONE: Begins: 'Dear Miss Greenwood | What can I possibly say? I am “set” for my next pic, but always want very unique stories – who doesn't?! | In 22 years (nearly!) I've only sold 3 originals for the screen and none of my novels – you see, there aren't any rules'.

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