WELSH

[Ivor Novello, hugely-popular Welsh stage and screen actor, dramatist, singer and composer.] Autograph Signature to publicity photograph.

Author: 
Ivor Novello [David Ivor Davies] (1893-1951), Welsh stage and screen actor, dramatist, singer and composer, one of the most popular British entertainers of the first half of the 20th century
Publication details: 
No date or place [1930s?].
£35.00

Novello’s three decades of unprecedented success began with the First World War song ‘Keep the home fires burning’. See his entry in the Oxford DNB. 8.5 x 13.5 cm publicity photograph on postcard, printed in sepia. In good condition, with tiny dink at top left. Captioned at foot ‘MR. IVOR NOVELLO’. Prim-looking with side-parting in white shirt, tie, and dark double breasted suit, the darkness of which makes the signature ‘Ivor Novello’ rather difficult to make out. Scan on application

[David Welsh, Professor of Ecclesiastical History at Edinburgh University, then Free Church of Scotland minister and Professor at New College.] Autograph Signature and valediction to a letter.

Author: 
David Welsh (1793-1845), Professor of Ecclesiastical History at Edinburgh University, then Free Church of Scotland minister and first Professor of Ecclesiastical History at New College
Publication details: 
No date or place.
£50.00

See his entry in the Oxford DNB. Autograph Signature and valediction to letter on 11 x 4.5 cm slip of paper: 'My dear Sir / Yours most truly / David Welsh'. In good condition on lightly-aged laid paper, with neat vertical fold. Tiny slip of paper with pencil note in contemporary hand laid down on blank space at left of slip.

[Vernon Watkins, Welsh poet, friend of Dylan Thomas.] Autograph Signature to his printed poem ‘Poet and Goldsmith’.

Author: 
Vernon Watkins (1906-1967), Welsh poet, friend of Dylan Thomas
Publication details: 
No date or place. Offprint from ‘The London Magazine’, July 1954.
£35.00

See his entry in the Oxford DNB. The poem, one of Watkins’ best, is printed under the heading ‘VERNON WATKINS | Poet and Goldsmith’ on both sides of a 12mo leaf, paginated 13-14. In fair condition, lightly aged and creased. On the lower part of the second page is a reproduction of an attractive pen drawing of Richmond Bridge by Eleanor Poore. After the end of the poem and above the illustration is Watkins’ assured signature, good and clear: ‘Vernon Watkins’.

[Dannie Abse, Welsh Jewish poet.] Autograph Letter Signed to Paul Furness, recalling poets like Paul Potts and George Barker in the Soho pub the French House, and John Conway and Alun Owen in pubs in Cardiff, and Jews and pubs.

Author: 
Dannie Abse [Daniel Abse] (1923-2014), Welsh Jewish poet, brother of politician Leo Abse and psychologist Wilfrid Abse [Gaston Berlemont (1914-1999), landlord of the French House, Soho, London]
Publication details: 
November 1982; 85 Hodford Road, London NW11. On embossed government letterhead.
£120.00

A good informative letter. See Abse's entry in the Oxford DNB, along with that of Gaston Berlemont, proprietor of the French House (the nickname of the York Minster), Soho. 2pp, 12mo. In good condition, lightly aged. Folded one for postage. On a leaf of light-grey paper, in matching stamped envelope with postmark, addressed to Furness in Battersea. One of a number of letters from British poets in response to enquiries from Furness with regard to their pub memories.

[J. H. Thomas, Welsh trade unionist and Labour politician.] Typed Note Signed, as General Secretary of the National Union of Railwaymen, to the future Sir W. D. Ross, written on the eve of the 1919 national rail strike.

Author: 
J. H. Thomas [James Henry Thomas] (1874-1949), Welsh trade unionist and Labour politician, General Secretary of the National Union of Railwaymen during the 1919 nation rail strike [Sir W. D. Ross]
J. H. Thomas,
Publication details: 
22 September 1919. On ornate letterhead of The National Union of Railwaymen, Unity House, Euston Road, London, N.W.1.
£56.00
J. H. Thomas,

See the two men’s entries in the Oxford DNB. 1p, 4to. In good condition, on lightly aged and creased cartridge paper. Folded three times. The letterhead is quite an impressive affair, with an engraving of ‘Unity House’ and lettering in a variety of styles. The letter is addressed to ‘W. D. Ross, Esq., / Oriel College, / Oxford.’ The ink on the ribbon appears to have been running out, as the latter part of the note is faded.

[Margaret Lloyd George, wife of Liberal Prime Minister David Lloyd George.] Typed Letter with cyclostyled signature, asking Rev. A. H. Sayers of Monmouth to arrange for a collection in his church for the British and Foreign Sailors? Society.

Author: 
Margaret Lloyd George [nee Owen] (1866-1941), Welsh wife of the Liberal Prime Minister David Lloyd George [Rev. A. H. Sayers of Monmouth; British and Foreign Sailors? Society]
Publication details: 
7 December 1916. On letterhead of 11 Downing Street, London, S.W.
£50.00

See her entry, and those of her husband and their two daughters, in the Oxford DNB. 2pp, 12mo. In good condition, lightly aged. Folded for postage. Although Sayers? name and address are given as recipient at the beginning, the letter is clearly a circular, and the signature is cylcostyled.

[Ivor Novello, popular Welsh composer, actor, playwright and movie star.] Autograph Signature for autograph hunter.

Author: 
Ivor Novello [born David Ivor Davies] (1893-1951), Welsh composer, actor, playwright and movie star, one of the most popular British entertainers of the first half of the twentieth century
Publication details: 
Without place or date (circa 1943?).
£25.00

See his entry in the Oxford DNB. On 17.5 x 11 cm leaf of pink paper, extracted from an autograph album. In fair condition, lightly aged and worn. In a large sprawling hand: ‘All good wishes / Ivor Novello’. On the reverse: ‘The “Cock-lodger” July 1943 / Don. Dobson / (Dobbie)’.

[Dannie Abse, Welsh poet.] Autograph Letter Signed thanking Derek Stanford for a review.

Author: 
Dannie Abse [Daniel Abse] (1923-2014), Welsh poet of Jewish extraction, brother of politician Leo Abse and psychologist Wilfrid Abse [Derek Stanford (1918-2008), critic and poet]
Publication details: 
‘85, Hodford Road, / London N.W.11 / Oct 74’.
£50.00

See his entry, and that of his brother Leo, in the Oxford DNB. 2pp, landscape 12mo. The top half of a small 4to leaf of grey paper. In good condition, lightly aged. The recipient’s name is not well written, but he is the critic Derek Stanford (1918-2008), who also has an entry in the Oxford DNB. Reads: ‘Dear Derek, / Thanks for send me a copy of your review. And thanks too for writing it! It is as generous as I would expect you to be. I do hope we may meet up somewhere soon. Our brief meetings over the years are punctuated - as far as I’m concerned - by intervals much too long.

[Berta Ruck, popular writer of romantic fiction.] Typed Letter Signed to the theatre historian W. Macqueen-Pope, asking for advice and praising his later book, with observations on reminiscence.

Author: 
Berta Ruck [Amy Roberta Ruck, Mrs. Oliver Onions] (1878-1978), prolific writer of romantic fiction, born in India of Welsh extraction [W. Macqueen-Pope [‘Popie’] (1888-1960), theatre historian]
Publication details: 
2 June 1950; Pomona, Aberdovey, Merioneth.
£56.00

See her entry and his in the Oxford DNB. 1p, 4to. In fair condition, lightly aged and slightly creased at extremities. Addressed to ‘My Dear Mr. MacQueen Pope’ and signed (in block capitals) ‘BERTA RUCK’.

[Lord Bute, builder of Cardiff Docks: John Crichton-Stuart, 2nd Marquess of Bute.] Autograph Letter Signed to A[lexander]. Milne, regarding legal opinions he has received, and a ‘complete abstract of the title to all the family estates’.

Author: 
Lord Bute, builder of Cardiff Docks: John Crichton-Stuart (1793-1848), 2nd Marquess of Bute [Lord Mount Stuart, 1794-1814], aristocratic landowner and industrialist, developed the Welsh coal industry
Publication details: 
‘Luton Hoo 24 Novr 1830’.
£56.00

See his entry in the Oxford DNB. 3pp, 12mo. Bifolium. In fair condition, lightly aged and worn, with slight damage to the blank reverse of the second leaf from mount. Folded three times, with a short closed tear at the edge of one crease. The recipient is named by Bute as ‘A. Milne Esq’ (the Aberdeen merchant Alexander Milne of Crimonmogate?). The letter is signed ‘Bute’.

[‘His knowledge of Marxist philosophy is zero’: a Maoist attack on the sinologist Joseph Needham.] Printed pamphlet by A. H. Evans titled: ‘Against Dr. Needham / An Exposure of his Anti-Marxism’.

Author: 
A. H. Evans [Arthur Henry Evans (b. 1902)], Anti-Revisionist Maoist Welsh communist and poet, proprietor of David-Goliath Publications [Joseph Needham (1900-1995), biochemist and sinologist]
Publication details: 
‘A David-Goliath Publication’ [‘Enquiries to: - A. H. Evans, 27, Gerrard Road, London, N.1.].
£180.00

A. H. Evans was born in the village of Aber Clydach, near Talybont on Usk, Breconshire. He gives biographical information in his ‘English Historians and Welsh History’ (1975). See also Needham's entry in the Oxford DNB. The present item is excessively scarce: no other copy found on OCLC WorldCat, JISC, ViaLibri or the National Library of Wales.

[Mary Caroline Hughes, artist, photographer and amateur scientist, wife of the Welsh geologist Thomas McKenny Hughes.] Autograph ms. of an original study by her of the poetry of John Keats.

Author: 
Mary Caroline Hughes [nee Weston] (1860-1916), artist, photographer and geologist, wife of the Welsh geologist Thomas McKenny Hughes (1832-1917) [John Keats]
Publication details: 
Undated, but written after her marriage in 1882.
£320.00

The last paragraph of McKenny Hughes’s entry in the Oxford DNB deals with his marriage, noting that his wife was ‘a keen amateur archaeologist, a botanist, and a distinguished artist, and under his tuition she became a valuable geologist’, and that the couple ‘travelled together on field excursions’, being accompanied on a trip to the Balkans by an armed guard. Six boxes of her papers are among the rest of those of the Hughes family in the Sedgwick Museum, Cambridge. The present item is 64pp, 4to, mostly on the rectos of a ruled ‘Universal Exercise Book.

[Angus McBean, Welsh photographer and set designer associated with surrealism.] Bromide print of photographic portrait of Moya Macqueen-Pope, daughter of theatre historian W. Macqueen-Pope.

Author: 
Angus McBean [Angus Rowland McBean] (1904-1990), Welsh photographer and set designer associated with surrealism [Moya Macqueen-Pope (b.1916), daughter of theatre historian Walter James Macqueen-Pope]
Publication details: 
Undated. Stamp on reverse of ‘Angus McBean / Photographer / Maskmaker / 29B Belgrave Road, / London, S.W.1. / Telephone: Victoria 1048.’
£350.00

From the papers of W. Macqueen-Pope. See the two men’s entries in the Oxford DNB. The National Portrait Gallery holds McBean’s portrait of MP, but not the present item, of which no other copy has been traced. 17.5 x 25 cm. In fair condition, with two corners dogeared; the reverse, carrying McBean’s stamp, is rather discoloured. Also on the reverse, in pencil is ‘Moya Macqueen-Pope’. Plain background.

[Hugh Cudlipp, Lord Cudlipp, as Managing Editor of the Sunday Express.] Typed Letter Signed to theatre historian W. J. Macqueen-Pope, regarding the changes to be made to an article, ‘with the usual skill of the Sunday Express’.

Author: 
Hugh Cudlipp [Hubert Kinsman Cudlipp; Lord Cudlipp] (1913-1998), Welsh journalist, influential editor of Fleet Street title the Daily Mirror [Walter James Macqueen-Pope (1888-1960), theatre historian]
Publication details: 
16 November 1951; on letterhead of the 'Sunday Express', Fleet Street, London.
£35.00

From the Macqueen-Pope papers. See the two men’s entries in the Oxford DNB. In good condition, lightly aged. 1p, 12mo. Signed (as Managing Editor of the Sunday Express) ‘Hugh’ and addressed to ‘Dear Popie’. The article will start, as he explained on the telephone, ‘with the death scene. / Here is the galley proof - uncorrected, so do not worry about literals. / We may also have to reduce the length a little, but it will be done with the usual skill of the Sunday Express’.

[‘If it suits me to sing it’. Mary Davies, Welsh mezzo-soprano, first President of the Welsh Folk Song Society.] Autograph Signature to conclusion of Autograph Letter Signed.

Author: 
Mary Davies (1855-1930), English-born Welsh mezzo-soprano, co-founder and first President of the Welsh Folk Song Society, principal vocalist at the London Ballad Concerts and 1906 National Eisteddfod
Publication details: 
6 October 1882; no place.
£50.00

On 11 x 14.5 piece of paper, cut for an autograph collector from the conclusion of a letter. In fair condition, lightly aged and worn, with light patches of discoloration and a couple of pin holes; laid down on piece of cream paper from album. One fold line. Reads: ‘[...] I will be very pleased to look through it and if it suits me to sing it. / With kind regards to all / Believe me to remain / Yours faithfully / Mary Davies’.

[T. F. Powys [Theodore Francis Powys], novelist and short-story writer,] Neat Autograph Signature for an autograph hunter.

Author: 
T. F. Powys [Theodore Francis Powys] (1875-1953), novelist and short-story writer, brother of John Cowper Powys and Llewellyn Powys
Powys
Publication details: 
No date or place.
£25.00
Powys

For Powys and his two literary brothers see the Oxford DNB. On 11 x 9 cm piece of wove paper. The paper is discoloured with heavy spotting aroudnd the signature. Clearly a response to a request for an autograph, neatly written and centred on the paper, the only writing is the signature: ‘Theodore Frances Powys’. See image.

[Victorian church restoration: the scathing view of the Regius Professor of Modern History at Oxford.] Autograph Letter Signed from E. A. Freeman [Edward Augustus Freeman], expressing concern for the ‘grand detail’ of St Mary’s Haverfordwest.

Author: 
E. A. Freeman [Edward Augustus Freeman] (1823-1892), Regius Professor of Modern History at Oxford [Victorian church restoration; Welsh architecture; St Mary’s, Haverfordwest; Hodgeston, Pembrokeshire]
Publication details: 
6 June 1886; on letterhead of 16 St Giles, Oxford.
£56.00

An interesting letter, in which a knowledgeable contemporary gives an extremely critical opinion of Victorian restoration as it pertains to churches in Wales. Freeman’s entry in the Oxford DNB describes how in his youth he had contemplated a career as an architect, and as a historian he showed ‘an interest in field archaeology and architecture, with the ability to sketch buildings and their features’. 3pp, 12mo. On bifolium. In good condition, lightly aged. Folded twice. Signed ‘Edward A Freeman’.

[Sir Edward Parry [Sir Edward Abbott Parry], judge and dramatist.] Autograph Signature to cutting of newspaper article by him on ‘Brach of Promise / The Law, the Lady, and Sex Equality’.

Author: 
Sir Edward Parry [Sir Edward Abbott Parry] (1863–1943), judge and dramatist
Publication details: 
Dated by Parry to April 1930.
£30.00

See the account of his life in the entry for his father the serjeant-at-law John Humffreys Parry (1816-1880) in the Oxford DNB. Signed ‘faithfully yours / Edward Parry / April . 1930’, across the headline of a 22 x 21 cm. cutting of a newspaper article, with text in three columns, the headline reading: ‘BREACH OF PROMISE / THE LAW, THE LADY, AND SEX EQUALITY/ By His Honour SIR EDWARD PARRY’. In good condition, on browning high-acidity paper. Folded once and with one crease. Begins: ‘Marriage is not the gilt-edged security that it was. Its stock is not rising.

[Joseph Jekyll, Regency politician and wit.] Autograph Letter Signed to George Agar-Ellis, on missing the 'Academy Dinner' by dining with the king; and manuscript copy of pun-laden account of ‘Bazaar in Mr Penn’s Garden for Charing Cross Hospital’.

Author: 
Joseph Jekyll (1754-1837), Welsh lawyer, Whig politician and wit, Master in Chancery and Solicitor-General to the Prince of Wales [George James Welbore Agar-Ellis, 1st Baron Dover]
Publication details: 
Letter written on 'Sunday Morning'
£100.00

The first item is fairly witty, while the second exhibits the sort of ‘excruciating puns’ for which Jekyll is, according to his entry in the Oxford DNB, largely remembered. See also Agar-Ellis’s entry in the same work. The two items are in good condition, lightly aged. ONE: Letter of ‘Sunday Morning’ to ‘Dear Ellis’. 2pp, 12mo. Signed ‘Joseph Jekyll’. Folded twice. Minuted by recipient at head of first page: ‘May 1825 / Jekyll’.

[Irving Wardle, theatre critic.] Autograph Letter Signed to Gerald Wynne-Rushton, giving advice on offering a play, with reference to a letter he has received from Emyr Humphreys, producer of BBC TV production of Saunders Lewis’s ‘Siwan’.

Author: 
Irving Wardle [John Irving Wardle] (born 1929), theatre critic and champion of Harold Pinter [Gerald Wynne-Rushton (1894-), Catholic writer]
Publication details: 
16 March [no year, but between 1960 and 1963]; on letterhead of the Observer, London.
£45.00

Wardle worked as Kenneth Tynan’s deputy on the Observer between 1959 and 1963. Wynne-Rushton had published a play titled ‘The Gull’s Way’ in 1930, and a book on the papacy for Catholic publishers Burns, Oates and Washburne two years later. 2pp, 4to. In fair condition, folded three times, with wear and loss along one fold line of the second leaf, resulting in loss of a few words of text. Signed ‘Irving Wardle’ and addressed to ‘Dear Mr. Rushton’, identified as G. W. Wynne-Rushton by associated correspondence.

[A Welsh poet at work: Harry Guest.] Three Autograph Poems: ‘Climbing a Volcano’ (two drafts), ‘At Shoreham’ (holograph), and ‘Sentence’ (fragment); with covering Autograph Letter Signed to Claire Freiburger; and transcription from Abelard.

Author: 
Harry Guest [Henry Bayly Guest] (1932-2021), Welsh poet and noted translator from French and Japanese
Publication details: 
The poems undated. The letter dated 3 September 1970; ‘c/o Mr. T. Mugishima, | Kugahara 4-Chome 23-9, | Ohta-Ku, / Tokyo 165’.
£220.00

See Tony Lopez's obituary in the Guardian, 11 April 2021.The letter was sent, with Items One and Two at least, while Guest was Lecturer in English at Yokohama National University, 1966-1972. All four items are neatly written in black ink in a close hand. The first three items are in good condition; Item Four is in fair condition, on aged paper and with wear to the outer edges. The parallel drafts of ‘Climbing a Volcano’ in Item One present an excellent example of the working process of a poet in the pre-digital age. ONE: Autograph Manuscript (2pp, folio) on one leaf.

[Augustus John, OM RA, celebrated Welsh painter.] Producer Hugh Burnett’s copy of the typed transcript of John’s BBC TV interview with John Freeman in the series ‘Face to Face’, with proof and typographical marks for publication.

Author: 
Augustus John [Augustus Edwin John] (1878-1961), OM RA, celebrated Welsh painter [John Freeman (1915-2014), Labour MP and interviewer on 'Face to Face'; Hugh Burnett (1924-2011), BBC TV producer]
Publication details: 
Without date or place, but BBC TV interview on 15 May 1960; and this transcript produced for inclusion in version published in London in 1964.
£220.00

The present item is the producer Hugh Burnett's own copy, from his papers, of the transcript of John Freeman's interview with John, broadcast in the groundbreaking BBC series 'Face to Face' on 15 May 1960. This single-spaced typed transcript was produced for inclusion in Burnett's book 'Face to Face / Edited and introduced by Hugh Burnett' (London: Jonathan Cape, 1964), and is marked up with printing instructions in pencil and red ink, with a few proof corrections in green ink. 3pp, foolscap 8vo, on three leaves stapled together.

[Ivor Novello] Bold Autograph Signature All good wishes | Ivor Novello.

Author: 
Ivor Novello [born David Ivor Davies] (1893-1951), Welsh composer, playwright and actor.
Novello
Publication details: 
No place or date
£28.00
Novello

Page, 20 x 15.5cm, extracted from Autograph Album, one rough edge (extraction process), very good condition. See image.

[John Bromfield Gay Rees, Welsh Artist] The Correspondence of John Bromfield Gay Rees, Welsh Artist. An archive..

Author: 
[John Bromfield Gay Rees, Welsh Artist.
Publication details: 
1930-65
£1,750.00

John Bromfield Gay Rees (1912 - 1965), known to his family and friends as Brom, was a Welsh painter whose work was admired by such eminent figures as Dylan Thomas, Augustus John, William Rothenstein and Eardley Knollys, among others. Introspective and private, he was practically unknown to the general public during his lifetime, and the first major exhibition devoted solely to his work was in 1989.

[ Mervyn Levy, Welsh Artist ] Autograph Letter Signed MERVYN LEVY to My dear old boy [John Bromfield Gay Rees, Welsh artist] about his activities; a meeting; Welsh Art Exhibition. WITH: Two autograph copy letters of Rees's letters to Levy.

Author: 
Mervyn Levy [(1914 – 1996), Welsh artist, art teacher and writer on art].
Publication details: 
3 Army College, Chisledon, Wilts, 21 April 1847. In original envelope.
£200.00

Two pages, 12mo, fold marks, good condition. Text: Faed [fellow-artist] wrote me a letter some little while ago, which I only received on Saturday on my return from Berlin, & the conclusion of a German lecture tour, I am simply delighted to hear of your existence & whereabouts & hope we can soon meet. Please write, and if you could come up to this part of the world, even this coming week-end, I might see you more quickly then i[?] we would until I can get to Bristol. I am going to Gibraltar next month, so let's try & fix something up as soon as possible.

[ Beatrice Webb, social reformer et al ] Typed Letter Signed illegibly Beatrice Webb | [typed] (Mrs Sidney Webb) to [Thomas Lloyd] Humberstone , touching on the authorship of some articles, Sidney's poor health et al.

Author: 
Beatrice Webb [Martha Beatrice Webb, Baroness Passfield, (née Potter; (1858 -1943), sociologist, economist, socialist, labour historian and social reformer]
Publication details: 
[Headed] Passfield Corner, Liphook, Hants, 17 March 1938.
£180.00

One page, 8vo, fold marks, good condition. Text: I regret that my husband's serious breakdown in health prevents him from answering your note of March 14th. He tells me that the aticles in The Times quoted in the book were written by himself: he was very fond of writing unsigned articles in newspapers and then quoting them, as he knew the quotations wouyld be apt! | I fear that he is quite unable to see you, as he is not strong enough to see friends, and especially those who wish to discuss serious questions with him. Do you happen to know Mr. R.W. Bell, an official of the L.C.C.?

[ Augustus John, artist; Welsh Art ] Autograph Note Signed Augustus John to Capt. Levy [Mervyn Levy, Welsh artist] about contributing something to a Welsh Exhibition.

Author: 
Augustus John, artist [Augustus Edwin John (1878 – 1961), Welsh painter, draughtsman, and etcher]
Publication details: 
33 Tite Street \ SW3, | Flaxman 9123 |11 Feb. 1947
£200.00

One page, 12mo. fold marks, very good condition. Text: Thank you for yoyr letter inviting me to contribute to a Wesh Exhibition you are organising. I hope I may be able to find something for this purpose.

[Lyn Harding, Welsh stage and screen actor.] Autograph Letter Signed ('Lyn') to 'Popie' [theatre historian W. J. Macqueen-Pope], complaining of a coach party of '50 arrived from Scotland', who have 'robbed God of several hours of daylight'.

Author: 
Lyn Harding [David Llewellyn Harding] (1867-1952), Welsh stage and screen actor [W. J. Macqueen-Pope]
Publication details: 
34 Valkyrie Road, Westcliff-on-Sea, Essex. 'after April 14th. [1951]'
£40.00

2pp, 8vo. In fair condition, lightly aged, with crease lines from having been folded into a packet. The letter is from a batch of letters written following Ivor Novello's death in 1951, in Macqueen-Pope's personal papers. He writes to send his new address ('after April 14th.'), having been forced after eight weeks to move from the Holmwood Hotel, 'to seek a little relaxation at a guest house where there will be less noise and Jubilation'.

[Ivor Novello, composer, playwright and actor.] Autograph Signature on front cover of the 'Magazine Programme' of his comedy 'I Lived With You'.

Author: 
Ivor Novello [born David Ivor Davies] (1893-1951), Welsh composer, playwright and actor [W. J. Macqueen-Pope]
Publication details: 
The Magazine Programme [London: Prince of Wales' Theatre], No. 893. 4 April 1932.
£45.00

[24]pp, 12mo. Stapled programme, in shiny covers. Strip torn away from back cover, and with staples slightly rusted, otherwise in fair condition. Large signature 'Ivor Novello' diagonally across title on front cover: 'Richard D. Rose | presents | Ivor Novello | in | I Lived With You | A comedy in three acts | by | Ivor Novello'. An illustrated 'magazine' programme, containing articles and advertisements. No copy on OCLC WorldCat. From the papers of Novello's friend and biographer, the theatre historian W. J.

[Berta Ruck, Welsh romantic novelist.] Autograph Letter Signed and Autograph Card Signed (both 'Berta Ruck') to 'Stephen', supplying an autograph, and asking him to order her son's book from the library. With printed advertisement for the book.

Author: 
Berta Ruck [Amy Roberta Ruck, Mrs. Oliver Onions] (1878-1978), prolific writer of romantic fiction, born in India of Welsh extraction [her son Arthur Oliver]
Publication details: 
Letter: 19 March 1975; on her letterhead, Aberdovey, Gwynedd, North Wales. Card: undated; from Bryn Tegwel, Aberdovey, Gwynedd, Wales.
£50.00

LETTER: 1p, 4to. On aged and spotted paper. Folded once. Written in the shaky hand of a ninety-seven year-old. She thanks him for his 'letter so well written', adding: 'I don't think I wrote as well as that when I was eleven years old!' She wishes him every success with his autograph collection, and is pleased to add her signature to it. 'I will put it to the end of this sheet so that you can cut it out and paste it in where you wish.' The signature is at bottom right: 'Yours with sincere good wishes | Berta Ruck | 12th March | 1975'.

Syndicate content