[ Edward Knoblock, playwright and novelist. ] Unpublished typescript of 'The Great Exhibition | A Play in two Acts | with songs of the Victorian Days | by | Edward Knoblock'. With a Typed Note Signed from Joan Ling Ltd to W. J. MacQueen Pope.

137pp., 4to. Typed text on rectos only. Bound with red ribbon into red wraps, with typed label on front cover. In fair condition, aged and worn, in heavily-aged wraps. Pencil annotations to the list of characters. Bound in before the beginning of almost every scene is a manuscript leaf carrying a page giving the layout of the set. The label of Joan Ling Ltd, Gloucester House, 19 Charing Cross Road, WC2, is pasted over Knoblock's typed address 21 Ashley Place on the title page. Knoblock's papers are at his alma mater Harvard. The first scene takes place at 'The Milligans' Garden, The Laurels, Mopleton', the play's other scenes are set at various London locations (Royal Albert Hall; Vauxhall Gardens, Wapping; the Crystal Palace, Hyde Park). According to the list of scenes: 'The action of the first scene occurs on April 27th, 1851; the next seven scenes all take place three days later; the last two scenes on May 1st, 1851.' No record has been found of the play having been performed, and it was not published. The accompanying typed letter, on letterhead of Joan Ling, and signed on behalf of the firm by Barry Ford, is dated 23 November 1948, and informs Macqueen-Pope that Ford has 'told Freddie Piffard' that he has sent him a copy of the play. The hand resembles Knoblock's but the sample compared doesn't allow for conclusions.