[The Refectory Club, Mayfair, London.] Three items of club ephemera: publicity booklet, application form and notice. With Typed Letter Signd from club secretary David Mallett, regarding theatre historian Maqueen-Pope’s desire to become a member.

Author: 
The Refectory Club, Mayfair, London; David Mallett, Secretary [Walter James Macqueen-Pope, theatre historian; Anna Zinkeisen (1901-1976), Scottish painter]
Publication details: 
Mallett’s letter dated 4 October 1955; on letterhead of The Refectory Club, 10 Tilney Street, Park Lane, W1 [London]. The other three items undated, but slighty earlier in date.
£180.00
SKU: 24553

From the Macqueen-Pope papers. (See his entry in the Oxford DNB.) Interesting London ephemera: the plans for the Refectory Club were clearly ambitious, but there is little to be gleaned about it, and it is unclear whether it even opened. Zinkeisen and her sister Dora are the subject of a 2022 monograph by Philip Kelleway, Emma Roodhouse and Nicola Evans. The four items in good condition, lightly aged, but with rust staining from a paperclip. Folded for postage. ONE: Typed Letter to MP, signed ‘D Mallett’ (but with ‘For Secretary’ typed beneath this). 1p, 4to. Begins ‘We have been informed by Mr. Nathan that you would like to become a member of our Club. We shall, of course be honoured to accept you but regret that we must ask you to apply formally for membership on the enclosed application form. After you have completed this, we should be grateful if you would forward it to Mr. Nathan for proposal.’ Information regarding fees follows. TWO: Illustrated Printed stapled publicity booklet. 7pp, 16mo. With three photographs of interiors (Dining Hall, Lounge and Common Room), together with reproduction of drawing of the Dining Hall on the cover. ‘The mediaeval Dining Hall is architecturally unique with its finely vaulted ceiling, supported by columns and pilasters of the utmost delicacy. / Curved wall panels provide the perfect setting for exquisite murals by Miss Anna Zinkeisen. The distinguished artist has captured the atmosphere of the period and portrayed it ith touches of subtle humour and gaiety. [...] The Lounge, pannelled in oak, with rich period furnishings, is a pleasing combination of things old and new. The old has been made to serve again in an unusual, recessed, long bar. / The pine-pannelled Common Room, dominated by a fine old refectory table, is reserved for private dinner parties. [...]’ The architect is named as H. Hubbard Ford, the ‘Decor’ is by Dickeson & French Ltd, and the murals are by ‘Miss Anna Zinkeisen’. THREE: Notice, printed in red. 1p, 12mo. Headed ‘The Refectory Club. / The Club will be open to Members on and after 3rd May, 1955.’ Gives details of opening hours, bar hours and restaurant hours, and of membership fees. Typed in red at foot: ‘This applies to the first 500 members. For those joining later the rate will be / FIVE GUINEAS PER ANNUM’. FOUR: Printed ‘Application for Membership’. On one side of a slip of paper, 1p, landscape 12mo. Not filled in.