Autograph Letters

Philologist and anthropologist. One page, 8vo. He expresses his appreication of Rost's "portrait" of (the recently deceased) Dr Burnell (Sanskrit scholar). It is a memorial which make sus mourn the more in knowing how much we lost".

English actor-manager (1837-1910). "Dear Miss Tennyson, / "Reading a play" is very actable, and would suit an actor like Chas. Collett, & important & voluble, & there are several who would make a success of it. But I'm afraid I am not one of them. Sorry to have kept the MS. so long. [...] MS. [not present] returned herewith registered."

English Admiral of the Fleet (1735-1823). The upper part of a letter on one 4to leaf. Recto: "Mortimer Street / the 18th of February 1807 / Sir / I have the honor to acknowledge the Receipt of your Letter of the 10th Instant reporting the account communicated by Lieutenant Batt, of <...>". Verso: "I have the honor to be / Sir / Your most obedient / humble Servant / St. Vincent". Grubby and with loss to one corner.

Novelist. She assures him that she is "still in the land of the living, and is initially flattered that he is showing an interest (in her autograph). Then she realises that he has mentioned books by her sister (M. Findlater) and has confused her with her sister - "but it is all the same to us!". She mentions that she enclosed an advertisement for "the last edition of my best-known book, suggesting he would find it an interesting read.

English actor-manager (1837-1910). Interesting letter exemplifying the importance of dentistry to the acting profession. 3 pp, 12mo, on mourning paper. "You know I've been away, on Tour with the "Lions" and after that, I took a jaunt to Tronville & Rouen, just returned with a broken tooth. - I've had to be patched up on tour, & have quite given up the idea of a good looking mouth. Any way I shall be glad if you will put a lower front tooth in. I will come to you to-morrow Wednesday afternoon about 3.30. in the hope you'll be free.

Diplomat and administrator (1826-1902). 2 pp, 12mo. A diplomatic refusal. "Nothing would give me greater pleasure than to enlist under your banner, if I thought there was the slightest chance of my being able to write anything that would suit you.

2 pp, 8vo. "Would Friday evening next at say 9 o Clock Suit you to play off our heat. If not let me know when would be convenient to you and I will try and fit it in."

Dramatist and actor (1834-84). One page, 12mo. "My dear Simpson: / I am getting the dates of the performances and sums paid and in a day or two will call on you and fix up the affair." Traces of glue and paper to the blank reverse.

English Admiral of the Fleet (1735-1823). One page, 12mo. "Lord St. Vincent will thank Mr Handley to convey the inclosed, to Mr. Willan, as soon as possible / Rochetts / 13th. June 1817".

Novelist (1776-1850). Text as follows: "Ever yours most faithfully/Jane Porter/ I shall return it to your care before I leave /<?>/ Sir M.A.Shee.

Theatre critic (1891-1974). The first, one page, 12mo, with letterhead of the Garrick Club, in stamped envelope addressed in autograph. "This comes of believing what you are told by Past Presidents of the O. U. D. C. "Julius Caesar" might shuffle through as history, but you have one on Romeo." The second, 6 October 1942, on letterhead of The Observer, one page, 8vo, in stamped typed envelope. "Many thanks for your letter. I was relying on Parker's 'Who's Who in the Theatre' which made no mention of 'Queen Mary'. I shall tell him to get this right.

English actor-manager (1837-1910). One page, 12mo, in stamped envelope adressed in autograph. "Dear Miss Tennyson. / There are no vacancies at present at the Adelphi. I shall be happy to remember you when opportunity affords - With congratulations on your progress. / Yours very truly / Henry G. Neville

English comic actor and dramatist (1802-79). 2 pp, 12mo. Concerning the staging of a new play. "Yates has the first & 2d acts complete - It must be in 4 parts / I am now on the 4th.: when can I have the sheets & illustrations of the entire romance?" Details of the first two acts follow. "When I get your work complete a very few days will complete me, - I leave town on the 20th of this month for a fortnight and am anxious to (indeed I must) finish before I start / Rodwell is composing "Jolly Rose" for Bedford to sing at Woods party." Somewhat grubby, with browning in the margins.

Clerk of Assize for the Midland Circuit (1868-1956), son of the actor Sir Squire Bancroft (1841-1926) and the actress Marie Effie Wilton (1839-1921). The letter, 12 May 1926, one page, 8vo, on mourning paper, with embossment White Lodge, Westgate-on-sea. "Pray excuse a typewritten letter. / To certain specified "comrades of the Stage, members of the Garrick Club, in grateful remembrance of their friendship", my father by his Will bequeathes a souvenir.

Lord Chancellor of England (1837-99). One page, 12mo. Marked "Confidential". "I send for your perusal a letter I have recd fm. Sir F. - you will of course treat it as quite confidential & destroy it when you have read it. It will at least serve to shew that I have done what I cd." Traces of gummed paper from mounting adhering to blank verso.

Dramatist (1849-1904). One page, 12mo, in stamped envelope addressed in autograph. "I am very much obliged for the ticket, and will certainly go. I am so glad you have got such a good chance, and I will "signify the same" (i.e. my gladness) "in the usual way".

English actor (1853-1915), admired for his melodramatic villains. The first, to Mr Philip, 14 December 1903, St. James's Theatre, one page, 12mo. "Herewith a cheque for one guinea in exchange for the dinner ticket you sent me a week or so since". The other three all written to Allan Gomme in 1914, with the letterhead 29 St. James's Street. The first of these, March 12, one page, 12mo. "I shall have great pleasure in attending the Inauguration Ceremony of the Burbage Memorial on Monday next, and the luncheon afterwards". The second, March 13, one page 12mo.

English actor-manager (1837-1910). Note, undated, Studio, 524 Oxford Street, Marble Arch, 2 pp, 12mo, somewhat grubby. He suggests a time for him to see her the following day. Letter, "Friday" (no date), on letterhead of the Olympic Theatre, 2 pp, 12mo. "Would you mind letting me hear your voice. I think I could offer you Florette in the "Orphans" if you felt that kind of part, - perhaps you would kindly give me a call tomorrow Saturday at about 12, at the Theatre." Letter, 5 September 1878, on letterhead of the Olympic Theatre, 2 pp, 12mo, in stamped envelope addressed in autograph.

Actor and dramatist (1802-1879). Three pages, 8vo, some marking but good condition. He asks for a mention of his Benefit. It is his last night at the Haymarket before he joins Madame Vestris at the Lyceum. He names the play, "The Beaux Startagem", adds that "Mr John Reeve son of the late celebrated comedian will also make his first appearance in Public in one of his father's characters, while Mr Buckstone will follow in Mr Planche's highly successful Drama of "The Jacobite".m He encloses cards (for entry?).

Painter, President of the Royal Academy (1836-1919). Four pages, 8vo. As follows: " I never thanked you for your postcard & its information which adds greatly to the interest of the drawing. " is puzzling certainly, but so unlike "canonico" that I can hardly think it can have been an error in the transcript of that word. I have not yet discovered the other two sketches I possess . . .

English actor-manager (1844-1921), knighted in 1907. The first, to [?] Burgess, 25 November 1895, on letterhead of the Hôtel Métropole, 2 pp, 8vo. He thanks him for a letter which "my wife & I prize very highly", and says he is sorry that his correspondent will not be able to be present. The second, to "Sir Philip", 27 November 1903, with letterhead 75 Upper Berkeley Street, Portman Square, one page, 8vo.

Lord Chief Baron of the Exchequer (1769-1844), the most successful advocate of his day. One page, 12mo. "My dear Sir / If you will excuse so short a notice & happen to be disengaged on Wednesday next pray do me the favour to join a small party which I have hastily made up with Lord Lyndhurst at dinner here at seven oClock/ Your truly / Abinger / Wednesday 16th. at 7." Scarlett had succeeded Lyndhurst as Lord Chief Baron at the end of the previous year. Discoloured and with heavy traces of mount adhering to blank verso.

English actor-manager (1837-1910). One page, on monogrammed paper. "Dear Mrs. Lewis. / I shall be delighted to accept your kind invitation for the 4th July. / Sincerely yours / Henry Neville". Heavily creased and with slight tear to one edge, and with traces of paper and glue on reverse of blank second leaf.

One page, 4to. Difficult handwriting. "Sir / On my return to this Cottage from Houghton I had the favor of your letters. I enclose a letter to Ld. Sandwich [...] I also enclose a letter to Sr. Horace Man [...]" Sir Horace Mann (1701-86) was British envoy at Florence. Docketted on verso of second leaf, "Ld. Orford, inclosing one to Ld. Sandwich wch was imediatly [sic] delivd. [...] Ensign Commis at Patna." Creased, and with loss to second leaf from removal of a seal.

Irish-born playwright (1784-1862). A cutting from a letter of irregular shape, 12mo, made by an autograph hunter. "Thank you my dear fellow. Tho' on the score of friendship I was quite well satisfied before as I am now / Yours ever / J. S. Knowles." Docketed on the otherwise blank reverse "The autograph of Mr. Sheridan Knowles, the author of the plays called "Virginius," William Tell, &c. &c.". -"

English dramatist (1851-1929). One page, 12mo. "Life won't bear looking at, will it; from / "Whitewashing Julia" / by / Henry Arthur Jones". Jones's comedy was printed by the Chiswick Press in 1903. Negligible rust-staining from paperclips in one margin.

Playwright, biographer, actor and poetaster (1882-1937). One page, 12mo, in stamped addressed envelope. "In reply to your letter, I am afraid I cannot manage to come just at present as I am going abraod [sic] early in April and shall be away for some weeks, but if later on we can arrange a date I will try to do so."

Theatre producer (1908-1973). "Thank you so much for your letter. I entirely appreciate your difficulties and I am most grateful to you. I hope that L. E. Berman can let me have the original manuscript as I should be most grateful. / I am sorry you have not received the photographs as promised and I will look into this immediately." Not in the best of condition: creased and grubby.

Authoress. 2pp., 8vo, some staining marginally affecting text. She has drawn a devil carrying a book engulfed by flames with a woman hand on head saying "What & leave the world no copy". She adds a "Quotation by the Saturday Review" "Go go to H- & say I sent thee thither". She apologises for using half sheets and signs.

Theatre critic. One page, 8vo, small piece of signature torn off with loss of "illi" of William. Concerning a "summons" (to a Fireside Club" dinner) which he could not obey being in Edinburgh on "postal censorship business". With: a printed card announcing the next Fireside Club dinner, Oct. 191[9] on which Archer has written "Hope to be present" with his signature, and another hand has written in the place and date. Two items,