CHRISTINA

[Compton Mackenzie and Christina Foyle.] Seven items relating to a ‘Foyles Literary Lunch’ for . Macqueen-Pope: Two Typed Letters Signed from CM to MP, TLS from Foyle to MP, and carbons of three letters from MP, and four related carbons.

Author: 
Sir Compton Mackenzie (1883-1972), novelist; Christina Foyle (1911-1999), owner of Foyles bookshop, London, who put on the ‘Foyles Literary Lunches’ [W. Macqueen-Pope, theatre historian]
Publication details: 
Dating from between 26 February and 15 May 1951. Mackenzie’s two letters on Denchworth Manor letterhead; Foyle’s letter on letterhead of W. & G. Foyle Ltd., Booksellers, 119-125 Charing Cross Road, London.
£120.00

From the Macqueen-Pope papers. (See his entry, and those of Foyle and Mackenzie, in the Oxford DNB.) Apart from damage and rust staining from paperclips, the seven items are in good condition. The correspondence mainly concerns a Foyles Literary Lunch for Macqueen-Pope, which Mackenzie was unable to chair because of an attack of bronchitis. All items 1p, 8vo. Mackenzie’s two letters signed ‘Compton Mackenzie’ and Foyle’s signed ‘Christina Foyle’. ONE: Foyle to MP, 26 February 1951. She is forwarding a letter from Mackenzie.

[ Christina Foyle of Foyle's Bookshop, London. ] 57 Typed Letters Signed and 20 Autograph Letters Signed to Philip Dosse of 'Books and Bookmen', with letters from her husband Ronald Batty. With other material including correspondence received by her.

Author: 
Christina Foyle (1911-1999), proprietor of London bookshop, Foyle's of Charing Cross Road; her husband Ronald Batty (d.1994) [ Philip Dosse (d.1980) of Hansom Books, publisher of 'Books and Bookmen' ]
Publication details: 
The letters of Foyle and Batty on two letterheads: 'From the Director's Office | W. & G. Foyle Ltd. | Booksellers | 119-125, Charing Cross Road, | London, W.C.2.' and Beeleigh Abbey, Maldon, Essex. Between 1968 and 1980.
£500.00

The collection is in good condition, with light signs of age and wear. Of Foyle's 77 letters, 63 are signed 'Christina Foyle' and 14 'Christina'. Almost all 1p., 4to. Foyle's character shines through, an extraordinary mixture of steely determination, frankness and snobbish hauteur (for a good assessment, see her obituary in The Independent, 10 June 1999). Topics include: literary luncheons for Diana Mosley, Dirk Bogarde ('He is so very appealing. My friend Vivian Ellis thinks he is greater than Shakespeare.

[Princess Marie Louise of Schleswig-Holstein, granddaughter of Queen Victoria.] Autograph signature.

Author: 
Princess Marie Louise of Schleswig-Holstein [Franziska Josepha Louise Augusta Marie Christina Helena] (1872-1956), member of the British Royal Family, granddaughter of Queen Victoria
Publication details: 
On letterhead of the Ambassadors' Court, St. James's Palace, S.W. No date.
£35.00

1p., 12mo. In fair condition, on lightly aged and worn paper. Folded twice, with vertical closed tear along crease at head, unobtrusively repaired on reverse with archival tape. Clearly in response to a request for an autograph. Reads, in a bold hand, 'From | Princess Marie | Louise'.

Autograph Letter Signed to 'Miss Pollock'

Author: 
Henry Thomas Mackenzie Bell
Publication details: 
12 May 1906; on letterhead 33 Carlton Road, Putney, S.W., deleted and repaced in manuscript by 11 Buckingham Gate S.W.
£35.00

Scottish writer (1856-1930), biographer of Christina Rossetti. 2 pages, 16mo. Somewhat grubby and stained, and with minor glue damage. He thanks her for her letter 'which indeed I appreciate. | I have just come to the above address - now my permanent one - after a year's residence in Madeira; and, just at present, am much occupied, but later, I shall hope to come to see your treasures, telling you beforehand.'

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