LILY

[‘What a play!’: Percy Merriman, musician and songwriter, mainstay of the Roosters troupe of entertainers.] Autograph Letter Signed to theatre historian W. J. Macqueen-Pope, recalling Sir George Alexander’s 1896 production of ‘The Prisoner of Zenda’.

Author: 
Percy Merriman [Percival Harry Merriman] (1882-1966), musician and songwriter with the Roosters troupe of entertainers, who began as a First World War concert party [Walter James Macqueen-Pope]
Publication details: 
14 October [no year, but before 1958]. On letterhead of ‘Percy Merriman / Lecturer and Entertainer / 37 Parliament Hill / London / N.W.3’.
£45.00

From the Macqueen-Pope papers (see his entry in the Oxford DNB). Merriman was accorded the honour of an episode of the BBC’s Desert Island Discs in 1964. 2pp, 12mo. Signed ‘Percy’ and addressed to ‘Dear Popie’. In good condition, lightly aged, with one dog-eared corner and folded twice for postage. Begins: ‘Am not of course seeking any publicity over your book on St. James Theatre [published in 1958] only wish I could help more. / You know of course Allan Ainsworth [sic, for ‘Aynesworth’] is alive the doyen of the Garrick Club! He played often with G[eorge]. A[lexander]. - in Pinero & Wilde.

[‘The Darling of the Halls’: George Robey [Sir George Edward Wade], comedian, singer and music-hall performer.] Autograph Inscription, with Signature, to an Autograph Portrait Cartoon, as a red-nosed clown. With Autograph Signature of Lily Morris.

Author: 
George Robey [Sir George Edward Wade] (1869-1954), ‘The Darling of the Halls’, comedian, singer and music hall performer [Lily Morris [Lilles Mary Crosby] (1882-1952), music hall artiste]
Robey
Publication details: 
No date or place.
£32.00
Robey

A very nice piece of musichall ephemera: a signed self-caricature by one of its leading lights. See Robey’s entry in the Oxford DNB. On a 7 x 8.75 cm piece of card, cut from a plain printed postcard. In good condition, lightly aged, with traces of the four paper label mounts on reverse. On the front, which is entirely plain apart from Robey’s writing, is his Autograph Inscription, in a close hand with stylized signature: ‘Good luck. Geo Robey.’ This is at the foot of the page, beneath a well-executed self-caricature in blue and red ink.

[Lillie Langtry, actress ] Bold valediction to Letter. "Yrs faithfully | Lillie Langtry".

Author: 
Lillie Langtry [Emilie Charlotte Langtry (née Le Breton, 1853–1929), "The Jersey Lily", was a British-American socialite, actress
Publication details: 
No place or date
£35.00

Piece cut from letter (presumably), 13 x 6cm, good condition.

[ Jonathan Routh, television presenter. ] Typed Letter Signed, as showbusiness editor of 'Everybody's', to theatre historian W. Macqueen Pope, regarding his relation Lily Brayton and 'Chu Chin Chow'.

Author: 
Jonathan Routh (1927-2008), television presenter who brought 'Candid Camera' to Britain [ W. Macqueen-Pope (1888-1960), theatre historian; Lily Brayton (1876-1963), actress and singer ]
Publication details: 
On 'Everybody's' letterhead, 114 Fleet Street, London. 20 December [ no year ].
£45.00

1p., 8vo. On aged and creased paper. Lily Braytonis is a 'vague relative' of his, and she sends her 'good wishes [...] a propos the Chu Chin Chow article'. She would like to 'read through the relevant proofs' and Routh sends on her address. Brayton appeared in more than 2000 performances of 'Chu Chin Chow'. For more on Routh, see his obituary in the Independent, 8 June 2008.

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