MABEL

[Mabel Constandurous, star and writer of BBC radio series ‘The Buggins Family’.] Two Autograph Letters Signed to her agent ‘Miss Booth', discussing the success of her radio work, a fan letter from Compton Mackenzie, future engagements.

Author: 
Mabel Constanduros [Mabel Tilling] (1880-1957), commedienne and playwright, who wrote and starred in the BBC radio series ‘The Buggins Family’
Publication details: 
Neither item dated (but both after 1928). The first without place, the second on letterhead of Belhaven, Cornwall Road, Sutton.
£180.00

According to Barry Took’s entry on Constanduros in the Oxford DNB, ‘The Buggins Family’ was ‘the first radio family’, and she played all six parts, writing and performing in more than 250 episodes between and 1928 and 1948: ‘The popularity of the family was such that the Ministry of Food used Mrs Buggins to broadcast recipes during the Second World War.’Constanduros is also credited with having written more than one hundred plays. The recipient of these two letters, 'Miss Booth', is clearly her agent. Two items, the first in good condition and the second fair, on lightly discoloured paper.

R. V. Williams and the Mourne Press.] Signed ('Richard Rowley.') and inscribed ('R. V. Williams') copy of 'The Big Grey Man | A Legend of Mourne', with 'Illustrations after woodcuts by Lady Mabel Annesley'.

Author: 
'Richard Rowley' [pseudonym of the Ulster poet Richard Valentine Williams (1877-1947), proprietor of the Mourne Press]; Lady Mabel Annesley (1881-1959), illustrator and artist
Publication details: 
[Newcastle, Co. Down.] 'Published by the Mourne Press for the author.' [Slug on last page: 'BANBRIDGE CHRONICLE PRESS'.]
£320.00

[12]pp, landscape folio. Sewn with red thread. The words 'The Big Grey Man' on cover and title-page in red ink, rest of pamphlet in black ink. In fair condition, lightly aged and worn. A 48-line poem, in eight six-line stanzas, spread over three rectos, signed at end 'Richard Rowley.' Inscribed on title-page: 'Mrs. Brown. | With best wishes for Christmas | from | Mr. & Mrs. R. V. Williams. | 1942.' Six bucolic illustrations reproduced from woodcuts by Annesley, including one on cover. Colophon on recto of last leaf, with printers' slug on otherwise-blank reverse.

[Mabel Constanduros [Mabel Tilling], radio comedienne.] Autograph Letter Signed ('Mabel Constanduros') to Fleet Street editor Collin Brooks

Author: 
Mabel Constanduros (1880-1957, born Mabel Tilling), radio comedienne, actress and screenwriter [Collin Brooks (1893-1959), journalist and Fleet Street editor; Collie Knox (1899-1977), journalist]
Publication details: 
On letterhead of 9 Wetherby Gardens, S.W.5. [London] 13 December 1946.
£35.00

1p., 12mo. In fair condition, lightly aged, with slight damp staining. Addressed to 'Mr Brooks'. She is sending 'the script for you. It can, of course, be knocked about how you like. It is just a peg on which to hang things.' She reports that 'Collie' (i.e. Collie Knox) was pleased with Brooks's message, 'and sent most cordial ones back to you'. She concludes: 'We had an extremely pleasant lunch, and I shall look forward very much to meeting you again'.

[ Mabel Dearmer, author and pacifist. ] Autograph Letter Signed to 'Dearest Molly'

Author: 
Mabel Dearmer [ Jessie Mabel Prichard Dearmer, née White ] (1872-1915), English illustrator, writer, nursing orderly and pacifist
Publication details: 
On letterhead of St. Mary's Vicarage, Primrose Hill, N.W. [ London ] 23 April [ 1909 ].
£180.00

2pp., 4to. In fair condition, lightly aged and worn. A warm and characteristically solicitous letter. She has heard 'such a sad account' of the recipient, and hopes she is 'quite well & fit again now'. The Dearmers 'couldn't manage Paris but we should have loved it - There has been so much - boys' holidays & my book & now another new play! I am sending you "Gervase" - I always think of correcting the proofs at Alnmouth and the sunshine there - & your little red cap with the tassel!' She asks if 'Mrs.

[ Mabel H. Spielmann, author. ] Latter part of Autograph Letter Signed ('Mabel H Spielmann.')

Author: 
Mabel H. Spielmann [ Mabel Henrietta Spielmann ] (1862-1938), wife of art critic Marion Spielmann (1858-1948), author, sister of Liberal politician Herbert Samuel, Viscount Samuel (1870-1963)
Publication details: 
Place and date not stated. [ After 1919. ]
£28.00

2pp., 12mo. The last two pages of a letter, numbered 3 and 4. In fair condition, on aged and worn paper, with short closed tears at edges of central fold. The item begins with part of a sentence regarding 'dramatization in Paris', before turning to Spielmann's desire to have her novel 'The Sterndales of Sterndale House' (1919) filmed. She praises the recipient's 'critical faculty', adding 'The points taken are seldom just the points.' She will let the recipient's 'good opinion' of her be known 'in one or two quarters'.

[ Limited edition, inscribed by printer, de Vinne ] The Bibliomaniac by Charles Nodier. With forty-five illustrations from designs by Maurice Leloir, engraved on wood by F. Noel, and a preface by R. Vallery-Radot. Translated by Mabel Osgood Wright.

Author: 
Charles Nodier; Maurice Leloir; F. Noel; R. Vallery-Radot; Mabel Osgood Wright; Theodore Low De Vinne; The De Vinne Press, New York; J. O. Wright & Company
Publication details: 
New York: J. O. Wright & Company, 1894. [ No. 122 of 150 copies printed on Japan paper by the De Vinne Press, New York. ]
£220.00

79pp., 8vo. Tipped-in at front is an engraved plate of a bibliomaniac sitting reading in his crammed library, captioned 'MY DEN.' In good condition, lightly aged, in fake-vellum wraps, with medallion and title in gilt on lightly-worn cover. Inscribed by the book's printer Theodore De Vinne on front free endpaper: 'To David Douglas | With love of D V | Aet 1894'. No copy at the British Library, and none traced on COPAC.

Mimeographed Typed Play by Mabel Constanduros, titled 'The Sad Affair in Mangel Street'.

Author: 
Mabel Constanduros (1880-1957), born Mabel Tilling, actress and playwright [Steele's Play Bureau, London]
Publication details: 
In printed wrapers of Steele's Play Bureau, 54 Victoria Street, Westminster, London, SW1. Copyright 1937.
£56.00

[1] + 10pp., 4to. Printed on rectos only, and stapled into blue printed card wraps. Very good, on lightly-aged paper, in creased and stained wraps with rust to staples.

Autograph Letter Signed ('Mortimer Collins') to [Edward] Draper; together with a printed poem produced on the occasion of Collins's death.

Author: 
Edward James Mortimer Collins (1827-1876), English nineteenth-century novelist, journalist and poet
Publication details: 
The letter: undated, 'Knowsley, <?> of L. Derby'
£95.00

Letter: 12mo, 4 pp. Bifolium. Text clear and entire, but with the outer pages grubby. He has 'no wish to annoy other members of the Court family', so it will 'go no further'. 'It is cool of Miss Court to talk thhe confidence of her own home, when she made the statement to Mrs Bulkeley in her own drawing-room.' Suggests that Draper send 'the Postmistress' a 'reminder'. 'She is so accustomed to threatening letters from her creditors' lawyers that she possibly may disregard this.' Asks him to 'make her understand that withholding an apology may have sharp consequences'.

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