NOVELIST

Autograph Prayer Signed, 'For Stephen Snell from Rumer Godden'.

Author: 
Rumer Godden, English novelist (1907-98)
Publication details: 
Without date or place [but card dated 1992].
£36.00

In very good condition, on a greetings card containing a reproduction of an illustration of a black cat by Barry Moser, from Godden's translation of Carmen Bernos de Gasztold's 'Prayers from the Ark'. The prayer, in Godden's hand (and probably one of her translations from the book) reads 'Lord, I am the Cat. It is not exactly that I hahve something to ask of you! No - I ask nothing of anyone - but, if you have by some chance, in some celestial barn. a little white mouse, or a saucer of milk. I know someone who would relish them.

Typed letter signed "Lionel Britton" to Joan Jefferson Farjeon, scene designed daughter of J. Jefferson Farjeon, detective novelist and playwright. WITH: related correspondence.

Author: 
Lionel Britton.
Publication details: 
Park House, 66 Tufnell Park Road, London, N7, 1956 - 1959
£450.00

Novelist and playwright, author of the "flawed masterpiece" "Hunger and Love". Two pages, 8vo, fold marks but good condition, one ms. correction. A substantial letter dated 30 Oct. 1956, in which he reports on a letter from "Miss Black of Curtis Brown Ltd" (literary agents) in which she reports that Miss Farjeon does not want to sign a second agreement for "The Impossible Guest" (novel by Joseph Jefferson Farjeon published in 1949 which Britton presumably adapted for the stage).

Autograph Letter Signed to an unnamed correspondent. En francais.

Author: 
Octave Feuillet
Publication details: 
[Paris, October 1860].
£36.00

Dramatist and novelist. One page, 8vo, good condition. In a difficult hand, he says that he has heard from [M. Rey?] that he hasn't concluded his engagement in Brussels and has no interest in the role mapped out except in a few days. He goes on to talk of the work involved in corrections which has prevented him from sending a "manuscript exact". Note: The place and date are written in another hand on the reverse.

Autograph Letter Signed to "Major Blake".

Author: 
Robert W. Chambers.
Publication details: 
43 East Eighty-Third Street, 12 Feb. 1926.
£100.00

American novelist (see American DNB). Three pages, 8vo, laid down on a piece of card, sl. soiled but text clear and complete. He acknowledges receiving a letter and goes on "I red the fascinating book with the greatest possible pleasure. It is charmingly written, and so interesting that when it ended I wished for more." He thanks Mrs Blake for "the delightful hours she has given me in following her adventures and yours." [Book unidentified] He asks the to let him know when they return to America.

Autograph Postcard Signed to 'Mrs. Black'.

Author: 
Eliza Lynn Linton
Publication details: 
Postmarked 8 January 1891; 'Queen Annes Mansions. St James's Park SW.'
£56.00

Novelist and miscellaneous writer (1822-98). Dimensions roughly five inches by three. Grubby and with minor fraying, loss and closed tears to edges (not affecting text). Printed halfpenny stamp and two postmarks in black ink. Addressed to 'Mrs. Black | 5 Hazlitt Road | W. Kensington | W.' 'I have not received ye Ladies Pictorial, but fine - all very well done with great sympathy & tenderness & so well written - I have begun by informal LSaturdays - & shall be very glad to see you if you could come'. Signed 'E: Lynn Linton'.

Autograph Letter to George Hammond of Spring Gardens.

Author: 
Robert Plumer Ward
Publication details: 
Abingdon St. Monday.' [no date, but before 1827].
£56.00

English novelist and politician (1765-1846). The recipient (1763-1853) was a diplomat, and joint-editor of the 'Anti-Jacobin'. Three pages, 12mo. On discoloured, lightly-stained paper, with one corner of second leaf of bifoliate (with two words of text) broken off in breaking open letter, and still adhering to wafer. Had Hammond given 'a days notice' of his 'intention to come up', he might have been spared 'some hours of unnecessary Solitude'.

Autograph Letter Signed to 'Mrs Valentine'.

Author: 
Victor Sawdon Pritchett
Publication details: 
16 December 1985; on letterhead '12 REGENTS PARK TERRACE | LONDON N.W.I'.
£28.00

English novelist (1900-96). One page, octavo. Good, but with slight marking from staple in top left-hand corner. He is glad his correspondent is 'having therapy for your bad back for, hard work though it is, and must be in your case, I'm sure you will find it helpful. | About author's proofs, they of course usually go back to publishers; but what I am glad to be able to send you is the jacket of my latest book which at least has a picture and my signature, and I hope it will, at least, be decorative in your study.' Signed 'Victor S Pritchett'.

Autograph sentiment signed.

Author: 
Sheila Kaye-Smith.
Publication details: 
No place, 11 Aug. 1931.
£18.00

Novelist. Piece of paper, c.5 x 3", prob. torn from larger page, attractive sentiment and signature dated: ""With best wishes - / Sheila Kaye-Smith. / Aug. 11. 1931."

Autograph Letter Signed to "Mrs Trevelyan".

Author: 
Lady Anne Isabella Ritchie.
Publication details: 
27 Young Stree, Kensington Square, W., London, Tuesdau [no date].
£56.00

Novelist and essayist, daughter of Thackeray (see DNB). Two pages, 8vo, remnants of mounts, mainly good condition. She is sorry she missed her but was "at the hairdressers superintending Hector's first crop". She looks forward to visiting and mentions that she "spent a very happy half hour yesterday with Fox in Fleet Street in Messrs Sampson Lows shop, so that it seemed quite natural to see yr writing."

Fragment of Autograph Letter Signed to 'Mrs. Randolph'.

Author: 
James Hain Friswell
Publication details: 
Without date or place.
£28.00

English novelist and miscellaneous writer (1825-78). Dimensions five inches by four and a half. Good. Mounted along one edge to piece of grey card. Cutting from Times, 15 March 1879, mounted on reverse of letter (giving Friswell's dates as 1827-79), and partly obscured by gum. Reads: '<...> I cannot say that the picture of life as you draw it is charming & only hope it is not true - illusions! | Your cursory remarks on us poor Men are written with a copper pen & sulphuric acid. Mr Randolph, who is of course the noble exception, must be delighted with them.

Typed Letter Signed to [Morley Stuart, editor of the Cambridge Daily News].

Author: 
Rose Macaulay
Publication details: 
13 April 1934; on letterhead '7, LUXBOROUGH HOUSE, | NORTHUMBERLAND STREET, | W.1.'
£53.00

English novelist (1881-1958). One page, roughly six and a half inches by five. Good, but on high-acidity paper discoloured with age. Attached to folio page from cuttings album. She thanks him for 'the cutting from the Cambridge Daily News about your lecture on Cambridge novels, which interested me. I do not suppose I could have said anything useful if you had written to me, as I can never think of anything to say in letters. I was interested in your comparison of Oxford & Cambridge novels.

Autograph Signature on fragment of letter.

Author: 
Hall Caine
Publication details: 
Without date or place.
£15.00

Manx novelist (1853-1931). Paper dimensions roughly three inches by one and a half. Very good. Reads 'Yours vy truly | Hall Caine'.

Autograph Signature on fragment of letter.

Author: 
Edna Lyall (Ada Ellen Bayly)
Publication details: 
Without date or place.
£18.00

English novelist (1857-1903). Paper dimensions roughly four and a quarter inches by two and a quarter inches. Very good, but grubby and with a few light glue stains. From autograph album and mounted on larger piece of light blue paper. Reads '[...] | it will save confidencce. | In gt. haste | Yrs. truly | A. E. Bayly.' Docketed '(Edna Lyall)' in pencil beneath signature.

Autograph Signature on fragment of letter

Author: 
Eleanor Catharine Price [E. C. Price]
Publication details: 
Without date or place.
£18.00

Paper dimensions roughly four and a half inches by two and a half inches. Very good. Folded once (not affecting signature). From an autograph album. Mounted on larger piece of blue paper. Reads '[...] | It was a real pleasure | to see you again the other | day. | Yours afftely | E C Price -'. Docketed in pencil at foot.

Autograph Signature on fragment of letter.

Author: 
Annie S. Swan [Annie Shepherd Swan Burnett-Smith]
Publication details: 
Without date or place.
£18.00

novelist (1859-1943). Paper dimensions roughly four and a half inches by two inches. Very good. From autograph album. Mounted on larger piece of pink paper. Reads 'Yrs sincerely | Annie S. Swan.'

Autograph Signature.

Author: 
Lionel Arthur Tollemache
Publication details: 
Without date or place.
£18.00

English aristocrat (1838-1919), author of 'Safe studies', 'Nuts and chestnuts', etc. etc. Paper dimensions roughly four inches by two inches. Very good. From autograph album. Mounted on larger piece of cream paper. Written in lilac pencil. Reads 'Lionel A Tollemache'. Docketed at foot in pencil.

Part of an autograph letter signed "C.M. Yonge" to [Catharine Eleanor Price?]

Author: 
Charlotte M. Yonge.
Publication details: 
No place or date.
£25.00

Fragment of an autograph letter, c.4" x 2",laid down on slightly larger card (from an album).Text only "I am reading ["Foreigners"?] and enjoying them. / Yours very truly / C.M. Yonge.

Part of an autograph letter signed to an unnamed correspondent (editor or publisher?)

Author: 
H. Rider Haggard.
Publication details: 
No place or date.
£85.00

Fragment of a letter, c.3.5" x 3", laid down on slightly larger card, surving text as follows: "I have no story suitable. Hope you had a pleasant trip. Very truly yours / H Rider Haggard".

Autograph note signed to "Messrs. Carpenter" (James and Thomas), Booksellers, Old Bond Street, London.

Author: 
Mrs C. Mathew.
Publication details: 
[B]ath, 10 Feb. 1802.
£100.00

One page, 4to, grubby, small pieces torn out with loss of two words and the "B" of the Bath address. "Some person having (I suppose with a view to turn my Novel into ridicule) circulated a great many Printed Letters of which I <?> one; I beg the favor[sic] of you to get the advertisement on the other side inserted in the Sun, which will be of more effect than the Bath [? prob. local paper.] / I am sorry to be so often troublesome to you [?.] I hope however you will have the goodness to excuse and am . . ." Verso has address and a note by bookseller, "Mr[s] Mathew".

Autograph Signature on fragment of letter.

Author: 
George Payne Rainsford James [G.P.R. James]
Publication details: 
Without date or place.
£20.00

English novelist (1799-1860). On fragment of paper approximately 4 1/2 inches by 1 1/2 inches. In poor condition: creased and discoloured from previous mounting. Reads 'Your most faithful Servant, | G. P. R James'. Docketed on reverse 'March | - | Ap 28 | a 2 May'.

Autograph Letter Signed to unnamed correspondent.

Author: 
Margaret Baillie-Saunders
Publication details: 
25 Nov. [no year].
£50.00

Novelist. Four pages, 8vo, good condition. She responds to a question by revealing that she is working on a new novel called "Scarlet Sials" (pub. 1924, BLC) "all about the Isle of Wight and a rather fascinating love intrigue and social tragedy". She says it's "full of the sea . . . (Solent, Spithead) and the drifts of orange flower scented air form the Lotus Island, and is a great delight to write in the midst of fogs & General Elections". She mentions the Redwing Yacht Club ("cherry-coloured sails") but is torn from them by her being a speaker at election meetings ("blue" - Tory).

Autograph Letter Signed to [F. J.] Epps[, F.G.S.].

Author: 
Margery Fisher
Publication details: 
26 May [no year]; on letterhead 'Old Rectory Ashton Northampton'.
£35.00

Margery Lilian Edith Turner Fisher (1913-92), English novelist. 1 page, 8vo. With two folds but in good condition overall. She is enclosing 'a rather assorted MS. of my husband's paper for the <?>' and hopes 'the delay has not been too frightful for you. | He would be grateful if you could let him have 3 proofs of the galleys as soon as they are available. | If the figure is unsatisfactory, he will get it re-drawn, but he thinks it should do all right.'

Autograph Signature.

Author: 
Eden Phillpots
Publication details: 
February 1928; no place.
£15.00

English novelist, poet and dramatist (1862-1960), noted for his works on Devon. On piece of paper, 3 inches by 4 1/2. In good condition, and attached to a piece of blue card docketed with list of Phillpots works. Distinctive and attractive signature, 'Eden Philpotts | Feb: 1928'.

Autograph Signature on fragment of letter.

Author: 
Morley Roberts
Publication details: 
Without date or place.
£15.00

Novelist, journalist and travel writer (1857-1942). Dimensions: 1 1/4 inches by 4 inches. In good condition, although creased along its length, and attached to a larger piece of paper docketed 'Morley Roberts. | Novelist & Journalist.'

small fragment of autograph letter signed, correspondent unnamed

Author: 
Helen Mathers
Publication details: 
2pp, 32mo, on mourning paper, without place or date
£25.00

Victorian novelist (Mrs Henry Reeves). Docketed 'Authoress of "Coming thro' the Rye"'. Signed 'Helen Reeves' and docketed 'nee Mathers'. Closing two lines of letter above signature, and on reverse five lines (referring to "the dreadful time of yours", partly covered by glued-on piece of paper. Creased and discoloured.

autograph signature

Author: 
Sarah Grand
Publication details: 
1p 16mo (apparently flyleaf of book)
£25.00

Pen name of Frances Elizabeth McFall, novelist (1854-1943). 'Very sincerely Yours | Sarah Grand'. Fold line across middle of paper not affecting text. Remains of four small pieces of gummed paper on reverse.

autograph note signed to unnamed correspondent

Author: 
Flora Annie Steel
Publication details: 
1p, 16mo, 19 November [no year], on blind-embossed letterhead Talgarth Hall, Pennal (telegram), Machynlleth
£25.00

Victorian novelist and satirist of the Raj. 'Dear Madam | I regret that I shall be away from England all winter | Yours truly | F. A. Steel." Creased, disoloured and docketed in pencil. Writing offset by folding of letter.

ALS, 2pp, 8vo, to J. P. Cooke

Author: 
John Palgrave Simpson (DNB), dramatist and novelist
Publication details: 
04/10/83
£80.00

He has heard that "a prospectus of the Company now being formed for the establishment of an English Opera Theatre in London has been sent to you at Thurloe Square", but he sends another with a few words. "I think that we have undertaken a good work: and I feel confident that, were the Company established, we should prosper." Needs to fill list of shareholders by 13 inst. Asks his correspondent to take a few shares "for the love of an art, which, if not your own, is akin to it".

ANS, 1p, 16mo, to unnamed correspondent

Author: 
George Manville Fenn (DNB), Victorian novelist
Publication details: 
10 March 1900, Isleworth
£25.00

Difficult handwriting. "Dear Sir | I wish <?> good government and Peace [last word underlined three times] | Faithfully Yours | Geo Manville Fenn"

ALS, 1p, 16mo, to Mr Balfour

Author: 
Mrs Humphry Ward [Mary Augusta Ward] (DNB), novelist
Publication details: 
27 June 1894, on letterhead "25 Grosvenor Place, S.W."
£25.00

Asks whether he is able to dine with them on 6 July. Neat square stamp in purple ink at head filled in in another hand with details of when received and answered. Small paper and glue mark at centre of otherwise-blank reverse.

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