PLAYWRIGHT

Programme, [20]pp., 4to, illus. printed wraps. Directed by David Thacker, including excerpts from "The Golden Years", "Focus", "Death of a Salesman", Miller's adaptation of "An Enemy of the People", etc., etc. Programme signed by Arthur Miller himself ("For Sally [Worboyesof Fen Farm Arts] | Arthur MIller) and several of the Cast inc. Susannah York, Timothy West, Connie Booth, John Shrapnel prob.others unreadable (but inc. playwright Brian Clark). Enclosed Menu for dinner on 14 May 1989 at the Arthur Miller Centre for American Studies, signed "Warren Mitchell".

1p., 4to. In fair condition, lightly aged and creased. He asks her whether she means by 'a favourite recipe' one 'which I know of that others are likely not to know of? Or just one that I like but might well be familiar?' He ends by suggesting that she try asking Alan Bates, 'who I think has a secret recipe'. He gives an address for the actor.

Substantial TLS from Zeke Berlin to Marsh, 29 Jan. 1963, 2pp., sm. folio, giving information about rehearsals, the Theatre, the actors, commenting on the "idiom" in the play, music, characters. Play not mentioned but characters named reveal Anouilh's "Dinner with the Family".

One page, 12mo, 9 lines, In Roy's small hand, 3 Nov. 1950, in French. He is awaiting Marsh's sign, depending on him for how England will receive his work.

Total: 6 items, 1957-1961.One substantial ALS from Marc Camoletti to Edward Marsh, translator, 2pp. 4to, 25 Jan.

Total: 18 items, 1957-1961, including:One ALS, one TLS, one telegram from Marcel Achard to Edward Marsh, translator, only the TLS in French, others in English.Subjects: rights to translation of "Voulez-vous jouer avec moa" (gentleman's agreement for six months); this play "on appelle communément un 'théatre d'avant-garde'", requiring "excellent" actors like Peter Sellers; other information, including his agent's name; [telegram] "Waiting for you Stop Love".Memorandum of Agreement between Achard and Dr Van Loewen, agent, with Donmar Productions Ltd (New Theatre, London), not signed, 4pp., fol.T

Total: c.38 items, some more than one page, 1953-1968, 1984-1991, including:8 ALsS, Neveux to "Edward" [Marsh, translator], total 13pp., various formats, 1953-1961.

Total: c.21 items, 1977-1983.Four TLsS from Félicien Marceau to Edward Marsh, in French, (1978) saying that he'll go along with Marsh's proposals [about "L'Ami du Président"], reiterating two thirds for him; (1979) declining an adaptation for British television, anxious about the effect on "sa carrière théatrale"; (March 1983) having agreed film rights he is not free to authorise TV production; (May 1983) repeating what he understands about the cinema deal, and saying he'll be in touch on expiration.Eight copy TLs, some very substantial (one heavily worked), from Marsh to Félicien Marceau, 1

Total: c.43 items, some more than one page, 1953-1961, including:18 ALsS, TLsS and APCsS, to Edward Marsh, translator, total 26 pages/sides, various formats, with a telegram to him with note from him, and telegram from him to Edward Marsh.

TLS, 27 July 1971, one page, 4to, saying that the Camus Estate only want Robert Baldick to translate, giving background, so he's returning a script..

A very substantial TLS from Hauptmann to Marsh, 14 Dec. 1951, 2pp., 4to, in English, recalling their first meeting, commenting on Marsh's autograph collection from that time (1921), and responding to finding Marsh had adapted his "The Rats". He gives detailed response, complimentary but constructive.

Total: 5 items, all 1979.Postcard and TLS from Armand Lanoux to Edward Marsh, in French, (13 June and 27 July 1979) about the production in England of "notre fresque télévisuelle" "Zola ou la Conscience Humaine". He has asked his wife, Cathérine Tolstoi-Lanoux, to send Marsh "les deux pieces radiophoniques".WITH:Manuscript Draft, heavily worked over, letter from Marsh to Lanoux, 3pp., 4to, in French, 5 June 1979, broaching the question of an English production of the "Zola" programme (BBC etc).AND: ALS from Renée [de Conquele?

1p., landscape 12mo. Good, on aged paper, laid down on fly-leaf of book. Bold signature, written in response to a request for an autograph: 'To/ | Miss Micheline Keating | With affectionate good wishes. | David Belasco. | 1924.'

On one side of a piece of 11 x 11 cm paper, cut from the bottom of a letter. In good condition, lightly-aged. Reads, all in Kennedy's hand: 'Yours sincerely | Margaret Kennedy'.

1p., 12mo. On aged and ruckled paper, with pinholes to one corner. He is 'in the thick of this "Week in the Country" business'. 'When I come to town I'll come & see you about your proposition of the series for the Grand Magazine, but I'm a rotten short story writer, you know.'

4pp., 12mo. Bifolium. Very good, on lightly-aged paper. Untidily-written by Taylor, with several ink smudges. The letter begins: 'Dear Col: Cunningham | I find recorded, in my catalogues, no other portrait of Eliz: Countess of Pembroke & her son, except the one in the Earl of Pembroke's possession at Wilton House. There is a repetition of the group of mother & son in that picture, with the Earl in it, in Wilton House. Lord Normanton has a head of the Lady, painted at the same time, apparently'.

2pp., 12mo. Fair, on aged grey paper, with slight chipping at one corner. The letter accompanies a copy of an unnamed play, which Phillips hopes will interest Greenwood. 'I will stand or fall by it. I have learnt so much from your criticism (more indeed than from any one) that I should hope that you might continue possibly that line of such sane and helpful criticism which I have learned to look for from "the onlooker".' He concludes by declaring that there is no one to whom he is sending the book 'with greater pleasure'.

1p., 4to. On aged and grubby paper. The letter provides an interesting insight into the niceties of Regency theatrical practice. Colman peremptorily addresses it to 'Madam', before expressing his displeasure and defending his imposition of a penalty, as a result of the non-attendance of the recipient (apparently an actress) at a performance at the Haymarket.

2pp., 4to. Good, on lightly-aged paper. Divided into eight four-line stanzas, each with the same two-line refrain. The first stanza: 'Fashion was formed when the World began, | And Adam I am told was a very smart man, | As for Eve I shall say nothing more or less. | |But that Ladies of Fashion now copy her dress. | Yet barring all pother of this that & tother we all bow to Fashion in turn'. Containing witty references to the fashion for hunting boots and crops, New Bond Street, Tudor and Stuart clothing, Whigs and Tories.

4pp., 12mo. Bifolium. Good, on lightly-aged paper. The first page headed 'Act III', and the whole tightly-written and filled with deletions, interpolations and marginal notes, providing a valuable insight into the creative process of one of Victorian England's most successful dramatists. The last page breaks off: 'Handeside confesses his own desperate attachment. Markham <...>'. 'A Sister's Penance' was a great success, with 83 performances at the Adelphi between 26 November 1866 and 2 March 1867.

2pp., 12mo. Good, on aged paper. He writes to decline Carpenter's 'flattering' offer: 'I now find my acceptance of an office in your Society though purely honorary, would be apt to be misinterpreted [...] I have another reason - that I am taking some part in endeavouring to form a great Author's Society of another kind, and it would look rather <?> and impudent to be playing the fiddle in all parts of the orchestra.'

12mo, 1 p. Text clear and complete. Fair, on aged paper. Docketed by Blanchard in top left-hand corner: 'Sent to Sat.

Photocopy of word processor typed print-out. 8vo, [ii] + 53 pp. Good. In plastic binder. Title carries Dee's address. Second page lists the twelve sections of the play. Loosely inserted is a photocopy of a long review, with photograph, from the East Hampton Star, 26 March 1992, of 'a dramatic reading' of the play at Canio's Books, Sag Harbor. The play was not published, and there are no copies of this item on WorldCat or COPAC.

All four items good, on lightly aged paper. Two of the five leaves have small dog-ears to corners. Goodman has done his accounts on the blank reverse of one leaf. An important collection, in which the most important British post-war play agent reveals, in entertaining and increasingly-brusque terms, the criteria by which she judges scripts. Goodman was hailed by Jacques Barzun as 'the greatest living master of true-crime literature', but his first love was, as his obituary in the Daily Telegraph (16 January 2008) states, the theatre.

12mo, 1 p. Fair, on aged paper, with traces of previous mount adhering to the corners of the blank reverse. Of course Hollingshead should 'wait till the last night of "used up" ' before writing to Mathews, who has 'hunted up Buckstone - hunted up Turpin - but in vain. Not a box to be had'. He has sent 'the best I could get': '3 Dress Circle to Mrs Smiles with "Mr Hollingshead's best compliments." '. In a postscript states that if Hollingshead wants 'a box for the "Overland Route" before the last night' he will be 'too happy'. 'There is always a run on last nights.'

One page, 12mo. Very good. 'Do forgive my delay. I had lost your letter!'

Inscription, "Franz Molnar / Wien, 7.XI. 1923", copy drawing c.9 x 9cms, on page from an album compiled by Harry Woord Wolling, BBC producer(?), minor defects not affecting drawing or signature. Suitable for framing.

Based on his novel of the same name. Original green wraps, motif of Maunsel's Irish Plays on front, soiled, one closed tear, titlepage faintly stained, pages of contents dulled through age, sound. From the library of Robert Lynd, author and nationalist. Scarce: COPAC lists copies at NLS, Oxford and NLW (NOT BL).

Original brown wraps, chipped, dusted and soiled, titlepage partly soiled and dusted, otherwise good. Scarce: COPAC lists copies at BL, NLS, Oxford, and NLW. AddAll only lists the 1971 reprint.

Original mauve wraps, sunned and creased, endpapers soiled, contents slightly marked but mainly good. INSCRIBED by Robert Lynd, author and nationalist, in Irish, Riobard ua Flynn. Scarce: COPAC lists copies at NLS, Cambridge, BL.