Music and Theatre

Autograph fragment signed,

Author: 
Kate Josephine Bateman [Mrs George Crowe]
Publication details: 
no date or place.
£10.00

American-born actress (1842-1917). End of letter on mourning paper, now 12mo, signed in her married name. "Very truly yrs / Kate Crowe".

Autograph letter signed to Miss M[ary]. H. Folkard,

Author: 
Kate Josephine Bateman [Mrs George Crowe]
Publication details: 
18 November [1897], with letterhead 48 Wetherby Mansions, Earl's Court Square.
£20.00

American-born actress (1842-1917). 2 pp, 12mo, on mourning paper, in matching stamped envelope addressed in autograph "Miss M. H. Folkard / Wigram Ward / Kings Coll. Hospital / Lincoln's Inn Fields". "I am more than grieved to hear of yr. illness. What a long, long weary time you have had! May I go to see you on Sunday? I wd. love to go before - but I am teaching all day [at the theatre school she had founded in 1892] - & acting at night - & have not a minute before Sunday. My love to you dear friend - & Miss Daley's - / Your always affte. / Kate Crowe".

photograph signed to [?] Sarker,

Author: 
Violet Vanbrugh (stage name of Violet Augusta Mary Bourchier, née Barnes)
Publication details: 
circa 1905?
£25.00

English actress (1867-1942). A portrait photograph, 5¾ inches by 4 inches, from the studio of Ellis & Walery, 54a Baker Street. Inscribed "To Mr Sarker - / with every good wish / Violet Vanbrugh". She looks slightly to the left, apparently in costume, with short hair, earings, pearls, and an open necked shirt with lace sailor collar. The reverse of the mount carries the photographers' printed details with a reference number in pencil.

Autograph Letter Signed "N. Roqueplan" to an unnamed correspondent. In French.

Author: 
N. Roqueplan, Theatre manager, editor "Le Figaro", author inc. "La Vie Parisienne" (1852).
Publication details: 
Opera, Theatre de La Nation, Paris, 14 Sept 184 [printed year not completed]
£76.00

Two pages, 8vo, minor defedcts, text clear and complete, if somewhat illegible. He begins: "J'ignorais personellement monsieur, la Combinaison [locative?] dont vous avex ete vistime et je comprends fort bien que vous la trouvez mediocrement ingenieuse, vous nous avez habituee aux plus galant precedes, mais . . . " He goes on to say that they won't offer compensation, understanding that they are changing their "loge" and will collect what belongs to them, etc.

autograph letters signed (x 2 ) to Miss [?] Cole,

Author: 
Kate Josephine Bateman [Mrs George Crowe]
Publication details: 
1898 and 1900.
£50.00

American-born actress (1842-1917). Both 2 pp, on 12mo mourning paper. The first, 19 January 1898, with the letterhead 48 Wetherby Mansions, Earl's Court Square. She apologises for not writing sooner. "I am rather frightened at yr. proposal - for I have never addressed a meeting in my life - & have shrunk from so responsible a position - & fear I shd. do the work very badly - tho' I feel with all my heart for your good cause. / I have neither the time, nor the ability to prepare a paper - & make them give. / May I go to you - to ask you just what wd. be expected of me?

Autograph letter signed to Madame [?] Sterling,

Author: 
Marie Effie Bancroft (née Wilton)
Publication details: 
9 February [no year], with embossment 18 Berkeley Square.
£15.00

Actress (1839-1921), wife of the actor-manager Squire Bancroft. 2 pp, 12mo. "Send me the lines & I will see what I can do. I am so sorry to give you all this trouble for I know how busy you are / yrs very sincerely / M. E. Bancroft".

Autograph card signed,

Author: 
Fay Compton
Publication details: 
no date, but circa 1920.
£20.00

Actress (1894-1978). Card, on one side of which is printed, "30 CONDUIT ST / BOND STREET / W / TELEPHONE / 1923 / MAYFAIR / INSTEAD thanks / .... / for .... letter, and order for Photographs which are being proceeded with. / .... 192 ...." Over this, lengthwise and upwards, is the signature "Fay Compton", and above it an attempt at forgery, with the "Compton" reasonably convincing, but with "Fey" for "Fay". On the blank reverse another signature by Compton. The actress would appear to have provided these examples of her signature for copying onto her publicity photographs.

autograph letter signed to Miss [?] Lewis,

Author: 
Ada Rehan, actress
Publication details: 
18 June 1890, on letterhead of the Hotel Métropole, London
£25.00

Irish-born American actress (1860-1916). 3 pp, 12mo. "I fear a matinée will prevent my coming on July 4th. Some benefit I have promised to play for - but if I come off early enough - & am not too tired I will certainly <?> in & see you / I hope that you and all your delightful family are well". Creased, but otherwise in reasonable condition.

Autograph note signed to an unnamed male correspondent,

Author: 
Kate Josephine Bateman [Mrs George Crowe]
Publication details: 
4 June 1872, 6 Kensington Gore.
£25.00

American-born actress (1842-1917). One page, 12mo. "In answer to yr. note I first appeared in Manchester in the year 1864 in the character of "Leah". / Yrs: respectfully / K. J. Bateman Crowe". With traces of glue and paper to reverse of blank second leaf.

Autograph note signed, to unnamed correspondent

Author: 
Mary Anderson
Publication details: 
Melrose, 90 Rue Gachard, Bruxelles, 8 Feb. 1928
£35.00

American actress. Very brief note saying "Feb. 8th 1928/ With pleasure. Here is the autograph/ Mary Anderson de Navarro". Laid down on card.

autograph note signed to Miss [?] McCarthy,

Author: 
Ada Rehan, actress
Publication details: 
8 November 1891, on letterhead of the Gordon Hotels Ltd.
£20.00

Irish-born American actress (1860-1916). 2 pp, 8vo. "Can you and your dear Father come and have a little lunch with me on Wed: at 1 o.clock {- just really to say goodbye / drop me a line if you will - With love - but in haste / Ada Rehan". Traces of paper and glue from previous mounting on blank sides.

Autograph letter signed to unnamed female correspondent,

Author: 
Kate Rorke
Publication details: 
no date, with letterhead 64 St John's Wood Road.
£25.00

Actress and teacher of elocution (c.1866-1945). One page, 8vo. "I am so sorry that your letter came too late for me to send you any tickets for our concert. Perhaps you will help us another year? - Truly yours / Kate Rorke-Gardiner". [Her first husband was Edward Gardiner (died 1899). Loss to one corner, and traces of previous mounting on blank verso.

autograph letter signed to Mrs Gielgud (mother of John Gielgud?),

Author: 
Dorothy Green
Publication details: 
23 December 1933, with letterhead 64 West Kensington Mansions.
£20.00

2 pp, 12mo. She thanks her for her "sweet present", and then makes what appears to be a reference to John Gielgud: "I'm taking Betty tonight to see John - her first evening performance! She is so thrilled. I am so sorry he has been so reedy, but perhaps the enforced rest will do him good." Slight traces of adhesive tape to left-hand margin of recto.

Autograph note signed to Mrs [?] Moscelles,

Author: 
Marie Effie Bancroft (née Wilton)
Publication details: 
"Monday" (no date or place).
£12.00

Actress (1839-1921), wife of the actor-manager Squire Bancroft. One page, 12mo. She declines an invitation. "Dear Mrs. Moscelles / I am going out of town tomorrow for some days or I shd. have been delighted / Yrs very sincerely / Marie Bancroft". Removal from a mount has resulted to loss at the top of the leaf, and there are traces of glue and paper on the reverse.

autograph letter signed to Ella [Davis],

Author: 
Florence Terry
Publication details: 
23 August 1881, Theatre Royal, Oldham.
£20.00

English actress (1855-96), sister of Ellen Terry and member of celebrated theatrical dynasty. 2 pp, 12mo. "You really must think me a pig for not having written to you all this time - but now I send these few lines to thank you first for your good wishes and congratulations on my engagement to Mr Morris & for kind remembrance of my birthday - The card was a very pretty one - I hope to be home after the 4th of next month - so I shall hope to see you before long now: It must be delightful on the Thames: With love and thanks to you & Alice Lewis for all your good wishes".

calling card signed,

Author: 
Ada Rehan, actress
Publication details: 
dated 1894.
£20.00

Irish-born American actress (1860-1916). Calling card 2½ by 3¼ inches, "Miss Rehan. / 164 West 93rd. Street.", with the name crossed out and signed on the reverse "Ada Rehan / 1894."

Autograph note signed to Mrs [?] Weldon,

Author: 
Marie Effie Bancroft (née Wilton)
Publication details: 
"Monday" (no date), with embossment 31 Cavendish Square.
£12.00

Actress (1839-1921), wife of the actor-manager Squire Bancroft. 2 pp, 12mo. "Will you lunch with me on Wednesday at 2 oclock / You will meet a few nice people / Yrs sincerely / Marie Bancroft".

a letter addressed to her signed on behalf of the solicitors Maggison & <Preught>,

Author: 
Elizabeth Brunton,
Publication details: 
18 April 1843, <?> Road, Bedford Row.
£35.00

Lessee of the Adelphi Theatre. English actress (1799-1860), wife of the actor Frederick Henry Yates (1795-1842). 2 pp, 12mo. An interesting letter to "Mrs. Yates" shedding light on the theatre mores of the period. "Mr. Beckett & Mr.

calling card signed,

Author: 
Adelaide Helen Calvert, actress [née Biddles or Bedells]
Publication details: 
undated.
£15.00

English actress (1837-1921), wife of the actor-manager Charles Calvert (1828-1879) and mother of the actor Louis Calvert (1859-1923). Black-letter calling card, 3½ by 2¼ inches, of "Mrs. Charles Calvert. / 22, York Mansions, / Battersea Park. / S. W. 11." Signed between the signature and the address "Adelaide Helen Calvert".

Autograph Letter Signed to [Edward] Draper.

Author: 
Henry Sambrooke Leigh (1837-83), English dramatist [THE SAVAGE CLUB]
Publication details: 
16 July 1879; on letterhead of the Savage Club, Adelphi Terrace, W.C.
£38.00

One page, 12mo. Very good, if a tad grubby. Thanks Draper for his 'amiable but unconvincing' note. 'Do you not know that I was irritated into bad language by being accused of "d - d impertinence? This, too, before I said a discourteous word. - Goodman [the writer Edward John Goodman], of course, rules the Committee [of the Savage Club] and even you have listened to the voice of that Israelitish charmer.' Concludes 'Mais n'importe. Either this evening or tomorrow I send in my resignation. I will neither apologize, nor renew the matter in cold blood.' Signed 'Henry S. Leigh'.

Sheet music for 'The Victory Song'.

Author: 
Dr Horace Maybray King (1901-86), Labour M.P. and Speaker of the House of Commons, 1965-71
Victory
Publication details: 
Without date or place [Bournemouth, circa 1941?].
£56.00
Victory

Quarto bifolium. Four unbound pages. Very good with a little light creasing. Illustrated cover in blue ink by E. Coolin showing a warship and plane and a British soldier holding an axe and the decapitated head of Hitler. INSCRIBED on cover 'With deepest regards from the Composer H M King'. 'This song, inspired by Quentin Reynolds' famous broadcast to Mr.

Two Autograph Cards Signed to Roger Powell, Slade House, Froxfield, Petersfield.

Author: 
Sir Adrian Cedric Boult (1889-1983), English conductor
Publication details: 
One without date and place [but after 1952], the other postmarked London, 2 August 1955.
£45.00

Both cards self-stamped. CARD ONE is very good and has printed on it a stamp of Queen Elizabeth II. Addressed to Powell and his wife, it does not appear to have gone through the mails. 'Most kind of you to write - we led a quick <?> in the car, & then a meeting in the afternoon. We <?>: Jill also, who we havent seen lately. | Many thanks | [signed] Adrian C. B.' CARD TWO is somewhat aged, with a stain and some wear on the address side. It reads 'I too have written to Kellogg's! | [signed] Adrian C Boult'.

[Lydia Howard Sigourney] Autograph Signature on fragment of letter.

Author: 
Lydia Howard Sigourney (1791-1865), American popular writer called 'the sweet singer of Hartford'
Lydia Howard Sigourney
Publication details: 
Without date or place.
£20.00
Lydia Howard Sigourney

On paper roughly three and a half inches by three quarters of an inch. Neatly cut but lightly foxed and slightly discoloured with age. Reads 'with the love of her friend, | L. H. Sigourney.'

Autograph Note Signed to the Rev. E. J. A. Davies.

Author: 
Alfred Sutro, British dramatist and translator (1863-1933)
Publication details: 
13 August 1930; on letterhead of Gurdons, Witley, Surrey.
£28.00

One page, small octavo. Very good, though with a little offsetting of ink from folding of letter, and a small closed tear at head. A reply to a request for an autograph - in a close, neat, hand - reading 'Dear Sir | With much pleasure as I assure you that I am | Sincerely yours | Alfred Sutro'.

Autograph music signed

Author: 
Charles Halle.
Publication details: 
19/03/49
£200.00

Ger.-Eng. pianist and conductor (1819-1895)(DNB). One manuscript page of music, 9"(wide) x 10" (long), no titlel, good condition (extracted from an album). The National Register of Archives records collections of autograph letters but no surviving music by Halle

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.

Manuscript. Funeral oration unsigned.

Author: 
B.J. Marsollier de Vivetieres.
Publication details: 
No place or date.
£450.00

French dramatist. One page, 4to, some damage in corner with loss of serval letters and words, with corrections. Note on reverse in different hand make the ascription to Marsollier: "Oraison funebre de Monsieur Marsollier [prononcee?] le 13 Avril 1815 / autographe". Oration to a "femme jeune brillante de joye et de sante pour l'unir a l'epouse qu'elle aimait et qui la rebdue si heureuse que cing ans apres j'erouverai la douleur de lui survivre et de la conduire a la derniere demeure . . . [he wants to do justice to her character which he defines] . . .

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, third person, to Mlle Marie [Julivan?].

Author: 
Giuseppe Mario, Count of Candia.
Publication details: 
No place or date.
£100.00

Italian Opera Singer (1810-1883), "the most famous tenor of the 19th century. In French. One page, 6" x 5", remains of the album page on which it was laid down on reverse, probably trimmed leaving just the body of the letter as follows: "Monsieru Mario presentes compliment a Mlle Maria [Julivan?] et il est bien {?} de ne pouvoir accepter son invitation ne donnat pas de lecons - il prend la liberte de recommander Mr [Segira?] - avev le quel il a etudie lui meme et qui croit {?] le meilleur [maestro? ??] a Londres."

Literary Record and Bibliography [in manuscript] compiled by his great-nephew Edward Rimbault Dibdin

Author: 
Thomas John Dibdin
Publication details: 
4to, 1931
£450.00

The Dictionary of National Biography states that T. J. Dibdin (1771-1841, closely associated with Sadler's Wells, Drury Lane and the Surrey Theatre) wrote 'nearly two thousand songs and about two hundred operas and plays'. This list, which covers the whole of his life from his earliest known work in 1789 to his death in 1841, is compiled with considerable care on the rectos and some of the versos of 79 bound and numbered leaves (most being the letterhead of the North-East Coast Exhibition, of which E. Rimbault Dibdin was the Director).

Syndicate content