Music and Theatre

[ George Grossmith, Victorian humourist. ] Dictated Letter, Signed ('Geo: Grossmith') with autograph postscript, to 'George R, &c.' [George R. Sims], describing their first meeting, and commenting warmly on their thirty-eight years of friendship.

Author: 
George Grossmith (1847-1912), humourist, author, actor and singer [ George R. Sims (1847-1922), journalist and bon vivant ]
Publication details: 
On letterhead of 55 Russell Square, W.C. [ London ] 22 June 1908.
£80.00

4pp., 12mo. Bifolium. Aged and stained, with creasing along one edge. A wonderful letter, linking two notable figures in late-Victorian society, beginning: 'Do I remember it? how can I ever forget it, considering that we introduced ourselves to each other, without any introduction; & that casual acquaintanceship has developed into a friendship (without a discordant note) which has lasted for about 38 years.' Regarding their first meeting he writes: 'I was not subpoenaed as a short hand writer, as no such functionary was engaged at Bow St.

[ Dame Marie Tempest, actress. ] Autograph Letter Signed ('Mary') to 'My dear Cyril', discussing his 'amusing and witty play' and the one in which she is acting.

Author: 
Dame Marie Tempest [ Mary Susan Etherington ] (1864-1942), English singer and actress ('the queen of her profession')
Publication details: 
On letterhead of 'Miss Marie Tempest'. 'Monday' [ no date ].
£35.00

1p., 8vo. In fair condition, aged and worn, with slight loss to one corner and creasing to another. Strengthened on reverse with a small piece of tape. Letterhead in red, with Tempest writing in green ink. She writes warmly: 'I've read your Play, and I think it charming up to the point of the two people who are crooks! It suffers from the same thing that our present Play suffers from. Too sudden a jump!' She invites him to go and see the play, 'and you will gather what I mean'. She ends by describing his play as 'amusing and witty'.

[ Rev. Francis William Galpin, musicologist. ] Autograph Card Signed and Autograph Letter Signed (both 'F. W. Galpin') to the author Austin Dobson, regarding the Broad Oak in Hatfield Forest.

Author: 
Francis William Galpin (1858-1945), Church of England cleric and musicologist and collector of musical instruments [ Henry Austin Dobson (1840-1921), English author ]
Publication details: 
The card dated 30 August 1904 [ no place ]. The letter addressed from Hatfield Vicarage, Harlow [ Essex ]; 7 May 1906.
£56.00

Both items in good condition, with light signs of age. The card, with postmarks, is addressed to 'Austin Dobson Esq | 75 Eaton Rise | Ealing | W.' The letter is also to Dobson, but is only addressed 'Dear Sir'. In the card he reports that 'The old oak in the forest is now in ruins and quite dead. It has been surrounded with a railing and a young tree planted by its side.' He offers to send a photograph, and asks for 'anthing about my parish which you may publish'.

[ Émilie Broisat, actress with the Comédie-Française. ] Autograph Letter Signed to 'Monsieur Laval', declining an invitation.

Author: 
Émilie Broisat (1846-1929), French actress with the Comédie-Française
Publication details: 
'Dimanche soir' [ no place or date ].
£30.00

2pp., 12mo. On bifolium. In good condition, on lightly-aged paper. Gracefully declining an invitation.

[ Ginger Rogers, Hollywood star. ] Autograph Signature.

Author: 
Ginger Rogers [ born Virginia Katherine McMath ] (1911-1995), Hollywood actress, dancer and singer, famed for her partnership with Fred Astaire
Ginger
Publication details: 
Place and date not stated.
£20.00
Ginger

Good, firm signature in blue ink, 7cm. long, on a piece of paper laid down on a 16 x 25cm. piece of card, beside a magazine cutting of a photograph of Rogers, the two protected by a loose plastic sheet. In good condition, on lightly-aged paper.

[ The Gallery First Nighters' Club, London. ] Duplicated accounts and balance sheet by 'F. H. Long, Auditor'.

Author: 
[ The Gallery First Nighters' Club, London ] [ F. H. Long, Auditor; Ken Sephton (Sefton) ]
gallery
Publication details: 
[ The Gallery First Nighters' Club, London. ] 'Profit and Loss Account for year ending September 30th. 1910.'
£90.00
gallery

1p., landscape 12mo. Spirit duplicated with purple ink. In fair condition, lightly aged and worn, and folded three times. The page is headed 'The Gallery First Nighters' Club', and is divided into two section: 'Profit and Loss Account for year ending September 30th. 1910.' and 'Balance Sheet'. At foot of page: 'G. F. Rigden, Hon. Secretary. | John Page, Hon. Treasurer. | I have examined the Club Books and Vouchers and found them correct. | F. H. Long, Auditor.' From the papers of Ken Sephton (Sefton).

[ Edwardian theatrical manuscript magazine. ] 'Ye Piecan's Gazette No 8', entirely in manuscript, with hand-coloured covers.

Author: 
[ 'Ye Piecan's Gazette', Edwardian theatrical manuscript magazine, edited by 'R. B.' ]
Theatrical MS newspaper
Publication details: 
Place not stated [ English ]. Vol. |1 No. 8 [ 1903 ].
£80.00
Theatrical MS newspaper

11pp., 12mo. Stapled into card covers. In good condition, with light signs of age and wear. Covers illustrated in colour by 'T. U. P.' The front cover carries, with the title, an illustration of a maid with a duster, captioned 'BESSAY NOTHING'. Humorous in intent.

[ C. Aubrey Smith, Hollywood actor and test cricketer. ] Autograph Letter Signed ('C. Aubrey . . S.') to 'George'

Author: 
C. Aubrey Smith [ Sir Charles Aubrey Smith ] (1863-1948), English stage and film actor and test cricketer
Publication details: 
On letterhead of 'The Round Corner', 2881 Coldwater Canyon Drive, Beverly Hills. 22 July 1943.
£35.00

1p., 8vo. In fair condition, on aged and worn paper. He thanks him for thinking of his birthday, and taking the trouble 'to bring me that sherry'. He has not yet sampled it, as 'it's a bit too hot for anything but water, just at present'. He will telephone him, as he doesn't 'feel cocksure' about his address. He ends with regards to 'Mrs George'. In pencil in another hand at head: 'Here it is, George | C.A.S.'

[ Elizabeth Wright Macauley, poet, actress and Owenite preacher. ] Corrected draft of Autograph Letter Signed ('Eliz Wright Macauley'), 'To the King' (i.e. King William IV), in favour of the royal imposter 'Princess Olive of Cumberland'.

Author: 
Elizabeth Wright Macauley (c.1785-1837), actress, poet, playwright and Owenite lecturer [ Olivia Serres [née Wilmot] (1772-1835), royal impostor claiming to be Princess Olive of Cumberland ]
Publication details: 
52 Clarendon Square, St Pancras [ London ]. 23 September 1833.
£350.00

10pp., 4to. In fair condition, on aged and worn paper. An accompanying entry from a French manuscripts catalogue states that the letter was sent to the magazine 'The Age', but not printed.

[ Hal Collier, Victorian popular dramatist. ] Typescripts, with autograph additions, of three of melodramas: '"In the Hands of the Mormons" Or "The Mormon Peril"; 'The Broken Rosary' and 'The Secret Panel'.

Author: 
Hal Collier, Victorian popular playwright, author of melodramas
Publication details: 
One play with stamp of 209 Northumberland Road, Southampton, the other two without place. All three undated [ Edwardian ].
£1,250.00

Collier was the author of a number of melodramas and farces in the period between the Boer War and the Great War, including one written in conjunction with F. H. Dudley, but little is to be discovered about him, with no mention of these three titles. All three items in fair condition, on aged paper, in aged and worn bindings. ONE: '"In the Hands of the Mormons" Or "The Mormon Peril" A Drama in FOUR acts written by Hal Collier'. [1] + 45pp., 4to. Stitched into grey paper wraps. With pencil emendations throughout, including extensive deletions.

[Ernest Bloch, composer.] Collection of papers on music criticism by Joseph Sussman, including typewritten drafts of an unpublished monograph titled 'Ernest Bloch, Music's Prophet', an autograph notebook titled 'Ernest Bloch. The Piano Music'..

Author: 
Joseph Sussman, instructor in the pianoforte and music theory [Ernest Bloch (1880-1959), Swiss-born American Jewish composer
Publication details: 
England. Dating from at least between 1963 and 1975.
£650.00

The collection is in good condition, on lightly aged and worn paper, and can be grouped into three sections. ONE: Complete typewritten draft ([3] + 44pp., 4to) of Sussman's unpublished monograph on Bloch is contained in a large brown envelope, with the following note by Sussman on the front: '2ND COPY (without illustrations) of "Ernest Bloch - Music's Prophet" | JS'. It includes the contents, list of illustrations, introduction, and two-page 'Key and Bibliography'.

[The Jewish national anthem 'Hatikvah', sung in London at Gardiner's Corner ('the gateway to the East End').]

Author: 
[Joseph Sussman of London, instructor in the pianoforte and music theory; 'Hatikvah', the Israeli national anthem; the establishment of the State of Israel; the East End of London]
Publication details: 
Without place or date [1940s]. With manuscript map of the Aldgate East area of the East End of London.
£350.00

Six items, in good condition, on lightly-aged paper. In addition to manuscript scores by Sussman of five parts (soprano, tenor, bass, alto and conductor) of 'Hatikvah' (the five parts totalling 6pp., 4to, with staves also drawn out in manuscript), there is a duplicated typescript of an English translation of 'Hatikvah', titled 'Men Awake!' ('Workers all!

[Janet Leeper, writer on ballet.] Autograph Letter Signed ('Janet') to the theatre director E. Martin Browne, giving a detailed analysis of productions at Aldeburgh and Southwark of Benjamin Britten's opera 'Noye's Fludde'.

Author: 
Janet Leeper, writer on ballet [E. Martin Browne (1900-1980), English theatre director; Benjamin Britten (1913-1976), English composer; the Aldeburgh Festival]
Publication details: 
On letterhead of 30 Bramham Gardens, [London] S.W.5. 15 January 1959.
£220.00

4pp., 8vo. 102 lines of neatly and closely written text. With original envelope addressed by Leeper to 'E. Martin Browne Esq | 99 Claremont Avenue | New York 27 | U.S.A.' Leeper begins by expressing her pleasure that Browne is 'going to do the first American performance of Noye's Fludde', which she describes as 'a great work - big & simple & satisfying, & very moving'.

[Violinist] End of letter, in French, signed Johannes Wolff.

Author: 
Johannes Wolff (1863-1931), Dutch classical violinst popular in England.
Publication details: 
No place or date survives.
£28.00

Piece of paper, 11 x 7com, tipped on to larger piece of paper. "En attendant les plaisirs recus [?] Mademoiselle les sinceres salutations de votre [serv[an]t?] devoue" (or soenthoing like that, hand difficult).

[Music Hall artist] Signature only , "Yours very truly | Harry Tich |"

Author: 
Harry Tich (1867-1928), Music Hall comedian and dancer [Little Tich]
Publication details: 
No place or date.
£28.00

Piece of paper,cut from a larger one, 17.5 x 6.5, good condition.

[John Pyke Hullah, composer.] Autograph Letter Signed ('John Hullah'), sending tickets to 'Laura'. With cutting of a few bars of manuscript sheet music by him.

Author: 
John Hullah [John Pyke Hulla] (1812-1884), English composer for one of whose operas Charles Dickens wrote the libretto
Publication details: 
Letter: On letterhead of 11 Devonshire Place, [London] W. 'Tuesday night' [no date]. Cutting of sheet music with docketted date 1861.
£120.00

Both items in good condition, on lightly-aged paper. ONE (letter): 1p., 12mo. In a neat and elegant hand, it reads: 'Tuesday Night | Dear Laura | I send the tickets; as Goldsmith sent the portion of Lord Clare's haunch of venison to Sir Joshua - | "To paint it or eat it, whichever he pleased" | I am glad you like the Philharmonia | Your affecte. Friend | John Hullah'. TWO (cutting of sheet music): Written in pencil on one side of a 6.5 x 15 cm piece of paper, docketted 'Written by John Hullah 1861 | for

'. With a few words in Hullah's hand at head.

[Inscribed copy.] Acis & Galataea, or The Beau ! the Belle !! and the Blacksmith !!! A Piece of Oxford Extravagance. Written for the Annual Dramatic Performance at the Victoria Theatre, Oxford, December, 1869, in aid of the Radcliffe Infirmary.

Author: 
[Thomas Forder Plowman (1844-1919)]
Publication details: 
Oxford: Slatter & Rose, High Street. 1869. [Oxford: Printed by E. W. Morris, Jun.]
£120.00

[4] + 43pp., 12mo. Stabbed as issued. An attractive and elegantly-printed little book. Internally very good, on lightly-aged paper, loose in worn light-brown calf binding, marbled endpapers, all edges gilt, back hinge sprung. Stamped in gilt on the front cover: 'ACIS & GALATAEA | A PIECE OF OXFORD EXTRAVAGANCE | BY | T. F. PLOWMAN'. Inscribed on fly-leaf: 'H. W. Chapman, Esq. | with the author's sincerest regards. | 1869.' A scarce item: only three copies on COPAC, at Oxford, Cambridge and the British Library, all three of which attribute this anonymous work to Plowman.

[Sir Arthur Wing Pinero, playwright.] Typed Letter Signed ('Arthur Pinero.') to author W. Teignmouth Shore regarding injections for inoculation.

Author: 
Sir Arthur Wing Pinero (1855-1934), English playwright [W. Teignmouth Shore (1865-1932), author]
Publication details: 
On letterhead of 115A. Harley Street, London W1. 12 April 1926.
£35.00

1p., 8vo. With mourning border. In fair condition, on aged and lightly-ruckled paper. After exclaiming 'How kind of you!' Pinero explains that he has been 'inoculated regularly since the autumn, and it has done me no good'. He continues: 'No, I won't say that; I might have been worse but for the injections.' He concludes by stating that he will show Shore's letter to his doctor, 'to prick his conscience'.

[Rupert Brooke; booklet] 1914 by Rupert Brooke set to music for Chorus and Organ, or Orchestra

Author: 
Alan Gray, composer
Publication details: 
Novello and Company Limited; New York: The H.W. Gray Co [1919? see COPAC]
£180.00

24pp., cr. 8vo, grey printed paper wraps, partially detached, creased and and worn, with two stains on front cover, largest 3/4"dia, contents aged but good. Tow copies listed on COPAC/WorldCat (both BL), i.e. very scarce.

['McGlennon's Cromlech Series': two printed pamphlets.] 'Irish Songs Old and New' and 'Songs of the Gael'.

Author: 
[McGlennon's Cromlech Series; Felix McGlennon, Irish publisher in London]
Publication details: 
McGlennon's Cromlech Series, Felix McGlennon Ltd., Printers and Publishers, City Garden Row, City Rd, London, N1. Both undated.
£130.00

The two uniform stapled pamphlets, both 32pp., 12mo, in illustrated wraps printed in green, and both printed on newsprint. Both items uncommon, with no copies of either on COPAC. ONE: 'Irish Songs Old and New.' In fair condition, on worn and toned paper, with crease to front cover. Contains the lyrics to 34 songs, from 'Angels Whisper' and 'Ballinamona Oro' to 'Young Kate of Kilcummer'. TWO: 'Songs of the Gael'. In good condition, toned and lightly worn. Contains the lyrics of 28 songs from 'Awake and Lie Dreaming No More' to 'Where is the Slave so Lowly?'

[Sir Henry Irving.] Eight collotype proof sepia engravings, seven showing him - five of them in character - and the other a scene of a dilapidated building.

Author: 
Sir Henry Irving [John Henry Brodribb] (1838-1905), English stage actor and actor-manager
Publication details: 
Without place or date.
£120.00

The eight images are arranged in four pairs, each on the central pages of an 8vo bifolium. Dimensions of page: 24.5 x 16cm. Dimensions of image: 9 x 14cm. In fair condition, on lightly-aged and creased paper. Irving is shown in five roles, including Lear, Shylock, and Becket. Also present are two portraits of Irving out of character, and a picture of the exterior of a dilapidated building. Presumably intended for an early twentieth-century biography.

[Mary Carmichael, composer and accompanist.] Autograph Letter Signed to 'Miss Paget'

Author: 
Mary Carmichael [Mary Grant Carmichael] (c.1851-1935), composer and accompanist
Publication details: 
On letterhead of 172 Adelaide Road, NW [London]. 12 February 1892.
£45.00

3pp., 16mo. 25 lines of text. Bifolium. Good, on lightly-aged paper, with slight traces of mount adhering to the blank reverse of the second leaf. The letter begins: 'Dear Miss Paget | Miss Martin has just forwarded me your note so I will send you a few lines to-night. I am very pleased you are singing my song on the 27th., & will be pleased to go over the song with you before the concert.' She gives details of her movements over the next few days before concluding: 'I hope it will not trouble you much to come out here -.

[E. Bayley, Printer.] Printed handbill of three verses of the British National Anthem, under the title 'The Patriot's Hymn', beginning 'GOD save Great George our King'

Author: 
E. Bayley, Printer (of Macclesfield, Cheshire?) [The British National Anthem]
Publication details: 
Printer's slug: 'E. BAYLEY, PRINTER.' Place not stated (Macclesfield, Cheshire?). Undated [during the Regency period].
£180.00

1p., 12mo. On aged and worn wove paper. Headed with the royal crest and title 'The Patriot's Hymn.' Twenty-one lines arranged in three verses, numbered I to III. Printer's slug beneath swelled short rule at foot of page. The printer is possibly the Edward Bayley stated by BBTI to have been active in Macclesfield between 1788 and 1825. The absence of the long s, and the use of wove paper, suggest nineteenth-century publication before 1830, and probably during the Regency period.

[Arthur Miller, playwright; signed Programme] Gala Performance. An Evening with Arthur Miller

Author: 
[Arthur Miller, playwright]
Publication details: 
UEA Norwich, Sunday 14 May 1989 (University of East Anglia).
£80.00

Programme, [20]pp., 4to, illus. printed wraps (partly in red). 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 Esther | Arthur MIller). Enclosed Menu for dinner on 14 May 1989 at the Arthur Miller Centre for American Studies, signed "Warren Mitchell". This item derives from the Papers of Sally Worboyes who organised writing courses involving well-know TV personnel, actors, singers and writers as tutors at Fen Farm nr.

[Mary Anne Stirling, actress.] Autograph Note in the third person, thanking the music publisher Christopher Lonsdale of Old Bond Street 'for his great kindness - not only now but always shewn to her by him'.

Author: 
Mary Anne [Fanny] Stirling [née Hehl] [Mrs Stirling] (1813-1895), English actress [Christopher Lonsdale, music publisher, Old Bond Street, London]
Publication details: 
Docketed with date 31 May 1869.
£30.00

2pp., 12mo. In envelope addressed by Stirling to 'C Lonsdale Esqre. | Bond Street'. In fair condition, on aged and worn paper. 'Mrs. Stirling does not know how to thank Mr. Londsdale for his great kindness - not only now but always shewn to her by him. Mrs. Stirling remembers that she has the full store of the Midsummer Nights' [sic] Dream belonging to Mr. Lonsdale but she is warned by Mr. Lonsdale's Messenger that she must not now stop to thank Mr. Lonsdale fully, as she would wish.'

[Sir Joseph Barnby, composer and conductor.] Autograph Letter Signed ('J Barnby') to his 'Dear friend' [Madame Albani]

Author: 
Sir Joseph Barnby (1838-1896), conductor and composer [Dame Emma Albani (1847-1930) [Marie-Louise-Emma-Cécile Lajeunesse]; Sir Walter Parratt (1841-1924), organist and composer]
Publication details: 
On letterhead of Eton College, Windsor. 12 December 1887.
£120.00

3pp., 12mo. On bifolium with mourning border. In good condition, on aged paper. Her letter to him is 'the essence of sweetness': it has 'touched me deeply and will not soon be forgotten'. He supposes that she is unaware that 'Parratt and I travelled down to Windsor in the same train with you - indeed in the same carriage'.

['Gabrielle Réjane' [Gabrielle-Charlotte Reju], French actress.] Autograph Note Signed ('Réjane') thanking 'mon cher Maitre'.

Author: 
Gabrielle Réjane, stage name of the French actress Gabrielle-Charlotte Reju (1856-1920)
Publication details: 
Place not stated. 'Mercredi' [no date].
£56.00

1p., 12mo. Good, on lightly aged and worn paper. The note reads: 'Mercredi. | Merci mille fois, mon cher Maitre, si vous êtes content, me voilà ravie! | Encore merci | Réjane'. In a postscript she states that she has profited from his criticisms.

[Ernest Walker, musicologist and composer.] Autograph Letter Signed, written while assistant organist at Balliol College, Oxford, advising 'Miss White' [Maude Valérie White?] on her musical compositions.

Author: 
Ernest Walker (1870-1949), English musicologist and composer, born in India, Assistant Organist at Balliol College, Oxford, 1891-1901 [to 'Miss White' [Maude Valérie White (1855-1937), composer]
Publication details: 
15 Ship Street, Oxford. 18 November 1898.
£120.00

4pp., 12mo. 65 lines of text. Bifolium. In fair condition: on aged paper with one dogeared corner. He begins by apologising for not returning her manuscript sooner: 'what with my Doctorate exam: and other things, I have been specially busy'. Having been 'completely through the MSS' he lists those he likes best: 'the Rhapsodies (especially No. 1 - also No. 5 and No. 3 - especially the opening subject of No. 5).

[Printed pamphlet.] Beauty and the Beast. A Children's Operetta. Words by Constance E. Few. Music by Amy P. Woolley (Revised by B. Hale Wortham.)

Author: 
Constance E. Few [of Shalford, Guildford]; Amy P. Woolley; B. Hale Wortham [The National Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Children]
Publication details: 
London: The National Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Children, 7, Harpur Street, W.C. [Wilson's Music and General Printing Co., Ltd., 67b, Turnmill St., London.] No date.
£120.00

23pp., 12mo. Stitched pamphlet. In fair condition, on aged and chipped high-acidity paper with floral watermark. Elegantly letterpress printing. Priced at 6d on front cover. The third page carries an 'Index to Music', at the end of which the address in the following - 'Copies of the Music may be obtained at 7, Harpur Street, London, W.C., Price 2s.' - has been altered in manuscript to 'from Miss C. E. Few | Shalford | Guildford'. Excessively scarce: no copies on COPAC or OCLC WorldCat.

[Arthur Miller, playwright; signed Programme] Gala Performance. An Evening with Arthur Miller

Author: 
[Arthur Miller, playwright]
Publication details: 
UEA Norwich, Sunday 14 May 1989 (University of East Anglia).
£120.00

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".

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