[Shakespeare Memorial Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon.] Three items of printed ephemera, relating to the ?Endowment Fund? to realise ?the intentions of the Founders? regarding ?the memorial theatre, library, reading room, art gallery, and lecture hall'.

Author: 
Shakespeare Memorial Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon; H. C. Lacey [Herbert Camden Lacey], organising secretary; Endowment Fund appeal, 1923
Publication details: 
Item One dated 1 November 1923; Items Two and Three undated but from around the same time. Shakespeare Memorial Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon.
£60.00
SKU: 23795

The three items of ephemera are in good condition, lightly aged. ONE: Circular headed ?SHAKESPEARE MEMORIAL THEATRE / STRATFORD-UPON-AVON / ENDOWMENT FUND.? Dated 1 November 1923, and with autograph signature (possibly by proxy) of ?H C Lacey? (?Organising Secretary | H. C. LACEY M.B.E.?). Shakespeare?s coat of arms printed in red ink at top right. Begins with the debatable assertion: ?Many men and women have given great gifts to our Nation - inventions, discoveries, territory, and creations of literature and art - but the greatest of all is the glorious inheritance bequeathed to humanity by William Shakespeare.? Continues in the same pretentious vein before describing the ?reproach that the Library, Sculpture and Art Gallery, Reading Room and Lecture Hall at Stratford-upon-Avon, is unable to complete its catalogue, maintain a librarian, or fully develop its educational facilities owing to lack of funds. / The entire Press of the English-speaking world, the leaders of Politics, Art, Drama, Literature, and Society, the Lord Mayor of London and the Mayors of the principal cities and towns warmly endorse the appeal of the Governors of the Memorial for funds to enable the intentions of the Founders to be fully realised. / To this end November 8th. is to be observed as National Shakespeare Day. Each district, city and town has been asked to raise its quota. There will be no street collections, prize schemes, or ballots, but just this appeal to those who value the ?Common Heritage? to send a subscription, be it large or small, one shilling or hundreds of shillings, one pound or hundreds of pounds to the Shakespeare Memorial Endowment Fund.? Ends with reference to ?our greatest [sic] National Bard?. TWO: Printed advertisement for ?National Shakespeare Day Appeal / for Tribute to Shakespeare / TO ENDOW THE MEMORIAL THEATRE, LIBRARY, / READING ROOM, ART GALLERY, AND LECTURE ROOM / Erected in the Poet?s Memory in Stratford-upon-Avon, the Town of his Birth.? Titled on front cover (with black and white illustration of rural scene) ?OUR ?COMMON HERITAGE.? / THE SHAKESPEARE MEMORIAL THEATRE, / STRATFORD-UPON-AVON.? 4pp, landscape 16mo. Bifolium. Middle two pages describe ?The Appeal in Brief? in small print: ?The Hope?, ?The Measure of Realisation?, ?The Great Need?. At end: ?Will you pay tribute?? List of ?Patrons, Governors, Hon. Governors, and Life Members? on last page, with quotation from The Times, 23 April 1923. Enclosed is THREE: A ?Donation & Subscription Form? on one side of single 16mo leaf of browned paper. Headed ?NOVEMBER 8th. 1623. / Publication of the First Folio of / SHAKESPEARE?S PLAYS. / His Glorious Gift to Humanity.? The entry in the Oxford DNB for its director Bridges-Adams reminds us that 'On 6 March 1926 the Memorial Theatre was burnt down, greatly to the relief of G. B. Shaw.'