AUTOBIOGRAPHY

The letters are in fair condition, lightly aged and worn, except for the third, which is damp-stained with closed tears at head and foot. The book is in fair condition, without dust wrapper. All four letters are signed 'W. H. Davies.' The first three are addressed to 'Mr Harris', and the last (an ANS rather than an ALS) to 'Mr Fry'. Each is 1p, 12mo. Letter One: 23 March 1928; Malpas House, Oxted. After reading his poem, Davies states, 'I begin to think you ought to take some step towards publishing, as soon as you have enough material.

Unillustrated official 'POST CARD' with printed penny stamp. Addressed on one side, with Wimbledon postmark, to 'Sewell Stokes, Esq., | 53, Holland Park, W.11.' In good condition, lightly aged and worn. Twelve typed lines of text. The subject of the text is Stokes's forthcoming autobiography 'Monologue' (Hutchinson, 1934), with Mannin referring to her own 'Confessions and Impressions' (Jarrolds, 1930). After thanking him for his letter she writes: 'I am glad you have decided to dispense with an introduction to the book – books, particularly of this kind, should stand on their own legs . . .

[4] + 78pp., 12mo. In original grey-green printed wraps. Presentation inscription on fly-leaf, dated January 1907. The volume comprises three pieces. First, an untitled memoir, with footnote at end: 'My father begun [sic] this autobiography at the request of my brother Jack, and after his death did not continue it.'; second, an account of a street fight between a policeman and a 'bone-picker', titled 'A Street Adventure, 1845'; lastly, 'The Working Men's College'. Four copies on COPAC, but now uncommon.

[3] + ii + 152pp., 4to. Perfect bound, with each page on a separate leaf. In fair condition, aged and a little dogeared. Title-page reinforced at fore-edge. Missing the last page or so of the 'Conclusion'.

In very good condition, on aged paper, in a brown card folder. The material in this collection relates to a book that was never published, and included here are copies of two typed letters from WMP to HS, casting light on the nature of this doomed collaborative project. In WMP's first letter, dated 26 July 1955, he writes to 'Dear Swaff' to 'finalise the manner in which your book is to be written'. Presaging future problems he urges him: 'I do entreat you to remember the fact that a book is different to a series of paragraphs. It must have cohesion.

Typescript, 242pp., 4to, brown paper wraps, damage to top of spine but no loss, label on front with author ("Owen Edwards") and title. A semi-autobiographical novel based on Marsh's experiences during the Second World War in the London Ambulance Service. Initially a "Notice" "The characters in this book are fictitious. Some of the incidents are naturally based on real happenings during the war but they are none of them wholly accurate[...]". The novel starts with the hero, Lang, joining the Service.

One page, on piece of grey card roughly three and a half inches by four and a half wide. Very good. Twelve lines and one-line postscript in Sutro's tiny and difficult hand. Sends his 'sincerest congratulations on the best volume of memoirs I have read this many a day' (Hicks published his autobiography in 1910). 'There isn't a dull line in it from start to finish; I could dine out for a week on the stories'. Reference to Irving and other actors. Ends 'A damned good book, Seymour! Tous mes compliments!' Postscript reads 'This does NOT require an answer!'