DESERT

[Dorothy Jarman (pseudonyms ‘Ann Trent’, ‘Dorothy Desana’, ‘Davide Sernicoli’, ‘Ann Carlton’, ‘Elaine Crosse’), prolific English romantic novelist.] Typed Letter Signed, as ‘Dorothy Desana’, to autograph collector Eileen Cond, describing her novels.

Author: 
Dorothy Jarman (1902-1978; pseudonyms ‘Ann Trent’, ‘Dorothy Desana’, ‘Davide Sernicoli’, ‘Ann Carlton’, ‘Elaine Crosse’), romantic novelist [Eileen Margaret Cond (1911-1984), autograph collector]
Publication details: 
17 July 1961; Crosselands, Salisbury Road, Carshalton, Surrey.
£50.00

For such a prolific author, it is odd that so little is to be gleaned about Dorothy Jarman (1902-1978; Fellow of the Institute of Arts and Letters, widow of Roy H. Jarman), who claims in this letter, written as ‘Dorothy Desana’, that ‘Ann Trent’ is her pseudonym, while in the 1971 edition of ‘The Author’s and Writer’s Who’s Who’, ‘Ann Trent’ is given as her real name, while ‘Dorothy Desana’ is one of four pseudonyms. Whatever the case, twenty-six books were published under the name ‘Davide Sernicoli’ between 1936 and 1953, with twenty more books published by her under other names.

[ General H. Norman Schwarzkopf Jr. ] Typed Letter Signed to British military historian Barrie Pitt, declining to contribute to a publication, and

Author: 
H. Norman Schwarzkopf Jr (1934-2012), United States Army general, commander of Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm [ Barrie Pitt ]
Publication details: 
On letterhead of 400 North Ashley, Suite 3050, Tampa, Florida 33602. 4 January 1994.
£180.00

1p., 4to. With a firm expansive signature which is certainly not duplicated, as it has indented the paper. On letterhead with design showing golden flagpole with flag in red with four white stars. Schwarzkopf declines to participate in what he describes as Pitt's 'momentous undertaking', explaining: 'To write such a piece and do so properly requires considerable time.

'Ballade de la Geôle de Reading'. [Numbered copy of livre d'artiste': a French prose translation of Oscar Wilde's 'Ballad of Reading Gaol', with drypoint engravings by Robert Fonta.

Author: 
Oscar Wilde; Robert Fonta (1922-1976), illustrator; Société des Bibliophiles et Graveurs d'Aujourd'hui, Paris [Jacques Le Désert; Jean Brisset; Fequet et Baudier; Georges Visat]
Publication details: 
[Paris.] Bibliophiles et Graveurs d'Aujourd'hui. 1950.
£150.00

80 + [1]pp., 8vo. Unstitched signatures with brown paper wraps and grey boards, both with text in red. In plain black paper-covered slipcase. On reverse of half-title: 'Il a été tiré de cet ouvrage, imprimé sur Vélin de Rives, 110 exemplaires numérotés de 1 à 110, réservés aux Membres de la Société des Bibliophiles et Graveurs d'Aujourd'hui. | En outre, dix exemplaires numérotés de I à X ont été réservés à l'artiste et aux divers collaborateurs de l'édition. | Exemplaire No 35 imprimé pour M. Jacques Le Désert'.

Three Autograph Letter Signed (all 'Eric') from Sir Eric de la Rue, 3rd Baronet, one to his father and two to his sister Diana, written during the Second World War as a Captain in the Notts Yeomanry, Middle East Forces (Egypt and Benghazi).

Author: 
Sir Eric de la Rue [Sir Eric Vincent de la Rue] (1906-1989), 3rd Baronet, son of Sir Evelyn Andros de la Rue (1879-1950) [Notts Sherwood Rangers Yeomanry; British Army, Middle East Forces]
Publication details: 
Letter to his father: 17 March [1944]; 'H.Q. 215 Town Mayor M.E.F.' Letters to his sister: 4 May [1944] and 4 October [1944]. Both addressed from the MEF.
£220.00

All three are air mail letter cards. Each with 'Field Post Office' postmark and censor's stamp. The three in fair condition, lightly aged and creased. Letter One: To his father, 17 March [1944]. Addressed to 'My dear Father', with the envelope addressed to 'Sir E. de la Rue Bart. | The Sol | Cookham | Berkshire | England.' 1p, 4to, and 1p., 12mo. A light-hearted letter, in which he jokes about his father's inability to read the word 'Aviv' ('I suppose a series of "i"s and "v"s is rather difficult even if printed') and find the place on the map ('it is much larger than Bournemouth').

Manuscript diary for the year 1944 by an English army officer ('H. E. Nash?') in the 23rd Armoured Brigade of the British Eighth Army in the Second World War.

Author: 
[Diary of an officer in the 23rd Armoured Brigade, British Eighth Army, 1946]
Publication details: 
Entries from 1 January to 27 December 1944.
£280.00

Text on 87 pp of a 8vo 1944 'Surrey Desk Diary' (Mitcham: Surrey Manufacturing Co.). Text clear and complete. Volume in good condition on aged paper. While the author's ownership signature at the front of the volume ('', ', '') is not decipherable, there are clues to his identity: his birthday is on 24 June, he states on 5 October that he is in the 23rd Armoured Brigade, and on 19 August he gives his Identity Card No. as 116941. He begins as a sergeant, and by 13 January is 'H.Q. Troop commander, which, out of action, no schemes, no censoring, doesn't amount to much'.

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