GIRLS

[Clement Scott [Clement William Scott], theatre critic of the Daily Telegraph.] Autograph Letter Signed concerning London's Gaiety Theatre, burlesque and music.

Author: 
Clement Scott [Clement William Scott] (1841-1904), highly influential theatre critic, mainly working for the Daily Telegraph, who feuded with Shaw [Gaiety Theatre, London]
Publication details: 
'Sunday' [no date or place].
£45.00

See his entry in the Oxford DNB. 2pp, 12mo. Bifolium. Twenty-two lines of text. In good condition, lightly discoloured and worn. Folded for postatge. The addressee’s name is unclear. Signed ‘Clement Scott’.

[Gladys Cooper, star of stage and screen.] Gelatin silver print of Foulsham & Banfield photograph of Gladys Cooper in the play ‘My Lady’s Dress’, with a second photograph of her embracing Dennis Eadie in the same production.

Author: 
Gladys Cooper [Dame Gladys Constance Cooper] (1888-1971), English actress, over seven decades a star of stage and screen; Dennis Eadie (1869-1928), actor; Foulsham & Banfield, London photographers
Cooper
Publication details: 
Label on reverse dates the solo photograph to 27 February 1914, with the stamp of Foulsham & Banfield, 49 Old Bond Street, W. [London]. The photograph of Cooper & Eadie without date or place, but from the same production.
£100.00
Cooper

Edward Knobloch’s play ‘My Lady’s Dress’ (‘in which’, as one newspaper wrote at the time, ‘the heroine’s dream takes her to the foreign [and London] scenes surrounding the manufacture of a costly gown’) premiered at the Royalty Theatre in London in 1914 and was revived several times through the 1920s.

[Evelyn Laye, English actress and singer, star of stage and screen.] Autograph Signature added at foot of pencil sketch of her by Kenneth Sephton.

Author: 
Evelyn Laye [née Elsie Evelyn Lay] (1900-1996), English actress and singer, star of stage and screen, associated with Noel Coward [Kenneth Sephton]
Laye
Publication details: 
No date or place. [1950s]
£90.00
Laye

See her entry in the Oxford DNB. After a stint as one of George Edwardes’ Gaiety Girls, she made her name in a number of revues, her performance in the lead role of the 1929 Broadway production of ‘Bitter Sweet’ prompting Coward to praise her grace and charm and assurance, which he said provoked one of the most prolonged outbursts of cheering I have ever heard in the theatre. She was less successful in Hollywood, starring in the Romberg/Hammerstein musical ‘One Heavenly Night’ (1931), a failure for Samuel Goldwyn.

[Ruby Miller, actress, one of the ‘Gaiety Girls’.] Autograph Letter Signed to ‘Popie’ (the theatre historian W. Macqueen-Pope), regarding BBC TV, ‘the Gaiety fiasco’ and ‘Gaiety Girls who married out of the peerage & retired into the country’.

Author: 
Ruby Miller [Ruby Laura Rose Miller] (1889-1976), actress, one of George Edwardes' 'Gaiety Girls' [W. J. MacQueen-Pope [‘Popie’] (1888-1960), theatre historian]
Publication details: 
16 July 1957; on her letterhead.
£50.00

See her entry and his in the Oxford DNB. 2pp, 12mo. In good condition, lightly aged. Folded for postage. Signed ‘Ruby’. Begins: ‘Popie, darling, / What are we coming to? / You - as a pierrot with the “Fol-de-Rols”! / BBC/TV must be mad not to let you do a talk on the St. James’s. / But after the Gaiety fiasco I can believe anything of them.

[Ruby Miller, actress.] Three Autograph Letters Signed (all ?Ruby?) to W. J. Macqueen-Pope (?Popie?), expressing great grief at the death of Ivor Novello, whose spirit form she describes seeing at his memorial performance at Drury Lane.

Author: 
Ruby Miller [Ruby Laura Rose Miller] (1889-1976), English actress, one of the ?Gaiety Girls? [W. J. Macqueen-Pope (1888-1960), theatre historian; Ivor Novello, actor, composer and matin?e idol]
Publication details: 
14 March, 6 April and 8 October 1951; all three from 57B York Street, Baker Street, W1 [London].
£120.00

See the entries for writer and recipient in the Oxford DNB. The three items in good condition, lightly aged, with the last carrying minor rusting from paperclip. ONE: 3pp, 8vo. She got his office number from ?Mrs. Popie?, ?but the line has been busy all the time?. She asks for ?a pass for darling Ivor?s [i.e. Ivor Novello?s] memorial service?. The previous week she was ?playing at the Regent Theatre, Hayes, & on the Monday night I was weighed down by a dreadful foreboding of disaster?.

[R.H. Benson, priest; Girls' School in India] Autograph Letter Signed R.M. Benson about his Society organising a Superior Girls School in Bombay, asking Madam his correspondent's, help in finding a suitable Headmistress.

Author: 
R.M. Benson [Richard Meux Benson (1824 – 1915), priest in the Church of England and founder of the Society of St. John the Evangelist.]
Publication details: 
Cowley St John Oxford, 15 Sept. 1875.
£80.00

Four pages, 12mo, bifolium, some faint staining, text clear and complete. I hope you will excuse my troubling you, but as you are often corresponding with ladies of a literary turn, it has occurred to me that you might be able to help me to find what I want. Our Society is just organising a Superior Girls School in Bombay. We want a throughly ladylike person to be the Head of it, a good Churchwoman & an efficient teacher. It would rank in England as a Superior Middle Class School. | If you happen to know of any suitable person I should be very glad to open up some negotiation with her.

[E. V. Knox, editor of Punch.] Autograph Text of Prize-giving speech for speech day at Brookfield Secondary School for Girls, Highgate, with two versions of programme, and covering note.

Author: 
E. V. Knox [Edmund George Valpy Knox] (1881-1971, 'Evoe'), editor of Punch, 1932-1949, essayist, poet and humorist [Brookfield Secondary School for Girls, Highgate, London]
Publication details: 
Speech dated by Knox 19 July 1951. The two programmes for Brookfield Secondary School for Girls [Highgate, London], Speech Day, 1951. Knox's covering note on his letterhead, 110 Frognal, NW3.
£220.00

See Knox's entry in the Oxford DNB, along with those of his father and three brothers. The school was in existence in various places and under various names between 1914 and 1965. Four items, in good condition, lightly aged. ONE: Autograph Speech by Knox, headed 'BROOKFIELD SCHOOL'. Dated 19 July 1951. 3pp, 12mo. On three leaves held together with brass stud, with directions to the school on reverse of last leaf. Written in capital letters. Knox begins by noting the prizes: 'Difficult to think of anything else when one sees this table loaded with gifts.

[Maltman's Green, Gerrards Cross, girls school.]

Author: 
Maltman's Green, Gerrards Cross, Buckinghamshire girls school, founded in 1918 [Miss Beatrice Elizabeth Chambers, head mistress]
Publication details: 
Maltman's Green, Gerrards Cross. No date [1920s?].
£25.00

Advertising booklet for the school, printed in black on three sides of a 20.5 x 23 cm bifolium of cream wove paper. In fair condition, on lightly aged and spotted paper, with one fold and slight nicking to edges. The item is undated, but must date before Chambers' retirement in 1944. The cover has a distinct modernist feel, with an 8.5 x 20 cm stylised illustration of a village green with old-fashioned houses, presumably including the school buildings, and at bottom right the words 'MALTMAN'S GREEN | GERRARD'S CROSS' in large sans serif capitals.

[ Printed illustrated newsletter. ] Old Girls' Association. Albemarle House, Wimbledon Common. [ With 'List of Members, 1931' and '1931 Chronicle'. ]

Author: 
Albemarle House Girls School, Wimbledon Common [ Miss Parratt; Mrs. Hugh Wallace, II (Gertrude Watts); Miss M. Notley; Mrs. Tom Mott (Helga Baumann); Miss Irene Fenwick ]
Publication details: 
Albemarle House, Wimbledon Common. Undated [ with 'List of Members, 1931.' ]
£120.00

Scarce: no other copy traced, either on OCLC WorldCat or on COPAC. 16pp., 12mo. With an additional two central pages of illustrations on shiny art paper. Stapled and unbound. In fair condition, aged and worn, with light pen mark at foot of cover. A final page headed 'A Sunset Abroad. | (From a Tourist's Diary)' is preceded by eight numbered sections: 'List of Members, 1931' (pp.3-5); '1931 Chronicle' (pp.6-9); 'Other News', 'Obituary', 'The Old Albemarlian Association', 'The Year at Albemarle' (pp.11-14), 'Games Notice' and 'Editor's Notes'. On the final page is an appeal for 'St.

[ Printed item, with sixteen illustrations of 'Gibson Heads'. ] Proofs of Drawings by Charles Dana Gibson. (Size 15 to 20 Inches.) Hand printed on Japanese tissue paper, mounted on boards ready for framing.

Author: 
[ Charles Dana Gibson, American illustrator, known for his illustrations of 'Gibson Girls' ] James Henderson & Sons, Victorian publishers
Publication details: 
James Henderson & Sons, Red Lion House, Red Lion Court, Fleet Street, E.C. Undated [ Edwardian ].
£56.00

4pp., 8vo. Bifolium on shiny paper. In good condition, lightly-aged. The front cover carries a reproduction of the print 'Wireless Telegraphy.' Pp.3-4 carry reproductions of the 'Gibson Heads': 'NOW READY. - A Series of Sixteen Gibson Heads, of which the accompanying illustrations are miniatures. | Each subject is Hand-Printed on Japanese Hand-Made Tissue Paper, mounted ready for framing. Price 5s. 6d. each, post free.' Scarce: no copies on WorldCat, or on COPAC.

[Printed pamphlet.] Intermediate Education Board for Ireland. 1909. Exhibition and Prize Lists. Boys & Girls.

Author: 
[Intermediate Education Board for Ireland]
Publication details: 
Dublin: Printed for the Intermediate Education Board for Ireland By Browne and Nolan, Ltd., Nassau Street. [1909.]
£80.00

73pp., 8vo. In blue card wraps, with notice on pink slip tipped-in at front. In fair condition, on aged paper, with rusting staples. Shelfmarks, stamp and label of the Board of Education Reference Library. Giving the names and schools of the recipients of various prizes. Scarce.

[City of Cardiff Education Week, 1932.] Printed programme ('Cardiff Juvenile Welfare Council') of the 'Hobbies Exhibition'; and 'Educational Handbook for Citizens and Parents'.

Author: 
[City of Cardiff Education Week, 1932] [Cardiff Juvenile Welfare Council] [Wales; Welsh schools]
Publication details: 
Programme: Territorial Drill Hall, Newport Road, Cardiff (corner of West Grove). 29 February to 5 March 1932. Handbook: Cardiff: Priory Press Ltd., The Friary, Cardiff. [1932.]
£95.00

Both items in good condition (see separate descriptions). ONE: 'City of Cardiff Education Week. Cardiff Juvenile Welfare Council. Hobbies Exhibition and Demonstration of Voluntary Juvenile Organisations' Activities. Programme of Demonstrations and Displays, and Handbook of Stalls and Stallholders.' Cardiff: Territorial Drill Hall, Newport Road (corner of West Grove). 29 February to 5 March 1932. 20pp., 8vo. Stapled pamphlet, in printed wraps. Advertisements throughout. In good condition, on aged paper, with wear along the fore-edge. Photograph on cover of 'H.R.H.

Handbill headed 'An Appeal to Working Men and Women', pressing for 'the English law to protect your girls from being led into vice'.

Author: 
Ellice Hopkins (1836-1904) and Emily Janes (d.1928), Honorary Secretaries, Ladies’ Associations for the Care of Girls
Publication details: 
January, 1885. 41, Great Russell-street, British Museum, W.C.
£225.00

On both sides of a piece of paper, 19 x 11.5 cm. Seventy-seven lines. Text clear and complete. Fair, on aged and lightly-worn paper. Contrasts the law on the continent with that in England, where 'an unruly girl at any age can go on the streets, and the person who harbours her is not guilty of a greater crime than if she were a women [sic] of thirty or forty [...] Will you not help us heart and soul in getting our English girls, - your daughters, remember, - as carefully protected as Belgian and French girls?

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