LYCEUM

[Victorian London Theatres: Adelphi, Drury Lane, Gaiety, Her Majesty’s, Lyceum, Princess’s, St James’s.] Seven large printed handbill notices, with illustration giving seating plan, details of proprietors and prices, ticket agents, advertisements.

Author: 
[Victorian London Theatres: Adelphi, Drury Lane, Gaiety, Her Majesty’s, Lyceum,Princess’s, St James’s.] [Benjamin Webster; Samuel Hayes; Keith, Prowse, and Co.; James Bromwich, florist]
Publication details: 
Circa 1878? Publication details not given.
£350.00

Each of the seven plans is on a 27 x 35.5 cm piece of paper.The source has not been established, and each carries the pencil date 1878 in a modern hand. They are uniform in layout, each with heading of the name of the theatre followed by a plan in the form of a 22 x 15 cm lithographic illustration of the respective theatre, as viewed from the stage, with the seating numbered. Beneath each plan are names of proprietors, lessees and managers, prices of admission, and in every case the details of the two ticket agents ‘Mr.

[Sir Arthur Wing Pinero, leading late-Victorian and Edwardian playwright.] Autograph Inscription Signed, with quotation from his play ‘Lady Bountiful’.

Author: 
Sir Arthur Wing Pinero (1855-1934), leading English late-Victorian and Edwardian playwright, after beginning as an actor in Sir Henry Irving’s company at the Lyceum Theatre, London
Publication details: 
23 February 1897. On letterhead of 63 Hamilton Terrace, N.W. [London.]
£56.00

See his appreciative entry in the Oxford DNB, concluding with praise of his ‘undeniable’ achievements. 1p, 12mo. In good condition, lightly aged, with the blank reverse carrying very slight staining to one edge from glue from mount. Folded once. Neatly and firmly written, with the underlined signature with a deliberate upwards slope. Clearly sent in response to a request for an autograph. Reads: ‘ “A man dies but once, a woman twice - the first time when she marries, and then, as at the last, wondering at the thereafter.” / Lady Bountiful. / Act IV. / Arthur W. Pinero. / 23rd. February 1897.’

[‘Too serious an affair for the taste of the ordinary playgoer’: Sir Arthur Wing Pinero, English playwright.] Autograph Letter Signed to ‘Mrs. Hughes’, regarding matters including his play ‘The Thunderbolt’.

Author: 
Sir Arthur Wing Pinero (1855-1934), leading English playwright, after beginning as an actor in Sir Henry Irving’s company at the Lyceum Theatre, London
Publication details: 
12 May 1908. On letterhead of 14 Hanover Square, W. [London.]
£50.00

See his entry in the Oxford DNB. 2pp, 12mo. Bifolium. In good condition, lightly aged. Folded once. The valediction reads ‘Yours alway faithfully / Arthur W. Pinero’, and it is written with quite a flourish: the ‘y’ of ‘faithfully’ hooks downwards in a long squiggle, exrending downwards past the right of the termination of Pinero’s signature, which rises upwards, being dotted above and below the signature’s underlining. He feels that her ‘kind letter is all the more welcome inasmuch as it gives signs’ that she is recovering from her recent illness.

[Charles James Mathews, London actor-manager.] Autograph Letter Signed ('C J Mathews.'), declining to 'risk' an association with Ben Webster, who 'never reads the pieces at all' and whom he is 'unable to controul'.

Author: 
Charles James Mathews (1803-1878), actor, manager of the Olympic, Lyceum and Covent Garden theatres in London [Benjamin Nottingham Webster (1797-1882), actor-manager who built the Adelphi]
Publication details: 
25 Pelham Crescent [London], 23 July 1869.
£45.00

1p, 12mo. In good condition, lightly aged. The recipient is not named. An interesting letter, indicating the relationship between two major theatrical figures in Victorian London. The main body of the letter reads: 'Dear Sir, | You really must excuse my incurring any such responsibility as that you would impose upon me. I am unable to controul Mr.

[Henry Betty, actor.] Autograph Letter Signed [to Madame Celeste, lessee of the Royal Lyceum Theatre, London], announcing his father's recovery from illness, and requesting 'the favour of an Order' [to a performance of 'A Tale of Two Cities'].

Author: 
Henry Betty [Henry Thomas Betty] (1819-1897), actor and founder of Betty's Fund for Poor Actors and Actresses, son of actor William Betty (1791-1874) [Madame Celeste, lessee, Royal Lyceum Theatre]
Publication details: 
'Thursday Morning. | Feb 16/60. [16 February 1860] | 37. Ampthill Square. | Hampstead Road. | Regents Park.' [London]
£90.00

The Times, 16 February 1860, announces 'the new drama, called A TALE OF TWO CITIES', at the Royal Lyceum Theatre, 'Sole Lessee and Directress, Madame Celeste'. ('Madame Céleste' [Céline Céleste-Elliott] (c.1815-1882) was a French dancer and actress.) 3pp, 12mo. Bifolium. In good condition, lightly aged. Folded three times. The recipient is not named. The letter has a large signature ('Henry Betty.') with florid underlining.

[Sir Henry Irving, illustrious Victorian actor-manager.] Autograph Signature ('Henry Irving:') on printed circular invitation to act as stewerd at the Annual Dinner of The Actors' Benevolent Fund, made out by Irving to the novelist Hall Caine.

Author: 
Sir Henry Irving [John Henry Brodribb] (1838-1905), illustrious Victorian actor-manager [Hall Caine, novelist]; Artists' Benevolent Fund
Publication details: 
Lyceum Theatre [London], 29 April 1891.
£70.00

1p., 4to. On bifolium. Aged and worn, with small spots at head and foot. Irving's signature is firm and bold. The only other words in his autograph are 'Dear Hall Caine', but there is slight offsetting of other writing by Irving on the blank second leaf. The circular is an invitation to be 'placed on the list of Stewards on the occasion of the Annual Dinner of "The Actors' Benevolent Fund," of which I am the President'. Irving will be in the chair, and the dinner will take place at the Whitehall Rooms, Hotel Metropole.

[ Camilla Urso, 'The great violin virtuoso': pamphlet issued by the United States Lyceum Bureau. ] Drophead title: 'Camilla Urso. | A Tribute.' Title on front wrap: 'A Tribute | Charles Barnard | Camilla Urso'.

Author: 
Charles Barnard [ Camilla Urso, French violinist and child prodigy who settled in America; Harry St. Ormond, Business Manager; United States Lyceum Bureau ]
Publication details: 
'Compliments of United States Lyceum Bureau, 757 Broadway, New York.' No year, but back cover gives details of 'Transcontinental Tour. | 1885 - Season - 1886.'.
£50.00

[32]pp., 16mo. Not paginated. Stapled in brown wraps, with text on front and back covers in gold and dark brown, with closed tear at foot of spine. Contains one full-page engraving: 'Testimonial Presentation to Mme. Camilla Urso in the Town Hall, Melbourne.' Cheaply printed on browned high-acidity paper, in aged and worn wraps. The wraps are attractively designed, with the violinist's name printed in large decorative type diagonally across the centre of the front cover. The back cover gives details of Urso's 'Transcontinental Tour.

[ Henry Russell, song writer and entertainer. ] Printed ticket of admission to 'Mr. Henry Russell's Entertainment' at the Lyceum Theatre, signed 'Henry Russell'. With newspaper cutting of letter from Russell concerning reports of his death.

Author: 
Henry Russell (1812?-1900), English song writer and entertainer [ The Lyceum Theatre, London ]
Publication details: 
Lyceum Theatre [ London ]. 7 September 1858.
£35.00

On one side of a 7.5 x 10.5 cm piece of grey paper. Laid down on a piece of cream paper cut from an album. In fair condition, aged. Reads (with manuscript additions in square brackets): 'LYCEUM THEATRE. | Mr. Henry Russell's Entertainment, | ADMIT [Four Dress Circle] | On [ Wed ] day, September [ 7th ] 1853. | [Henry Russell.] | Not admitted after a quarter to 8.' Also included is an undated newspaper cutting of a letter from Russell 'To the Editor of the Daily News', from '74, Kensington-gardens-square, Bayswater, Nov.

[ Daniel Frohman, American theatre produced. ] Autograph Letter Signed, inviting General Townshend to 'the Famous Playerrs Ball', where he will met 'some of our leading lights in the picture world', including Elsie Ferguson.

Author: 
Daniel Frohman (1851-1940), American theatre and film producer and manager [ Elsie Ferguson (1883-1961), American stage and screen actress ]
Publication details: 
On letterhead of the Lyceum Theatre, 43rd Street, New York. Undated, but circa 1921.
£40.00

2pp., 12mo. On tinted paper. In fair condition, lightly aged and worn. The letter begins: 'Dear Gen. Townshend | Won't you come with me to the Famous Players Ball on Wed. eve? | I am going to ask Miss Balfour. We can all dine here at my office at 7 on that eve - & have time to see later a litttle entertainment prior to the dancing.' He offers to present him to 'some of our leading lights in the picture world especially Elsie Ferguson who is now playng in Arnold Bennetts "Sacred & Profane Love' (which appeared in 1921).

[Sir Francis Robert Benson (Frank Benson), actor-manager.] Autograph Letter Signed ('Frank R Benson') to Mrs Ashurst Morris, explaining why he will not be continuing his 'present sojourn' at her 'comfortable flat' in London.

Author: 
Sir Francis Robert Benson [Frank Benson; F. R. Benson] (1858-1939), British Shakespearian actor-manager
Publication details: 
On letterhead of the Lyceum Theatre, London. 9 April 1900.
£35.00

1p., 12mo. In fair condition, on aged paper, but with loss at foot and traces of mount on reverse. The letter is addressed to 'Mrs Ashurst Morris | Victoria Hotel | ' (the last word damaged at the foot of the page). It reads: 'Dear Madam, | Thanks for your letter. Pardon my delay in answering, but our plans have been a little uncertain. We shall not be staying in London after the date mentioned, otherwise, we should have been very glad to continue our present sojourn at your comfortable flat.

[Poetical handbill, with handcoloured engraving.] Some Push Along With Four In Hand, While Others Drive At Random. Written by J. Pocock, Esq.; composed by Mr. C. SMITH; and sung, [...] by Mr. MATHEWS, [...] at the Lyceum Theatre, Strand.

Author: 
[Isaac Pocock (1783-1835), dramatist and artist; Charles Smith, singer and composer; Charles Mathews (1776-1835), actor-manager; Lyceum Theatre, Strand; London Stage; Regency buck; dandy]
Publication details: 
'Published 4th. April, 1810, by LAURIE & WHITTLE, No. 53, Fleet Street, London.'
£235.00

Printed on one side of a piece of laid paper 28 x 23.5 cm. The hand-coloured engraving (showing Mathews in riding garb with long whip in foreground, and a coach and four in the background) is 16 x 22.5 cm. Fair, on aged paper, with wear and slight loss to extremities (not affecting the engraving or text), and the reverse showing signs of removal from an album. Above the engraving are the words 'BANG UP - RANDOM, OR TANDEM.' and beneath are the publication details, followed by the full title: Some Push Along With Four In Hand, While Others Drive At Random. Written by J.

[Printed on playbill sheet.] (Copy of a Letter in "THE TIMES" of Tuesday, February 14th, 1854.) Mr Charles Mathews and the Lyceum Theatre. To the Editor of the Times. [On his difficulties with creditors and the temporary closure of the theatre.]

Author: 
Charles James Mathews (1803-1878), British actor-manager [The Lyceum Theatre, London; Covent Garden]
Charles James Mathews (1803-1878), British actor-manager
Publication details: 
Dated 'Lyceum, Feb. 12. [1854] C. J. MATHEWS'.
£280.00
Charles James Mathews (1803-1878), British actor-manager

Printed for display, on one side of a piece of paper 24.5 x 49.5 cm. Text clear and complete. On aged and creased paper, with one closed tear and bottom right-hand corner lacking, causing slight loss to the last letter of Mathews' name at foot of document. Heading in bold type in a variety of point sizes. Giving a 'brief statement of my fourteen years' struggle and of my latest difficulty'.

Printed 'Proof of a Report - never issued' regarding 'the right of the Liverpool Library to the occupation of a certain part of the Lyceum', with a long manuscript memorandum and an Autograph Letter Signed from attorney John Robinson to John Abraham.

Author: 
John Abraham (1813-1881) of Clay & Abraham, pharmaceutical chemists [The Lyceum, Bold Street, Liverpool; Liverpool Library]
 Liverpool Library
Publication details: 
Robinson's letter: 20 February 1867; Coburg Terrace, West Derby Road, Liverpool. Other items undated [c. 1850?].
£750.00
 Liverpool Library

The subscription Liverpool Library within the Lyceum, founded in 1757, is believed to have been the first circulating or lending library in Europe, and the first two of these items provide a valuable insight into its status at the time when the advent of the public library system was undermining its position.

Autograph Signature ('Jules Benedict').

Author: 
Sir Julius Benedict (1804-1885), Anglo-German conductor and composer
Publication details: 
January 1866; on letterhead of 2, Manchester Square, W. [London].
£18.00

12mo: 1 p. Very good. Reads 'January 1866 | [signed] Jules Benedict'.

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