NOVELIST

[ Sir Edward Bulwer-Lytton, author. ] Autograph Letter Signed ('E B Lytton'), thanking an unnamed reviewer for 'altogether the best of the kind' of notices of his work, and explaining his position with regard to 'our journals'.

Author: 
Sir Edward Bulwer-Lytton [ Edward George Earle Lytton Bulwer-Lytton, 1st Baron Lytton ] (1803-1873), English author and friend of Charles Dickens
Publication details: 
Knebworth, Stevenage. 23 June 1860.
£65.00

2pp., 12mo. In good condition, on lightly-aged paper. Attached by one corner to a leaf from an autograph album. 23 lines of text in a difficult hand. He thanks him for his 'notice in L<?>, & for the long & valuable as well as kind & flattering notice of my Novels'. He considers that the review is 'written with great talent - & is altogether the best of the kind notices of these works which I can remember to have seen'. He invites him down to Knebworth and asks whether he has 'succeeded with Lord Malm[esbur]y'.

[Le Queux] Autograph Note Signed "William Le Queux" to an unnamed male correspondent.

Author: 
William Le Queux, novelist
Publication details: 
[Headed notepaper] Castor, Peterborough, 16 Dec. [no year].
£38.00

One page, 12mo, dusted, fold mark, text clear and complete. Docketed on verson "From H.M. T. Dec. [July??} 1902" [H.M. Tomlinson?]. "Perhaps the enclosed is of sufficient interest to merit publication."

Keywords:

[Thurston, novelist] Autograph Note Signed "E. Temple Thurston" to "MIss [Carry?] W. Hay".

Author: 
E. Temple Thurston, novelist
Publication details: 
[Printed heading] 1 Adelphi Terrace House, Flat B., W.C., 10 Nov. 1908.
£56.00

One page, 12mo, minor marking, good condition. "I hope that this will be as useful for your purpose as 'Sally Bishop' [his novel- see note below]. The motive of Sally has been so misunderstood that I should be glad if I could stop the sale of it altogether - for which reason I preferred to give you 'Mirage'. Note: it appears that the Englsih edition of 'Sally Bishop' was published in 1910, the American in 1908 (the year of this letter). 'Mirage' was published in 1908.

[Anne Manning, Victorian novelist.] Autograph Letter Signed to her 'cousin and friend' 'Mr. Maleson', regarding his efforts to obtain a Civil List pension for her.

Author: 
Anne Manning (1807-1879), Victorian novelist [Arthur Hall, Virtue & Co., London publishers]
Publication details: 
Reigate Hill, Surrey. 18 July 1872.
£80.00

2pp., 12mo. 25 lines of text. In fair conditon, on aged and worn paper. Her sister Frances is 'overjoyed at your benevolent efforts for me', and 'Mr Arthur Hall is very glad indeed to hear what you are trying to do, and is quite ready if you and I approve to send a set of my books, with a notification to Mr Gladstone, and also of privately interesting the Archbishop, who will, he has no doubt send an autograph letter privately to the Prirme Minister'. The letter ends with a prayer for her 'kind friends', concluding 'The Lord will provide'.

[Thomas Mayne Reid, Victorian novelist.] Autograph Letter Signed ('Mayne Reid') to 'Captain Bond'

Author: 
Thomas Mayne Reid ['Charles Beach'] (1818-1883), Irish-born novelist and children's writer
Publication details: 
Chasewood, Ross [Chasewood and Frogmore House, Ross, Herefordshire]. No date.
£56.00

1p., 12mo. In fair condition, on aged paper, with light offsetting from another letter. Written in a difficult hand. Concerns 'the Club meeting' at 'Macdougall's Hall'. The recipient is addressed as 'My dear Capt Bond', and at the foot of the letter as 'Capt <?> Bond | &c. &c.'

['Marie Corelli' [Mary Mackay], English popular novelist.] Autograph Signature ('Marie Corelli') removed from letter.

Author: 
'Marie Corelli' [pseudonym of Mary Mackay (1855-1924)], Victorian popular novelist
Publication details: 
Without date or place.
£23.00

On 3 x 12.5 slip of paper cut from foot of letter. In good condition, lightly aged and worn. The reverse reads '[...] think of me! I fear [...] I was threatened your [...]'.

['Marie Corelli' [Mary Mackay], English popular novelist.] Autograph Signature ('Marie Corelli') removed from letter.

Author: 
'Marie Corelli' [pseudonym of Mary Mackay (1855-1924)], Victorian popular novelist
Publication details: 
Without date or place.
£23.00

On 5 x 11 cm slip of paper cut from foot of letter. In good condition, lightly aged and worn. The reverse reads '[...] in these dark days [...] interest! It is so [...] of you to sent it, [...]'.

[Eden Phillpotts, novelist.] Autograph Letter Signed ('Eden Phill<...>') [to A. G. Gardiner, editor of the Daily News], complaining of a review of his book 'Green Alleys', 'the great cause of the natural born child' and the 'Bastardy Laws'.

Author: 
Eden Phillpotts (1862-1960), English novelist, often writing on Dartmoor [Alfred George Gardiner ['Alpha of the Plough'] (1865-1946), editor of the Daily News; Robert Lynd (1879-1949), Irish essayist]
Publication details: 
Place not stated. [1916.]
£56.00

In poor condition, on aged and brittle paper, with significant chipping to edges involving loss of text, including the end of Philpott's signature. Undated, but written in 1916, the year of publication of Phillpotts' 'The Green Alleys'. Headed in blue pencil 'Mr Lynd' (i.e for the attention of Daily News columnist Robert Lynd).

[Andrew Soutar, novelist.] To an unnamed recipient, informing him that he will be sending him a copy of his new novel, 'Some Fell Among Thorns'.

Author: 
Andrew Soutar (1879-1941), English author of approximately 50 novels
Publication details: 
On letterhead of Brooklyn, Ifield, Crawley, Sussex. 15 January 1931.
£45.00

1p., 12mo. In fair condition, lightly aged and worn. Written in purple ink. The letter reads: 'My dear Sir, | Here it is, for what it is worth. To-morrow, Jan 16, a new novel of mine, "Some Fell Among Thorns", should be published. I shall send you a copy & ask your acceptance of it. | Yours Sincerely | Andrew Soutar'. Soutar received a brief obituary in The Times, 25 November 1941.

Autograph Letter Signed to Sylvia Lynd, poet and novelist.

Author: 
John Galsworthy, novelist
Publication details: 
Bury House, Bury, nr Pulborough, Sussex; 12 Nov. 1932.
£45.00

ALS, Bury House, Bury, nr Pulborough, Sussex; 12 Nov. 1932, good condition. 'We have been wondering what those delightful little noises we've been hearing about the house, were.'

[Printed keepsake.] Poem by Austin Dobson, titled 'Henry Fielding. Unveiling by the United States Minister, the Hon. J. Russell Lowell, of the Bust in the Shire Hall, Taunton. Sculptor, Miss Margaret Thomas.'

Author: 
Austin Dobson [Henry Austin Dobson] (1840-1921), English poet and essayist [Henry Fielding, novelist; James Russell Lowell (1819-1891), essayist and American ambassador in London; Margaret Thomas]
Publication details: 
Place not stated [London?]. September 1883.
£135.00

4pp., 12mo. Paginated to 4. Bifolium. In fair condition, on aged and worn paper. On laid paper watermarked 'A PIRIE & SONS | 1883'. Tastefully printed.

[Samuel Warren, Welsh novelist.] Autograph Signature, on an inscription to his father the Wesleyan Minister Dr Samuel Warren.

Author: 
Samuel Warren (1807-1877), Welsh novelist, barrister and MP, son of the Wesleyan Methodist minister of Dr Samuel Warren (1781-1862)
Publication details: 
No place. Dated 12 January 1850.
£56.00

The inscription is on the half-title leaf of Warren's anonymous 'A Letter to the Queen on a Late Court Martial' (1850). In fair condition on aged paper, with traces of previous mount adhering to the reverse. It reads: 'Rev. Dr. Warren | With his Son's love. | Samuel Warren. | 12th. Jany 1850.'

[Tighe Hopkins, novelist.] Autograph Letter Signed to 'Mr. Case', presenting a copy of his 'Iron Mask'.

Author: 
Tighe Hopkins (1856-1919), novelist, journalist and authority on prison life and penal reform
Publication details: 
On letterhead of Frayn, Herne Bay [Kent]. 7 August 1902.
£45.00

2pp., 8vo. Bifolium. In good condition, on lightly-aged paper. He asks him to accept a copy of the Tauchnitz edition of his 'Iron Mask', 'the only one I happen to have by me'. He continues: 'As you are kind enough to express an interest in work of mine, I may say that I expect to be in the West of Ireland next month in the interests of the Daily Chronicle - if you ever happen to see that paper - for which I am to write a special series of letters describing the present condition of that district.' For more on Hopkins see his obituary in The Times, 17 February 1919.

[William Pett Ridge, author.] Autograph Card Signed ('W. P. Ridge') to 'Miss Paget'.

Author: 
William Pett Ridge (1859-1930), English writer
Publication details: 
Letterhead of 24 Ampthill Square, London, NW. 'Thursday' [postmark 28 June 1906].
£25.00

In good condition, lightly-aged. Addressed to 'Miss Paget, | 28, Campden Hill Square | W.' Reads: 'I will look in this morning at the hour of coffee.'

['Francesca Marton' [Margaret Bellasis], historical novelist.] Typed Letter Signed ('Margaret Bellasis | "Francesca Marton') to 'Mr. Wiener', agreeing to give a talk to his 'Society' and discussing a BBC radio adapation of her work by Lance Sieveking

Author: 
Margaret Bellasis [Margaret Rosa Bellasis], historial novelist under the pseudonym 'Francesca Marton' [Lance Sieveking (1896-1972), English writer and BBC radio and television producer]
Publication details: 
"Pilot's Cottage", 35 Victoria Road, Deal, Kent. 2 March 1968.
£35.00

2pp., 12mo. 36 lines. She begins by accepting an invitation to give a talk to Wiener's 'Society', about which she has 'hears so much'. She is 'honoured to add my name to such a distinguished roll of speakers'. She next explains why she believes radio to be 'infinitely superior to TV'. She next turns to 'Mr. Sieveking's adaptation', which she considers 'very clever, as he had to leave out the descriptions which formed such an important part of the book. He allowed me to see and criticise all his scripts, too. I'm so glad you are liking the result. Isn't the signature-tune pleasing?

[Jessica Brett Young, widow of novelist Francis Brett Young.] Four Autograph Letters Signed to 'Mr Jackson', 'Manager, Heinemann & Cassell', discussing her husband's copyrights in an energetic style, with notes on the writing of 'My Brother Jonathan'

Author: 
Jessica Brett Young [née Hankinson], (1883-1970), wife of the English novelist Francis Brett Young (1884-1954)
Publication details: 
All four on letterheads of the Mount Nelson Hotel, Cape Town. Written in October and November 1967.
£100.00

The first three letters each 1p., 4to; and the fourth 2pp., 4to. In good condition, on aged and creased paper, with three of the four letters stapled together. Letter One: 13 October 1967. She writes 'for information about my position concerning my late husband's books, and my Biography of him which Heinemann's published in London in 1962'. The closing of the firm's Cape Town office has been a shock to her. Letter Two: 4 November 1967.

[Frederick Forsyth] Two Typed Letters Signed "Frederick Forsyth" to Sally Worboyes, organiser and hostess of Fen Farm Arts Ltd (seminars for would-be writers)

Author: 
Frederick Forsyth, novelist
Publication details: 
[Headed notepaper] From the Office of Frederick Forsyth, East End Green Farm, Hertfordbury, Hertfordshire. SG14 2PD, 19 Oct. 1992 amd 7 Sept. 1993.
£100.00

One page each, obl. 12mo, good condition. (1992) He has to disappoint her. He receives "a constant stream of requests for appearances, lectures, utorials, charity fun runs, mixed in with pleas for book reviews, the reading of unpublished manuscriipts, help[ to find an agent,help to get published, etc. Heart-touching as these requests are, I fel I really have to stick to my guns and decline if I am to get any work done for myself.

[William Plomer] Two Autograph Letters Signed "William" and "William Plomer" to "Veronica" [C.V. Wedgwood, eminent historian].With Programme for The Memorial Service for Plomer. (1973)

Author: 
William Plomer South African-British author, novelist
Publication details: 
[Heade] Rossida, Stonefields, Rustington, Sussex, 30 Dec. 1955 AND [Also Headed] 43 Adastra Avenue, Hassocks,Susssex, 21 Aug. 1971.
£120.00

Two pages each, 12mo, good condition. [1955] He apologises for being late in telling her how enjoyable he found her luncheon party. "Whatever they were like when they arrived and at least two (I don't include myself) had been rather under the weather - your guests all went off as radiant as glow-worms." Further thanks and joyful remembrances; [1971] A shakier hand, he expresses his pleasure at his visit "except for one thing - which was seeing poor Philip afficted.

[Margaret Drabble] Autograph Note Signed 'Margaret Drabble' to Sally Worboyes, organiser and hostess of Fen Farm Arts Ltd (seminars for would-be writers)

Author: 
Margaret Drabble, novelist
Publication details: 
[Headed Notepaper] Margaret Drabble Holroyd, The Kiln, Porlock Weir, Minehead, Somerset, TA24 8PB, 28 Oct. 1993.
£35.00

One page, 4to, good condition. "Thanks for your letter. I'm afraid that my reading days are long over - too busy - Sorry! Thanks for the invitation."

Autograph Card Signed "P. Loti", French author ["to A . Chasserian", (publisher?)pencil note]

Author: 
Pierre Loti, French novelist
Publication details: 
No place or date.
£110.00

Card, 11.5 x 9cm, vestiges of laying down in corners of verso, good condition. "J'ai été obligé de changer mes petits places de voyage. Voulez-vous aussi chamger les votres et venir mercredi au lieu de Vendredi. |Amitié[ ...]"Note in another hand on verso: "Autograph of Pierre Loti, Académician, officier in the French Navy (real name Viaud) author of Pecheur d'Islande, Fantomes d'Orient, etc. | Given me by M. Arthur Chasserian to whom it was addressed, Decr/92."

Memorandum, signed twice by Rudyard Kipling, of a deposit made by him at the London City and Midland Bank Limited's Newgate branch, with corresponding receipt signed for the branch manager by J. H. Coulson.

Author: 
Rudyard Kipling [Joseph Rudyard Kipling] (1865-1936), English writer and poet; J. H. Coulson, Manager, London City and Midland Bank Limited, Newgate Street, London
Publication details: 
The London City and Midland Bank Limited, Newgate Branch [London]. Both documents dated 7 December 1910.
£250.00

The two documents were originally attached along a perforated line, and both bear the serial number 115476. Having been detached, they have been reattached by a strip of light brown paper. In good condition, on lightly-aged paper. Both are forms, printed in red and black, and both are filled in by Coulson, regarding a deposit by Kipling of '£500 (Five hundred pounds) Grand Trunk Pacific Branch Lines Co. First Mortgage Sterling Bonds' and '$2500 (Two thousand five hundred dollars) Northern New Brunswick & Seaboard Rly Co. 4% Gold Bonds'.

Part only of Autograph Letter Signed "Georgiana Fullerton".

Author: 
Georgiana Fullerton, novelist
Publication details: 
No place or date survives.
£25.00

Part of page, c.11 x 7.5, staining but surviviing text clear and complete as follows: "thy own, I remain Reverend Sir | Yours sincerely, | Georgiana Fullerton".

Typed Note Signed (in pink) "J Cartland" [ She has typed at top of letter "From: Miss Barbara Cartland, D. St. J."] to Mrs V. Ong, a fan.

Author: 
Barbara Cartland, romantic novelist
Publication details: 
[Printed heading] Camfield Place, Hatfield, Hertfordshire, 17 May 1983.
£120.00

One page, 8vo, good condition, thanking Mrs Ong for her letter and congratulating her on her fund-raising. She continues: " I am sending you my book 'Romantic Royal Marriages' which I have autographed for you. Last time it was auctioned it raised £50-oo so I do hope you do as well. | I am enclosing for you details of Selenium-ACE which really is amn amazing mineral, and after being cured of cancer I would certainly recommend that you take it."

[Verse] Thought (Signed at end "Ann S. Stephens").

Author: 
Ann S. Stephens, American "dime" novelist.
Publication details: 
Washington, 29 June 1866.
£100.00

One page, 17.5 x 12cm, 8 lines, heavy grey paper, corner smudged, good condition. Title "Thought". "Give me thought - glorious thought [...] | To the sight of a flower; | Though it trembles and shrinks | From the touch of its thorn." Note: She was not known for her verse.

Autograph Signature of the British novelist Margaret Kennedy [Margaret Davies, Lady Davies].

Author: 
Margaret Kennedy [Margaret Davies, Lady Davies] (1896-1967), English novelist and playwright
Publication details: 
Place and date not stated.
£20.00

On one side of a piece of 11 x 11 cm paper, cut from the bottom of a letter. In good condition, lightly-aged. Reads, all in Kennedy's hand: 'Yours sincerely | Margaret Kennedy'.

Manuscript Memorandum and Manuscript Receipt, both signed ('Mortimer Collins') by the poet and novelist Edward James Mortimer Collins, assigning copyrights of his works to the London publishers Henry S. King & Co.

Author: 
Mortimer Collins [Edward James Mortimer Collins] (1827-1876), English poet and novelist [Henry S. King & Co., 65 Cornhill, London publishers]
Publication details: 
Both dated from Knowl Hill, Twyford, Berks. 19 March 1872 and 14 December 1872.
£95.00

ONE (memorandum): Headed: 'Memorandum of an Agreement between Messrs: Henry S. King & Co: of 65 Cornhill London of the one part and Mortimer Collins Esqre. of Knowl Hill, Twyford, Berks of the other part.' 19 March 1872. 1p., folio. In fair condition, on lightly-aged and worn paper. Pencil annotations. Five stamps at head (four embossed and one ink).

Autograph Letter Signed ('M. Hewlett') from the novelist and poet Maurice Hewlett, complaining that he has been underpaid for two pieces of writing.

Author: 
Maurice Hewlett [Maurice Henry Hewlett] (1861-1923), novelist and poet
Publication details: 
On letterhead of Broad Chalke, Salisbury. 5 December 1922.
£45.00

1p., 16mo. Fair, on aged paper, laid down on piece of card. '1349' in blue pencil at head of page. The letter reads: 'Thank you for the cheque. He ought to have paid for two, as both appeared in November. | - | Yes, I have another copy of . | - | [signed] M. Hewlett'.

Typed Letter Signed from the Anglo-Jewish novelist Emanuel Litvinoff, thanking Derek Stanford for a review, and discussing the novelist Angus Wilson ('one of the few writers to whom I've written a fan letter') and short story writing.

Author: 
Emanuel Litvinoff (19150-2011), Anglo-Jewish novelist [Derek Stanford (1918-2008), Anglo-Jewish author and critic; Angus Wilson (1913-1991), English novelist]
Publication details: 
36 Byron Court, Mecklenburgh Square, London. 2 July 1973.
£165.00

1p., 4to. He thanks Stanford for sending 'the carbon' of his 'warm review' of Litvinoff's novel ('A Death out of Season'). He missed the article and the note Stanford wrote 'about my autobiographical sequence' in the Scotsman, but is now iinterested to see from the review that Stanford is 'nursing the idea of a 'Forties memoir. Amazingly, few of us have written about the decade. I shall be getting around to it one day also, I hope.

Autograph Letter Signed "Edward George Lytton Bulwer", to [Barbarina Lady Dacre], about her Poems (published 1821).

Author: 
Edward Bulwer Lytton, novelist
Publication details: 
Knebworth, Saturday morning [n.d. - pre-1844 when he became Bulwer-Lytton].
£120.00

One page, 8vo, laid down on another paper, fold marks and slightly crumpled, trimmed with loss of part of "K" of "Knebworth" only, otherwise text clear and complete. "It is with many thanks that Ireturn your Ladyship's Poems [...] I must differ from your Ladyship in the remark that 'Tragedy is not the field for female powers- I cannot help particualrly admiring the nobleness of the characters you have described, & the sentiments they atter are such as Man should utter.

Autograph Letter Signed Violet [Paget] to Robert Lynd, essayist and Irish Nationalist.

Author: 
Violet Paget ['Vernon Lee'] (1856-1935), author.
Publication details: 
Letterhead of 36 Chepstow Place, London; 24 September [1935
£150.00

ALS, on letterhead of 36 Chepstow Place, London; 24 September [1935], 2pp., 8vo. 'I have just come back from seeing Winifred Holtby in the nursing home where she is lying ill, & I fear there is no hope whatever for her. Her friends are very anxious that she shd. be adequately written about in the News Chronicle when the time […] & have asked me to ask you to see, if you wd.

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