Latest additions

Author, Title, Summary Price
Fanny Brough [Frances Whiteside Brough] (1852-1914), English actress associated with Charles Hawtrey, the original ‘Kitty Warren’ of Bernard Shaw’s play ‘Mrs Warren’s Profession’

[The original ‘Kitty Warren’ of Bernard Shaw’s play ‘Mrs Warren’s Profession’: Fanny Brough [Frances Whiteside Brough], English actress.] Autograph Letter Signed to Rev. J. C. [Westly?], in response to a request for an autograph.

1p, 12mo. On thin paper. In good condition, lightly aged, in trimmed and spotted windowpane mount. Good bold signature ‘Fanny Brough.’ Addressed to ‘Revd. J. C. [Westly?]’. She has ‘much pleasure’ in sending him ‘the autograph’, and will do her best to get him ‘a few others which may be...

£45.00
G. L. M. Strauss [Gustave Louis Maurice Strauss] (c.1807-1887), Anglo-Canadian writer and dramatist, nicknamed ‘The Old Bohemian’ [Octavian Blewitt (1810-1884), Secretary, Royal Literary Fund]

[‘The Old Bohemian’: G. L. M. Strauss [Gustave Louis Maurice Strauss], Anglo-Canadian writer and dramatist.] Autograph Letter Signed to Octavian Blewitt of the Royal Literary Fund describing his poor personal and financial situation.

See his entry and Blewitt’s in the Oxford DNB. 2pp, 12mo. On bifolium. In good condition, on lightly aged laid paper, with thin strip of tape from mount on reverse of second leaf. Thirty-seven lines of text. Addressed to ‘Octavian Blewitt Esq.’ and signed ‘G. L. M. Strauss’. He begins by...

£56.00
Gilbert Thomas [Gilbert Oliver Thomas] (1891-1978), pacifist poet and critic, imprisoned as a conscientious objector during the Great War [William Robinson Calvert (1882-1949), journalist]

[Gilbert Thomas [Gilbert Oliver Thomas], pacifist poet and critc.] Autograph Letter Signed, thanking ‘Calvert’ [William Robinson Calvert] for his review of ‘Calm Weather’ and discussing the critical response to the book.

2pp, 4to. In good condition, lightly aged. Folded twice. Thirty-nine lines, closely written. Signed ‘Gilbert Thomas’. He begins by thanking him ‘most warmly for your letter and the most kind and generous review to hand this morning. I tremendously appreciate the interest you have shown in Calm...

£180.00
Ernest Hart [Ernest Abraham Hart] (1835-1898), editor of the British Medical Journal, ophthalmic surgeon and collector of Japanese art [A. M. Broadley [Alexander Meyrick Broadley] (1847-1916)]

[Ernest Hart, medical journalist, editor of the British Medical Journal and collector of Japanese art.] Autogaph Letter Signed to A. M. Broadley, describing the meetings by his club, with reference to Tenniel, Lister, Du Maurier, Sambourne and others

See his entry in the Oxford DNB (from which the scandalous Broadley is unaccountably absent). 2pp, 12mo. On bifolium of grey paper. Tears to the second leaf (not affecting signature) have been unobtrusively repaired with archival tape, and its blank reverse carries a thin remnant of the mount....

£100.00
Charles Kean [Charles John Kean] (1811-68), English Shakespearian actor and theatre manager, son of Edmund Kean, husband of Ellen Tree [Charles Lamb Kenney (1821-81), journalist, son of James Kenney]

[Charles Kean, Shakespearian actor.] Autograph Letter Signed, asking Charles Lamb Kenney to report on the ‘parting words’ he proposes to give on his ‘intended retirement from management’, after the first performance of the new season.

See his entry, and those of his father, wife and Kenney, in the Oxford DNB. 2pp, 12mo. On first leaf of a bifolium, the blank second leaf of which carries a thin strip of tape from the mount. In good condition, lightly aged. Folded twice. Good bold signature ‘C. Kean’. Begins: ‘My dear Kenney /...

£65.00
Dion Boucicault [Dionysius Lardner Boucicault; né Boursiquot] (1820-1890), Irish actor and playwright [Charles Manby (1804-84), Secretary of the Institution of Civil Engineers]

[Dion Boucicault, Irish actor and playwright.] Autograph Letter Signed to Charles Manby of the Adelphi Theatre, discussing his difficult quest in Paris to acquire music for a production.

See his entry in the Oxford DNB, as well as that of Manby who had, as the letter indicates, strong French connections. In addition to his work as Secretary to the Institution of Civil Engineers, Manby was also the business manager of the Adelphi Theatre in London. 3pp, 12mo. Bifolium. Letter of...

£65.00
Charles Lever [Charles James Lever] (1806-1872), popular Victorian novelist of Irish extraction

[Charles Lever, popular Victorian novelist.] Autograph Letter Signed to ‘Mlle. de [Schmidt?]’, with regard to an invitation, her daughter, ‘Sydney’, and other matters.

See his entry in the Oxford DNB. 4pp, 12mo. Bifolium. In good condition, lightly aged, with strip of tape from mount adhering to reverse of second leaf and small pin holes to one corner. With two folds. Thirty-nine lines of text. The handwriting is a paradox; neat but difficult to decipher....

£150.00
Charles Lamb Kenney (1821-81), author and playwright, son of the Irish dramatist James Kenney (1780-1849) [William Makepeace Thackeray]

[Charles Lamb Kenney, author and playwright.] Autograph Letter Signed to his wife, with reference to the 1862 Great Exhibition, and dinner with William Makepeace Thackeray and his daughters.

See his entry in the Oxford DNB, which states that he had two children - Charles Horace Kenney and the actress Rosa Kenney - by his marriage to Miss Rosa Stewart at the Paris embassy in 1859. 4pp, 12mo. In good condition, lightly aged. On bifolium, with thin strip of tape from mount adhering to...

£75.00
Charles Mathews (1776-1835) the elder, celebrated actor-manager, part-proprietor of the Adelphi Theatre, London, father of the actor Charles James Mathews (1803-1878)

[‘So much for vaccination!’: Charles Mathews, celebrated actor-manager.] Autograph Letter Signed to ‘Harley’ [distinguished actor], indignant at a doctor after his son the actor Charles James Mathews’ attack of small pox following inoculation.

See his entry, and that of his son, in the Oxford DNB. The topic of this letter is referred to in the second volume of Dickens's edition of the son's life, 1879. 3pp, 12mo. Bifolium. In good condition, lightly aged, with strip of tape from mount adhering at edge of blank second leaf and two...

£120.00
Charles James Mathews (1803-1878), actor and playwright, son of Charles Mathews (1776-1835) and husband of Madame Vestris

[Charles James Mathews, actor and playwright.] Autograph Letter Signed to ‘Mrs Williams’, regarding a change in their plans and the gift of ‘some chops’.

See his entry, and that of his father Charles and wife Madame Vestris, in the Oxford DNB. 3pp, 8vo. Bifolium with mourning border. In fair condition, on lightly aged paper, with slight damage at head of second leaf, the blank reverse of which carries traces of glue from mount. Folded once....

£45.00
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