BOWLES

The three items, all in manuscript, are in good condition, on lightly-aged paper. All three are folded into the usual packets, with the two items by the accountants each titled in manuscript on the outside. Item One (Gibson's report): 'Report to accompany the Accounts of "Vanity Fair" for the six months ending 30th. Septr. 1880'. In Bowles's autograph, and signed by him at the foot, 'Thos. G. Bowles | 10 Novr 1880'. 1p., foolscap 8vo.

5pp., foolscap 8vo. Attached with green ribbon. The sale was a protracted affair, and the detailed nature of these accounts may be due to Murray's desire to justify his charges of £22 1s 6d. The first entry reads: '1881 | Novr. 1st. Attending Mr. Bowles on his calling and receiving his instructions to act for all parties in the Sale of 1/18th. Share in "Vanity Fair" and General Roberts Executors would call and hand me the necessary papers [6s 8d]'. Other entries include 'Novr. 28th [1881] Writing Mr. Bowles that the Deed would be ready for his signature tomorrow morning [5s]', 'Jany.

Two pages, 12mo, remnants from being tipped on to album page, , staining, text clear and complete. "I feel myself compelled, circumstanced as I ma - to decline all invitation. Were it otherwise I should with great pleasure avail myself of yours - | My friends are answering for themselves - & I am very sorry it will be in the negative - but as they have declined similar invitations from the persons who have paid them the same kind attention, they cannot with propriety make exceptions..."

On one side of a piece of 12mo laid paper. Fourteen lines of text, beneath the date, with the two signatures in the right-hand margin. On aged and worn paper, with bottom right-hand corner worn away, slightly affecting both signatures, but with no apparent loss of text.

4to, 3 pp (paginated 3-7). Bifolium loose in grey wraps printed in red. Good, on lightly-aged paper with slight wear to spine.

4to, 12 pp. On six loose bifoliums. Good, on lightly-aged paper, with minor spotting on reverse of last leaf (page of advertisements).

4to, 13 + [i] pp. On four loose bifoliums. On aged paper with small closed tears to spine and last leaf repaired with archival tape.

4to, 3 pp. Loose leaf inserted in bifolium. Good, on lightly-aged paper. Front page printed in black and red. Advertisements on reverse of last leaf.

4to, 4 pp. Bifolium. In light-grey printed wraps with design by Lieberman printed in dark-grey and pink (price on front amended with stamp). Score on central two pages. Last page carries an advertisement for another of Bowles's piano pieces, and a short biographical notice, headed 'ABOUT THE COMPOSER' ('[...] He is best known as composer of music for the theatre. In this medium he has written incidental scores for the two Orson Welles productions: [...] Mr. Bowles has also done several film scores, and the music for two ballets commissioned by the American Ballet Caravan: [...]').

12mo, 2 pp. Bifolium with address on second leaf. Twenty-five lines. Text clear and complete. On aged, spotted and repaired paper. A significant letter, confirming Bowles's hitherto-tentative authorship of the 'Letters of the Ghost of Alfred', which was printed by Wright in 1798. Bowles informs Wright that he will 'receive some Copies of ye. Ghost of Alfred' the following morning. 'The price [I conceive] should be only 2/6 in boards there being but about 130 pages including thhe advertisements'.