DRAMA

105pp., 8vo. Duplicated typescript, in two parts, each with title-page, continuously paginated. In good condition, lightly aged and worn. The piece, described as a 'musikdramatiskt' (music drama), was produced in 1976 by the Kungliga Teatern, Operan, and in 1977 on the Sveriges Radio. No other copy traced, either on COPAC or OCLC WorldCat.

In his obituary in the Independent, Lane was described as 'one of those writers whose published oeuvre is only matched by the supreme fiction of their own existence'. The present two pieces, both unpublished, date from his time studying theatre design at Wimbledon Art School, before 'launching himself across the globe, seemingly supported only by his verbal brilliance, good looks, perfect wardrobe and genius to amuse'. ONE: '"ANAGRAMS [no closing quotation mark] | A One Act Play - by Simon Lane'. [3] + 19pp., 8vo. Duplicated typescript on loose leaves held together by paper clip.

1p., 12mo. In good condition, on lightly-aged paper. Reads: 'My dear Young | Jack Calthorpe-Clayton is in the country: and I don't know when he will be home. He will be much grieved, I know, not to be here to welcome you back to our dingy old capital, when he knows of your apparition here | Yours very truly | J Palgrave Simpson'. The identity of 'Jack Calthorpe-Clayton' is uncertain. The name is certainly spelt thus, but may be a mistake for 'Colthorpe-Clayton'.

The two items are both on both sides of 8.5 x 11cm grey cards (the first gilt-edged). In good condition, lightly aged, with traces of mount adhering to one edge of each. ONE: From Redlands (of Rolling Stones fame). He begins: 'My dear Seymour | I enormously enjoyed your book [presumably 'If I were your Father' (1919): I've read it thrice! It's great fun, with an immense amount of real good sense: & it sparkles, Seymour, almost as much as you do when you stand on the <?> at the Garrick & let go at us!' He thanks him for sending the book, and hopes to see him at 'the Club' the following week.

2pp., 8vo. In good condition, on lightly aged and worn paper. The letter has been marked up in manuscript for publication, with the heading: 'Mr. Clement Scott: A Contradiction.' [last two words amended from 'An Explanation'] The letter begins: 'My Solicitors who advised me that the paragraph in your last issue connecting my name directly with a slanderous rumour to the effect that a well know dramatic critic had been bribed by a theatrical manager has handed me your letter of <?> date.

Both items 10pp., 12mo, and uniform in brown printed wraps. In good condition, lightly-aged with rusty staples, stamp and shelfmarks of the Board of Education Reference Library, London. Identical in layout, and including 'List of Professors', 'Examiners in Diction | 1910-1917', 'List of those who have acted as Honorary Examiners in the Dramatic Section', 'Fees', 'Rules of the Classes'. The last four pages give details of the 'Instruction given', in the form of Courses A to F.

29pp., 16mo, paper wraps (covered in tissue), very good condition. Three copies on COPAC (copyright libraries) and three on WorldCat (USA). Scarce.

24pp., 12mo, original blue sugar paper wraps, sewn, sl. damaged, contents good. "The Author was formerly a Sergeant in the 26th Regiment and Dumbartonshire Highlanders, who was discharged due to his wounds and now supports himself and his family by his pen. This last information was in an "Advertisement" in his "The Private Theatre: or the Highland Funeral", preceding the "begging" letter to his reading audience. The author wrote many plays". Copies listed at the BL, Oxford, Folger, Harvard, and two other US libraries.

2pp., 12mo. Very good, on lightly aged paper. In worn stamped and postmarked envelope, addressed by Jerrold to 'J. T Baron Esq | 18 Griffin Street | Wilton | Blackburn'. The letter begins: 'Messrs Bradbury Agnew & Co are the publishers of my "Life of Douglas Jerrold": but, the "Disgrace to the Family" is, I hope, out of print. It was written when I was a boy.' His plays 'Beau Brummel [sic]' and 'Cupid in Waiting' are both available from Lacy's Acting Drama. He concludes by apologising for being unable to give Baron 'Sir Charles Gibbon's address', being unacquainted with him.

2pp., 12mo. Good, on lightly-aged paper. A pencil footnote states that the poem referred to is 'In Praise of Puns' (subtitled on that occasion 'Paronomasiarum Laudatio'), published in the magazine 'Mirth', edited by H. J. Byron, 1878, p.115. Archer has no objection to the poem being reprinted, 'on one or other of two conditions: that you either omit my name (and any description pointing to me), or give the date of their original publication, and the name of the magazine (Mirth was it not?) in which they appeared. In either case, please omit the Latin sub-title.'

2pp., 12mo. Very good, on lightly-aged paper. In worn envelope, with stamp and postmark, addressed by Martin to 'John T. Baron Esq | 48 Griffin Street | Witton | Blackburn'. He begins by explaining that he has 'had every minute so fully occupied of late', that he has not been able to comply with Baron's request. 'Lady Martin has done what she is now most reluctant to do - written the name she once bore with a few lines from Cymbeline. I have copied the verse you wish from the little Bon Gaultier Poem'.

Circa 20 items, two printed, others typescript and manuscript, various formats including: a. Autograph Letter en francais Signed "Jean Cocteau", 19 Dec. 1952, one page, c.20 x 30cm, to [Edward O. Marsh, translator and adapter], presumably a response to e. below, partly about translation and translators; b.

A small archive of material relating to the translation into English and production in the UK and USA of works by Jean Anouilh (particularly "Dinner with the Family"), comprising: A. Two Autograph Letters Signed "Jean Anouilh", in French, to Edward Marsh, translator and biographer of Anouilh, one dated in pencil "Feb. 1953", one of two pages, the other of one, both 4to, condition only fair.

2pp., 12mo. Bifolium with mourning border. Very good, on lightly-aged paper. Barrett writes: 'Dear Hall Caine/ | The scheme promises well. I have made an arrangement for eight weeks at the Princess's. I thought it better to fight for the play there. Will certainly have a fair chance, although there can be no <?>.' According to Barrett's entry in the Oxford DNB, he returned from the Globe Theatre 'to the Princess's, where he began work with Hall Caine on adapting The Deemster, renamed Ben-my-chree (17 May 1888).

A good, firm signature, written on one side of a rectangle torn from the base of a letter, roughly 15 x 20cm. Aged and little creased. Written while Kean was on an American theatrical tour, the fragment reads 'I remain, | Yours truly | [signed] Charles Kean | Aster House | 9th. June | 1846.' In pencil on the reverse: 'Presented by A. Bassler'.

1p., foolscap 8vo. Stained, worn and creased, but a unique memento of a Newcastle institution and Grade I listed building, founded in 1867 as the Tyne Theatre and Opera House, and now bearing the euphonious name of the Mill Volvo Tyne Theatre.

1p., 12mo. Fair, on aged paper and worn paper. He is 'exceedingly obliged' to Barnett for 'procuring for me the freedom of Her Majesty's Theatre'. He asks if he will 'receive an official commemoration from Mr. Lumley', or whether he should write and thank Lumley on the strength of Barnett's note.

Letter: 1p., 12mo. On letterhead of 12 Sunderland Terrace, London, printed in orange with orange border. Good, on lightly-aged paper. He states that his daughter Nelly (1904-1975) has given him her bookplate block 'to get printed for you'. He quotes prices for 100 and 300 prints, 'only to old friends so please dont tell anyone else!! If you will just let me have a P.C I will get them done in two days.' Nelly has also told him that Mrs Dryhurst's husband Alfred Robert Dryhurst (1859-1949) 'wanted to know my price for a bookplate (but perhaps she got that wrong) anyhow I generally charge £10.

1p., 4to. On aged and lightly-creased paper. Giving breakdowns for different seats in matinee and evening productions, as well as for programmes, with the number of complimentary tickets. The Arts Theatre Club was founded in 1927, 'in an attractive building in Great Newport-street shaped somewhat like the House of Commons' (Times, 9 May 1927). On its relaunch in 1933, its stated aim was 'to select plays of theatrical merit [...] with an entire disregard for their commercial possibilities' (Times, 18 December 1933).

1p., 4to. On aged paper. Printed in block capitals at head of letter: 'Experienced actor-dramatist and film adapter. Author of plays and films produced in England and America. Expert in "Dramatic Construction" gained in years of practical experience on the stage, and in films. Adapts stories to the talking films, the bigger the story with opportunities of being developed on a large scale, the better.' Addressed to 'Commander L. A. da Costa Ricci | Naval & Military Club, | 94 Piccadilly | W'.

4pp., 12mo. Very good, on lightly-aged paper. Lacy begins by thanking the recipient for 'the kindly spirit that animates your favor received to day. '[A]t once and without Recitation' he states his 'extreme willingness to abandon the continuation of Heywood' in the recipient's favour. He will 'rejoice in any slight influence I can exert towards a guarantee to induce you to persevere'. Lacy's only wish is for 'the plays to be completed', and the recipient 'could certainly advance irresistible claims to a far greater amount of support than any one else'.

A total of 8 pp, 4to, all on Palace Court letterheads. Dent's notes both signed 'Jock Dent.', and the copies both signed 'James Agate'. Two important, energetic and vivid letters by Agate, totalling 6 pp, 4to, defending Coward's play and his position on 'the intellectual and the popular', against the 'pseudo-intelligentsia' of the barristers Shearman and 'Jack' St John Hutchinson (1884-1942).

One page, fold marks, good condition. Please let me know when [underlined] you want copy for your paper. I will give you something but would like to have as much time as possible. I could send something now but might be able to send something better later on. I hope your special number will be successful.

The greater part of this collection consists of the responses of the British actor-manager Sir George Alexander (1858-1918) - best known as the first producer of Wilde's 'Importance of being Earnest' and 'Lady Windermere's Fan' - and his representatives to the requests of the scrapbook's compiler, Harry E. King. Twenty-eight leaf quarto scrap book, in which twelve leaves have been used. Items in good condition, with occasional spotting and fading. Album itself, on discoloured, high-acidity paper, in poor condition: binding loose and worn, with damage to spine.

LETTER: One page, quarto. Somewhat aged and creased. An attractive item in Carter's disciplined calligraphic hand. A damning assessment of Craig's son Edward Anthony Craig ('Edward Carrick', 1905-98). '[...] If you know him, you presumably also know what you are taking on! We had some dealings with Teddy over possibly printing old EGC's engravings of Robinson Crusoe, but Teddy sold them, [...] My impression is that the old rogue manufactured archives in order to sell them to someone - preferably twice.

Octavo: viii + 201 pages. Good and tight, on aged high-acidity paper, with some chipping and a little light staining at foot. A few pencil marks. In original printed grubby and chipped wraps cloth-taped to spine. Front wrap annotated in pencil. Four-page introduction entitled 'A PLAYWRIGHT'S WORKING LIBRARY.' Even considering the importance and interest of the theatrical collection, the high point is undoubtedly item 102: 'BLAKE, WILLIAM. ORIGINAL DRAWINGS IN WATER COLOURS and INDIA INK by the celebrated WILLIAM BLAKE (Pictor Ignotus).

Based on his novel of the same name. Original green wraps, motif of Maunsel's Irish Plays on front, soiled, one closed tear, titlepage faintly stained, pages of contents dulled through age, sound. From the library of Robert Lynd, author and nationalist. Scarce: COPAC lists copies at NLS, Oxford and NLW (NOT BL).

Original brown wraps, chipped, dusted and soiled, titlepage partly soiled and dusted, otherwise good. Scarce: COPAC lists copies at BL, NLS, Oxford, and NLW. AddAll only lists the 1971 reprint.

4to, 1 p, 21 lines. On creased and lightly-foxed paper, with a couple of closed tears (not affecting text, which is clear and entire). May refer to the 1928 revival of van Druten's play 'Young Woodley' (previously banned by the censor), or (which is more likely) to his 'After All' (1929).

39pp., 12mo, a fragile pamphlet, lacking back wrap and with damaged front wrap, attractively rebound in green paper wraps with label on front, retaining and supporting the surviving wrap. Scarce. Copac lists copies at CUL, BL, not Trinity.