FILMS

The present item is anonymous, but is certainly an early draft of 'The Suffrage Girl', the play written by film pioneer Percy Nash while an executive at Selfridge's department store in London, and performed by the store's employees in 1911 at the Court Theatre. (For more information see E. D. Rappaport's 'Shopping for Pleasure: Women in the Making of London's West End' (Princeton, 2001), as well as S.

De Cordova was a voluminous author (see his entry in Who Was Who). Several of the couple's works were adapted for the cinema during the silent era. Of the four items present here, 'The Man in Mourning' was published in the Green Book Magazine, February 1916, and de Cordova's entry in Who's Who 1914 lists 'The Earthquake' among 'seven sensational dramas for the London Hippodrome'. No record has been found of the other two pieces. Four duplicated typescripts. In fair condition, with some wear and aging. ONE: '"The Earthquake" A Dramatic Sketch by Alicia Ramsey and Rudolph de Cordova'. A play.

The three inscriptions are all on one side of an 18 x 16 cm leaf taken from an album. In good condition, lightly-aged. Given during the shooting of the RKO film 'The Saint in London' (1939), which Sanders starred in and Carstairs directed. Sanders writes, at the head of the page, 'To Anne | I want to see you in about 8 years time! | George Sanders | April 1939.' Beneath this is: 'Anne - let's make it seven! | John Paddy Carstairs: | '39.' And beneath Carstairs' inscription: 'Six years. X. | Tony Keys'. The recipient was the daughter off a cameraman at Twickenham Film Studios.

Printed on one side of a piece of 29 x 22.5 cm yellow newspaper stock. In fair condition, on aged and worn paper, with a 1 cm closed tear to the margin. Distinctively laid out, within a decorative border, with three vignette silhouettes of men in evening dress. Under the heading 'Double attraction', announces that 'The Excelsior Cinema Cuddapah. | Takes Pride in Presenting from Sunday 10-5-31. | Under the kind patranage [sic] of | A. G. Blake Esq., I.C.S., | Collector and District Magistrate, Cuddapah. | A Grand Show of an Assembly of | Nation Builders of India & England.

Printed in black and red on one side of a piece of 37.5 x 26 cm wove paper, with Charles Martin 'Extra Strong' watermark. Text enclosed in attractive decorative border. At foot: 'God Save the King. | At a Piano ... ... ... ... Miss Wynne Runting'.

[8] + 344 + [7]pp., 12mo, and four pages of plates (vol.2, no.2). Fourteen issues, loose, with volume 1 (issues 1-9) continuously paginated to 244; and volume 2 (issues 1-5) paginated to 90; with the volume's separate prelims (8pp.) and index (7pp.) ready for binding up. Two identical fliers for the society (giving its 'Purpose') loosely inserted. The collection is in good condition, on lightly aged and worn paper, but with rusted staples to all volumes. Hunnings and Gillett are named as editors of the first four volumes, thereafter Hunnings alone.

Surprisingly little is known about this British cinematographic pioneer, and these items are rare survivals, there being no reference to Walford on COPAC. Handbill: 8vo (27 x 21 cm). Printed on both sides. Clear and complete. Aged and creased, with damage at edges. In portrait 8vo on one side, with picture of British Army lancer and border of Union Flags. Headed 'Great Additions with Augmented Change of Artistes since last visit. | The Schoolroom, Watton. | Monday, February 10th.' 'Walford's Royal Military and Naval Warograph & Vocophone Co.

Black and white studio photograph, postcard format (14 x 9 cm). Laid down on leaf removed from autograph album. Good, on shiny photographic paper, with margin making dimensions of image 12.5 x 8 cm, captioned at foot 'JOHN STUART' and, in smaller type, 'PHOTO BY | L. PROTHEROE'. Stuart's inscription, in bottom right-hand corner, reads 'Best wishes | Sincerely yours | John Stuart'. Stuart's two Hitchcock films were the director's debut 'The Pleasure Gardens' (1925), and 'Number Seventeen' (1932).

Both items on 'Bebe' letterheads, and both with signature 'Bebe' incorporating a drawing of a stick figure with hat. Letter One: 12mo, 1 p. Twelve lines. Good, on lightly-aged paper. With addressed envelope. She is sorry they missed one another 'at the station, especially after all the trouble you went through to get there'. Gives news of show: 'Boy, it will be good to get back to town again. | I have enjoyed the tour but as you know travelling nowadays isn't what it used to be, by a long shot.' Letter Two: 8vo, 1 p. 21 lines.

One page, quarto. On paper discoloured with age. Attached along one edge of blank verso to card mount. Reads 'To simply tell you that your work is good would be putting it mildly. Things that I have heard all about me as I sat and watched the performance for the first time, from a loge seat, if you heard them, make [sic] you very very happy. | Your appearance is majestic; your enunciation beautiful; your reading and interpretation a delight. I cannot tell you how proud I am of you.

Octavo, one page. Good, on lightly aged and creased paper, with the merest hint of a damp stain. English translation in contemporary hand on separate piece of 12mo paper, with slight loss at head (not affecting text). She has received no acknowledgement from him for 'the autograph which I sent you and a little book of verse sold for the benefit of the soldier who wrote them. The little book ought to be sold for at least 75 cents.

African-American entertainer and film actor. Minor parts in at least six films in the 50s and 60s, including Dreamboat and Sweet Charity. The photograph measures roughly seven and a half inches by nine inches. Charming shot of a smiling Radcliffe, besuited and behatted and with hands crossed over knee. Stamp of Lewis of Charing Cross Rd on reverse. Inscription reads 'To you Ken I wish the Best Always and I know you are the coming Champ | Frank Radcliffe'. In postmarked 'PHOTOMAILER' envelope with return address given by Radcliffe as 2468 7th Avenue New York City.

Movie cowboy (1880-1940) whose real name was Thomas Hezekiah Mix. Dimensions approximately 2 inches by 3 inches, with the signature 'Tom Mix,' in blue ink and approximately 1 1/2 inches long. In good condition although the 'om' of 'Tom' slightly smudged, and with a small brown stain above the tip of the 'T'. Mounted on an irregularly-shaped piece of blue card, docketed '93 | Famous Cinema Star | noted particularly for His wonderful riding and His famous horse Tony'.

American film actor. 1 page, 8vo. In good condition with some minor creasing. He was interested in his correspondent's comments, in a letter of 14 August, regarding the parish church of St George's at Gravesend. 'I, like so many others, am familiar with the church and its association with Pocahontas.

English army officer and agent in the film business. Long and informed summary of 'the necessary points of our conversation'. Begins with description of Indian film industry: 'I have checked with India House these figures, and discovered that my sources of information are far more up to date than the Government's'. He encloses (not present) one of the stories he has found to 'make into Arabic films': 'Enslaved' by the Poet Laureate John Masefield. 'I have his written permission to make it into an Arab film'.

American actor. In the first letter he says he has Mackenzie's letter of 22 November inviting him to become vice-president of the Empire Art Council. 'I am deeply sensible of the honour you offer me and I am touched by the gesture. I accept most heartily and gratefully. | I have known the Empire Art Council for some time and have been keenly interested in its aspirations and have applauded its progress.

Welsh actor, dramatist and theatre director (1905-1987). One page, 16mo. "I am afraid I am filming at the moment as well as playing in the theatre, and could not fit anything else in - I am so sorry."