HOMOSEXUAL

Dating from between 1 January 1940 and 29 October 1945 (lacking 1944). From the family home at 5 Sefton Park Rd, Liverpool 8, 1940-1943; and from Hammersmith, London, 1945. A remarkable and vivid portrait of the development of an artistic and intelligent, strong-willed, passionate, and obsessive girl (hereafter FS), progressive in her outlook, and possessed of a remarkable capacity for self-analysis; unhappy both at home and at school; whose yearning to be loved leads her to crushes on several adults; all set against a backdrop of wartime Liverpool.

Only the prelims of the book are present, on four leaves. In fair condition, on aged paper, with slight damage at the margin of the first leaf. Orioli's two inscriptions are on the two central leaves. Comprising a leaf with series title ('The Lungarno Series No. 12'); leaf with half-title and limitation (no 5 of 300) on reverse, signed 'G. Orioli'; title leaf; and contents leaf. The inscription on the title reads: 'This is for Barbara and Raphael | with love and affection | from Pino [Orioli] | Florence day of publication'.

1p., 12mo. In good condition, on lightly-aged paper. Reads: 'Dear Sir/ | I beg to enclose my account for Cowes drawing. | Yrs truly | Oscar Eckhard'. On the reverse, in another hand: 'Oscar Eckhardt. [sic] | Popular Illustrator & artist. | (July 1897)', with stamp of the St James's Budget.

ONE: Typescript of 'My Aunt in Pink. A novel by Richard Blake Brown.' Fonthill, Salperton, New Cheltenham, Gloucestershire; 1936. 261pp., 4to. Black cloth binding, gilt. Cutting of review of RBB's 'Joy in Jeopardy' from John O'London's Weekly, 24 August 1935, laid down at front of volume. TWO: Autograph of 'The Land of Lost Spirrits. [sic] An Epic Poem, written by Richard Blake Brown. Author of "Caesar's Hamlet;" etc. With Frontispeice, [sic] And Various Other Illustrations.' 1918. 44pp., 4to. In notebook with red cloth spine and marbled boards.

30 + [1]pp., 12mo. On good thick laid paper, and in an attractive but worn Bumpus half-binding, with green leather spine, gilt, and corners, and cream linen boards. The title is typewritten, as are the prelims, pagination and fake colophon: 'Of this edition one hundred copies have been printed on antique laid paper, and twenty upon handmade paper. Of the de luxe issue this copy is number - : | 28'. ['Colophon'.] 'PRINTED AT THE BLEAK HOUSE PRESS. | Nineteen hundred and twenty-three. The works of Count Ivor Telmarckle of Sweden.

‘Quite a singular person’: The ‘delicate improprieties’ of Richard Blake BrownLiterary Papers, 1916-1968The present collection of the literary papers of gay writer Richard Blake Brown – novels, plays, poetry, travel writing and memoirs – consists of nearly 200 items, including:50 notebooks of autograph manuscripts;38 volumes of bound typescripts;39 unbound typescripts;2 autograph booklets;one unbound autograph manuscript;with around 60 miscellaneous items and seven of Brown’s published novels (five with annotations and extra material inserted).Richard Blake Brown (1902-1968) – hereafter RBB –

The five items in good condition, on lightly-aged paper. Item One: Autograph Letter Signed (with a crude drawing of Buckle sitting on a rope slung between the printed names of the two magazines). 1p., 4to. On Fleet Street letterhead of 'Ballet Publications Ltd.' Dated by Alport 14 February 1950. The letter concerns an article on the conductor Karl Rankl, and begins: 'Dear Erich | I have just spoken to Harewood [the Earl of Harewood, co-founder with Buckle of 'Opera' magazine].

All three items lightly aged but good. Driberg has written 'TOM DRIBERG' at the head of the first page of both reviews. First Review (8vo, 7 pp) with slight wear at head (not affecting text) of first four leaves; last three leaves on House of Commons letterheads. With corrections. The subject is Daphne Fielding's 'The Rainbow Picnic' (1974). Second Review (8vo, 7 pp, on House of Commons letterheads) of four books about crossword puzzles, including Roger Millington's 'The Strange World of the Crossword' (1974). With corrections.

Sitwell and Renishaw collaborated on the play 'Gentle Caesar' (published in 1942), and the last two letters would appear to concern a possible film adaptation. All three items very good on lightly aged paper. Letter One ('Friday Renishaw'): 12mo, 2 pp. 18 lines of text. Apparently written around the time of the play's composition. Sitwell is 'delighted' that Minney is 'already immersed in Pares's book. I have just read the Czar and Empress Marie's Letters.' He has 'marked (in the preface mostly) what I thought helpful for atmosphere, or amusing'.

Eighteen pages, octavo, with four plates on art paper. In original grey printed wraps. Some light staining, creasing and wear. One of 600 copies. Lists seventy-seven items, with addenda of a further eleven. This milestone catalogue was published, according to Sims (A Life in Catalogues, 1994), in May 1949. At foot of title-page: 'N.B. This collection, with the exception of the Addenda of Books, has been sold.'

Upper middle-class English writer (1916-74), editor of the 'Spectator' magazine 1947-9, biographer of Queen Mary, beaten to death by gay lover. The recipient (1912-82) was a writer under the pseudonym Alice Acland. Born Anne Acland-Troyte. Her first husband was Robert Egerton Grosvenor, 5th Baron Ebury, and her fourth Anthony Freire Marreco, the last survivor of the seven-strong British prosecuting team at Nuremberg, with whom she lived in Ireland. A series of camp, gossippy and revealing letters to a close friend.

Author and radio producer (1896-1972), 'tall, goodlooking godson of G. K. Chesterton', and friend of Aleister Crowley and E. M. Forster. Two pages, 12mo. Folded once. In good condition, with slight loss at head. A somewhat camp missive: 'My Dear Boy, | (What lovely yellow paper you use!) I am overwhelmed with disappointment - but I cannot dive on Monday. Could you possibly make it Tuesday? I should love to - and am only sorry you did feel that the other evening was a failure - and that you feel I affect you like you say. I will try not to now I know. | Lance'.