RONALD

The collection is in good condition, with light signs of age and wear. Of Foyle's 77 letters, 63 are signed 'Christina Foyle' and 14 'Christina'. Almost all 1p., 4to. Foyle's character shines through, an extraordinary mixture of steely determination, frankness and snobbish hauteur (for a good assessment, see her obituary in The Independent, 10 June 1999). Topics include: literary luncheons for Diana Mosley, Dirk Bogarde ('He is so very appealing. My friend Vivian Ellis thinks he is greater than Shakespeare.

68pp., folio. Stapled. In printed card wraps in red and black, with Robert Capa photograph on cover. In fair condition, worn and aged. Markings, mainly in pencil, throughout. In manuscript at head of p.1: 'Reference copy - prices no longer apply'. Loosely inserted is a typed page carrying a list of books, headed 'SPAIN. FICTION. Spanish Civil War and after.' Southworth's foreword (2pp., in small type) is titled 'Collecting Material on the Spanish Civil War by Herbert Rutledge Southworth (Author of "El Mito de la Cruzada de Franco," "Antifalange" & numerous articles on the Spanish Civil War)'.

The four items (copy of typescript of Belcher's memoir; autograph letter from Belcher to Mills; copies of two typed letters from Mills to Rosie Llewellyn-Jones), from the Frank Mills papers, are all in good condition. The copy of the typescript is 47 + [5] pp., 8vo, including title-page, two-page contents, preface and full-page map, on 52 loose leaves; Belcher's letter to Mills is 2pp., 8vo; the copies of Mills's two letters to Llewellyn-Jones are each 1p., 12mo.

Page detached from album, stained but writing clear and complete. The plain signature of Jean Vallier, French Bass, is followed by the title Ave Maria followed by two or so bars from the song, with words (A-ve Ma-ri-a gra-ti-a ple-na), itself followed by Best wishes from | Percy B. Kahn Stoke Jan 21st 1921. Note: His most noted composition was the song Ave Maria with accompaniment by piano, and violin obbligato.

Each of the four items has text clear and complete. The four are in fair condition, on aged paper, with minor staining from the paperclip used to attach them, and a small closed tear at the foot of the first letter. Letter One to 'Dear Mrs Chapman'; the other three to 'Dear Ronnie'. Letter One (4to, 2 pp): 19 November 1938. Chapman (referred to throughout as 'Ronnie') has not been well, and Fisher makes a suggestion to his mother regarding his 'future': 'Cecil Rhodes spent seven years on this process and never regretted it.

4to, 21 pp and fold-out graph. In original green wraps. Text clear and complete. Fair, on aged paper, with rusty staples. Describing the case of 'a strong young Englishman, age 26, weight 154 lbs., [who] was infected in N.E. Rhodesia near the River Luangwa in September, 1909'. Fold-out graph of 'Number of Trypanosomes per c.mm.'

Both letters are tipped in on a captioned sheet removed from an autograph album. Both items lightly-aged, but good. Item One: 12mo, 1 p. Inviting him to 'a small dance for Hubie' at a location 'lent by Miss Constable'. 'You need not dance!' Item two: 12mo, 1 p. Asking him to 'come fairly early' the next day, and to 'stay on after the children have gone & have supper - of a sort'. Refers to 'H's party'.

12mo (leaf dimensions 18.5 x 11 cm): 1 p. On laid Whatman paper. Fair, on lightly-aged paper, with slight trace of glue from mount on reverse. Reads 'Your remarks are excellent - May I venture to tax your patience once more - but pray don't think of a frank - It was Sir Ronald, the General | Every yours | [signed] S. R'.

The archive is in very good condition, with very slight creasing and aging, and with all items entirely legible. Most items quarto, and most of two pages or more (one running to seven pages). One letter has the head and first paragraph cut away. All but the first two items, which date from 1953 and are signed 'Sidney R Campion', are signed 'Sidney'. The bulk of the correspondence dates from the 1970s. An important archive consisting almost exclusively of long, interesting and discursive letters addressed to a close and trusted friend.

On one side of a leaf of green paper, roughly 17.5 x 23.5 cm, removed from an autograph album. Good, on lightly aged paper. Thirteen bars, with staves for soprano, alto, tenor and bass. Covering the greater part of the page, and followed by 'From Mass in C minor. | for five voices. | [signed] Ronald. M. Brunker. | June 28th. 1927'.

Probably the most famous of the Fleet Street cartoonists (1916-95). One page, quarto. Folded twice. Good, but lightly creased. He thanks him for the 'very nice letter and compliments', but feels he 'must administer a small but friendly reprimand. The Jean Rook [a noted Daily Express columnist] originals you refer to were ones concerning her article of the day and were a personal presentation.' Discusses charity commitments, before remarking 'It may surprise you that I spend more time in the studio working for charities than I do earning my living!

Dimensions when folded roughly 4 3/4 inches by 6 inches. Somewhat grubby, but well printed and in good condition overall. Front of card printed in black with Searle's printed signature and 'to my Valentine -' in red at head. Cartoon illustration of bespectacled young lady with bouffant hair and hairband, in dainty skirt and heels, holding beribboned had in front of her, posing in front of wall on which she casts large shadow of horned devil with tail.

While Dowsing was a sixteenth-century Puritan iconoclast who kept a journal of his various depredations, this 'account of a similar visitation at some later date' which the editors claim 'has recently come into our hands', would appear to be a spoof, a suspicion perhaps strengthened by the dedication (p.3) to Ronald Knox's brother Wilfred Laurence Knox. In printed green wraps. With pseudo-sixteenth-century title and with the long s used throughout: both features being signal warnings against similar attempts at such whimsy. 12 pages, 8vo.