SYLVIA

2pp., 12mo. In good condition, on lightly-aged paper. He thanks her 'for the Daily News review. Such touching appreciation, and from you, repays us for the anxiety attending the publication of the Memoir [...] This part of Sussex seems very forsaken since you & your husband left it. If you are ever near, what a pleasure a call from you would be - or a visit, if your freedom allowed it.

The letters total 10pp., 12mo and 8vo. The three items in good condition, lightly-aged. ONE: ALS. The Taby Cat, West Grinstead; 17 Jan. [1918]. First 2pp only. In envelope postmarked 18 Jan. 1918. TWO: ALS. 23 Hertford Street, London, on cancelled letterhead of the Forum Club, 6 Grosvenor Place, Hyde Park Corner; 23 Aug. [1921 or 1922]. A sensitive letter of condolence on one of SL's miscarriages, signed 'Your devoted Stella'. Docketed by Lynd's daughter Maire Gaister: 'Probably in 1921 or 1922 after a still-born baby. S. L.

The three items in good condition, lightly-aged. The two letters signed 'Jack Squire' and the note 'J C S'. Totalling 7pp., in 12mo and 4to. ONE: ALS. On letterhead of the New Statesman; 'Thursday | dead hour of night', undated, but docketed 20 July 1915. An interesting letter, in the light of the fact that Lynd held Squire largely to blame for her husband's descent into alchoholism. He begins 'Dear Mrs Lynd, If I loathed you, as, on the whole, I do not, I should make a little poem e.g. | There was an M.S.

The three items in good condition, on lightly-aged paper. Totalling 8pp., in 8vo and 12mo. ONE: TLS. Forge Wood, Pound Hill, Sussex; 22 May 1927. Written on his return from America. 'Save for old Nevvy [H. M. Nevinson], not a soul acknowledged any of the various amusing or informative scraps that I sent over during my arduous journeyings. […] I crossed the tracks of Philip G., Frank Swinnerton, Francis Brett-Young, Hugh Walpole, and various others. Tales mostly fit only for private hearing were heard in the wake of several of them.

Lutoslawski's letter is in fair condition, lightly-aged with vertical crease. Addressed to Lynd at 5 Keat's Grove, Highgate, from Poland, with Polish stamp and postmark. He writes that he has 'exceedingly enjoyed [her novels] the Gold Finches and the Mulberry Bush', and would like her 'opinion and experience on the following inquiry', i.e. a printed circular regarding his book 'Preexistence and Reincarnation', which attempts to rove that 'each of us has lived in human shape many times and that we reap now what we have sown ages ago'.

1p., 8vo. In fair condition, aged and creased. He is returning the 'drafts of Katherine Tynan. I have taken some liberties with the text in the matter of arrangement, but I hope there is nothing omitted which is of essential importance.' He is including 'a list of small questions', most of which he imagines 'Miss Pamela Hinkson could answer, and he offers to write to her himself.

2pp. 8vo. In good condition, lightly-aged. Making arrangements for a visit by Lynd's daughter Maire, 'with Thomas', the following week. 'Please let Miss Maire stay as long as possible as it is a long journey - I asked Thomas if they could not stay over the 19th when Vera Moore & Antonia Butler will be playing for me in Alnwick but I am afraid he said Term began before then but anyhow I hope they will stay as long as they possible can & get some music as I believe Vera Moore comes here about the 12th -'.

2pp., 4to. Bifolium. In fair condition, aged and worn. Contract, signed on Tree's behalf by Henry Dana. A printed form, completed in a second hand, headed 'HIS MAJESTY'S THEATRE', and dated 14 March 1908. Signed by Dana: 'pp H Beerbohm Tree | Henry Dana'. Engaging 'Miss Sylvia Dryhurst' for 'The run of "The Merchant of Venice", at the salary of one guinea per week of six performances. 'This engagement is terminable by two weeks' notice on either side'. Not signed by SL. The second page carries the fifteen 'Rules and Regulations' of 'His Majesty's Theatre. | Proprietor and Manager - Mr. TREE.'

The three items are in fair condition, lightly aged and creased. Totalling 7pp., 8vo. ONE: ALS. From Whiteleaf, Princes Risborough; 11 Nov. 1930. Begins 'I heard the other day of a poem of yours, that a young soldier carried about in the war, till he was killed. It was sent home with his papers, & some day I hope to have it - his own copy of it - from a friend, & to send it to you | Why tell you of this now? Because the news of your mother's death has been weighing on my mind, & I wanted to say a word, yet knew how unconsoling words can be.' TWO: ALS.

1p., 12mo. In good condition, lightly aged and creased. On behalf of himself and his wife Madeline he writes: 'Like everybody that knew Robert we shall miss him keenly - For me the world will be a poorer place. Words don't come easily to me to express my sorrow.'

2pp., 12mo. In good condition, on lightly aged paper. 'His gentleness was always a lenitive and an example in such a raving jungle as Fleet Street. He will be badly missed everywhere by everybody.' He concludes by lamenting that as he is leaving for Italy the following day, the present letter will have to be his 'only tribute, alas. But I hope you will read into it a lot of things difficult to write.'

6 More's Gardens, Cheyne Walk, Chelsea; 'Monday morning' [no year], with envelope, 2pp, 12mo. In very good condition, lightly aged. The letter gives reasons for declining an invitation, involving his illness of his wife Hilda and children. 'Also, I am threatened with a journey into the provinces that week-end. Everything is so uncertain - as it nearly always is with me'.

1p., 8vo. In fair condition, on aged and creased paper. The first name of the signature is difficult to decipher. She writes that she met Lynd 'some time ago at Mrs. Green's', and that she remembered her name 'when Mrs. Heseltine suggested it in connection with a vacancy which we have at present time at this office. | The vacancy is for a Press Writer, i.e.

4pp., 12mo. Bifolium with mourning border. In good condition, on lightly-aged paper. Following her husband's death, she writes 'I have been trying to find my way through, so that I might be able to do as Herbert would wish, and make up to the children for what they have lost. [...] I am so glad now to think of the years we had in Kerry where Herbert was able to do what he liked best of all'. From the Lynd Archive, and with note at head of first page from Maire Gaister (daughter of Robert and Sylvia Lynd): 'Widow of Herbert Hughes, who collected Irish songs orally.'

Both items in fair condition, on aged and worn paper. LETTER: 2pp., 12mo. 'I really think that to know - even to begin to know - R. was not only to be aware of his rare charm and goodness, but to love him.' POEM: 1p., 12mo. Six-line poem 'To Sylvia Lynd', signed at end 'G. R. H.' Reads 'You with your grace, your glancing wit, who drew | About you all the fairest and the best, | In lucent memory outshone anew | The image of each most admirèd guest: | And here to-night, as old friends gather round, | You by that starry company still are crowned.'

Both items in good condition, on lightly-aged paper. ONE: 2pp., 12mo. 3 July 1935. With envelope addressed to Lynd at 5 Keats Grove, Hampstead. 'I had a wonderful description of the Yeats dinner on 27th. Yeats very simple & intimate in his response to the toast, Masefield very fine, a generous recognition of Yeats as his master, called our dear W. B. the greatest living poet. Gogarty horrid making vulgar jokes & laughing with Ld. Semphill during Frances Hacketts speech'. TWO: 1p., 8vo. Undated. Urging the Lynds to 'stay on over […] I have a few funny folks till Monday, otherwise all peaceful'.

1p., 8vo. In good condition, on lightly-aged paper. He thanks her for her review of his collection of children's stories 'The Spider's Palace' (1931). 'I wonder what London is like now. Here the sun is almost too fierce at midday to sit in: & the sea the clearest possible blue.'

2pp., 12mo. In good condition, on lightly-aged paper. 'I've the vividest memory of starting at Bouverie St. 38 years ago, in 1911, & of the thrill of speaking to him (on the top corridor). The Abbey Co. was just then at the Court, so our enthusiasm about it & its works made two very shy people articulate! | Since then, how much real pleasure I've owed to him!! The News Chronicle will never quite seem the same again.'

1p., 4to. In fair condition, on lightly-aged paper. The letter begins: 'Never having forgotten that you once asked me "What is the sense of knowing Mrs Lynd if you don't make use of her?" I am sending you a spare set of proofs of the new book. The publishers, having made me add thousands of words to it, now tell me that it is a bit too long'. The second part of the letter refers to a visit by 'Lennox [i.e. Lennox Robinson] and his wife [...] He has just been doing June in Belfast, he has Aodh de Blacam's translation, A Saint in a Hurry!

Wolfe's four letters total 5pp., 12mo; the copy of the Gollancz letter 1p., 8vo. Item One in its original envelope, with both envelope and letter carrying closed tears, the other four items in good condition, on lightly-aged paper. ONE: ALS on letterhead of the hotel Les Bergues, Geneva; 7 April 1924, with envelope, with both letter and envelope torn on opening. TWO: ALS from the Ministry of Labour, London; 24 April 1924. THREE: TLS from Montagu House, Whitehall; 24 Aug. 1926. Sending, 'in confidence, this letter that I have had from Benn's.

1p., 8vo. In good condition, on lightly-aged paper. Regarding a telephone conversation, he writes that the editor of the Daily Telegraph Arthur Watson is still his 'most devoted friend', and has 'promised to do or say or wish anything he can on my behalf'. The editor, according to one report, has 'never ceased to lament' his leaving.

Both items in good condition, on lightly-aged paper. The first item in its envelope, addressed to 'Mrs. Robert Lynd | 14 Downshire Hill | Hampstead'. Both addressed to 'Mrs. Lynd.' ONE: 4pp., 4to. She begins by thanking Lynd 'for "The Chorus". I feel a wretch beyond redemption & there are not enough excuses in St. Ives to meet the case - I had to get those two big portraits finished & off to the Nat. Portrait Soc: & a nightmare of a time it was I thought - I would never pull them out of Hell's seventh Ditch and up to Bond St - but there they are it appears'. TWO: 4pp., 12mo.

2pp., 8vo. On aged paper. He expresses himself with sincere emotion: 'O Sylvia - I have just read the news that your Robert has died - my Robert, too, in a far, far lesser, but still real, sense. […] Think how few women have loved, & been loved, by a man like him. […] I, too, am not far off my end. […] I have never being [sic] in Robert's company - even for a few minutes together - without feeling that he was one of the most loveable of men. […] I am writing at the printers, waiting for "proofs." - Robert would smile at a situation so characteristic of both our lives.

Both items are 2pp. 12mo, on bifoliums. Both in good condition, on lightly-aged paper. ONE: 'I was so sorry I couldn't come this afternoon - especially if he was a simple kind of American publisher. Owing to a rash fit of indulgence in Church going I had to have tea elsewhere'. TWO: Letter of condolence on the death of Robert Lynd.

2pp., 8vo. In fair conditon, on lightly aged paper. 'For some reason or other which I cannot understand a number of people have got into the literary world who have no literary ability or genuine interest in writing [...] Recently I gave a poem to a very young literary editor as a result of requests from him extending over a year. The poem had taken me months of hard work and I sent it with some hesitation as the youngster works in the Eliot interest. I got it back with a very smart and very rude note.

1p., 4to. In fair condition, on lightly-aged paper. Apparently unpublished. He complains of Lynd's 'very ill-natured review of my "Autobiograp[hy] [...] She makes the ridiculous statement that "a child" at a public school is "at most on speaking terms with five percent of his contemporaries". What utter nonsense. When I was at Winchester in my last two years I was "on speaking terms" with every boy in the school, and I was on intimate terms with at least 100 out of the 400 of which the school consisted. | What on earth can Mrs Lynd know about public schools?

1p., 4to. In good condition, on lightly-aged paper. She thanks Lynd for 'one of the nicest novel articles we have had in Gerald's absence', and asks her to 'be an angel, and do something else for Viola, who is vanishing tomorrow for four or five weeks', in reviewing 'the Somerset Maugham book you wanted [...] I really think he is worth a long article to himself - 1500 words, and, if you care to, you can put in a word for Heinemann's edition of the Collected Works, which we send alongside. Mr.

4pp., 4to. In fair condition, on lightly-aged paper, with short closed tears at heads of both leaves. The recipient is not named, but the letter is from the Lynd family papers. Robert Lynd was in St Ives at the time of writing, and the letter begins: 'I'm so glad you are in such a nice place & that the children can join you there. They will love it. London gets so odious by the 15th of July. I came her e last week as I was very tired, & sick of the stuffy feeling of everything.

42pp., 12mo. In cream printed illustrated wraps printed in green. The body of the magazine is paginated 53-85, with additional pages of advertisements at the front and back, and on the inside and back of the wraps. Aged, and with a little damp damage and rust to staples. From the Lynd archive, and with a full-page photographic portrait of 'Mrs. ROBERT LYND' on p.66. For the purposes of reproduction her daughter Maire Gaster has altered 'Mrs. ROBERT' to 'Sylvia' in pencil, and written 'Courtesy of MAIRE GASTER' at the head of the page.

2pp., landscape 12mo. On cream paper. In matching envelope addressed to 'Miss M. Lynd | 5, Keats Grove | Hampstead | N.W.3' Good, on lightly-aged paper, in worn envelope docketed by Gaster 'From Rose Macaulay re Fascist meeting in the Albert Hall 1935 [sic]?' The letter is addressed to 'Dear B. J.' ('B. J.', short for 'Baby Junior', being Maire Lynd's family nickname). Macaulay begins: 'Many thanks for this, which I return in case it is wanted.