THEATRE

4to, x + 64 pp. In original grey printed wraps. In fair condition: on aged paper, with slightly dog-eared with a little creasing and a couple of short closed tears at rear. In lightly-worn wraps. Becker's introduction to 'Diarmuid and Grania', dated 'Oxford, November, 1950', covers pp.1-4, with the play itself on pp.5-41. This is followed by 'Dramatic Commentary' (not on the play) by A. J. Leventhal on pp.42-44, 'Art Notes' by Edward Sheehy on pp.45-46 and book reviews on pp.47-64.

4to, 8 unpaginated pages. In original grey printed wraps. Text clear and complete. Neat vertical fold. On worn and foxed paper, with rust to staples and slight wear and chipping to wraps. The second of the five issues to appear in Yeats's lifetime. (In the 'W. B. Yeats Commemoration Number' of Summer 1939, 'The Arrow' was described as 'an occasional, a very occasional, publication by the Abbey Theatre', with only five numbers to have appeared up to that point: 'two in 1906, one in 1907, 1908 and 1909') Contains three articles signed 'W. B.

4to, 28 + [iv] pp. In original buff printed wraps. In fair condition, on lightly-aged paper, with rust to staples causing detached covers. Nicely printed. Advertisements on the last four pages and three sides of the wraps.

4to, 24 pp. With four pages of illustrations (by J. B. Yeats, Charles Shannon, Sean O'Sullivan, Max Beerbohm and Edmund Dulac). Stapled. In original grey printed wraps. Aged and dog-eared, in worn wraps. The introduction, by 'L. R.', explains that 'THE ARROW is an occasional, a very occasional, publication by the Abbey Theatre. Only four numbers of it have appeared, two in 1906, one in 1907, 1908 and 1909.' Essays by John Masefield ('William Butler Yeats'), F. R.

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.

8vo, 72 pp. Stapled and unbound. Complete. On aged paper. The outer leaves are worn and coming apart at the spine. Otherwise the item is sound and tight. 1976 items. Items 783 to 883 concern 'the Bacon-Shakespeare Controversy'. Items 888 to 893 are 'Books from the Library of the late Dame Ellen Terry.' ('Only a few Books from her Library were sold, and Association Books are very difficult to obtain.'). Items 894 to 982 are 'Books on the Drama and Shakespeare, from the library of Henry Arthur Jones'. Items 983 to 1976 are 'Books on the Drama'.

12mo, 1 p. Fair, on aged paper, with traces of previous mount adhering to the corners of the blank reverse. Of course Hollingshead should 'wait till the last night of "used up" ' before writing to Mathews, who has 'hunted up Buckstone - hunted up Turpin - but in vain. Not a box to be had'. He has sent 'the best I could get': '3 Dress Circle to Mrs Smiles with "Mr Hollingshead's best compliments." '. In a postscript states that if Hollingshead wants 'a box for the "Overland Route" before the last night' he will be 'too happy'. 'There is always a run on last nights.'

On one side of a piece of green paper, 8 x 15.5 cm. Aged and spotted, and with traces of glue and paper from mount still adhering. Central closed tear (not affecting text) caused by removal from mount. In Cushman's florid hand, with the signature roughly 3.5 x 9 cm. Reads ' "Oh! I am fortunes fool!" | Charlotte Cushman | Dublin April 4th. 1846.'

Two vols, hf-lea, one 4to the other 8vo, title "Newspaper Cuttings on front of one, "Cuttings" on spine of the other, boards bumped and bent but mainly good condition, 112pp. and [160]pp, vast majority of items, some substantial and folded, laid down and with a neat statement of the newspaper source and the date. The Names "Milner & Storey" and "Dulcie Milner & George Storey" are written attractively at the beginning of the volumes. The record, charting the theatrical careers of the partnership in great detail, was obviously a labour of love (self-love?).

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.

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.

One page, 12mo. Very good. 'Do forgive my delay. I had lost your letter!'

4to, 1 p, 17 lines. He 'deeply appreciate[s] the spirit undlying the contents' of Cavangh's letter, which he found waiting for him on his return the day before 'after attending our beloved late King's Funeral'. 'As you say, the sword and scabbard must have belonged to my great Grandfather, the 4th Earl of Aberdeen, who was Prime Minister during theh Crimea War by the express command of Queen Victoria. He accepted the Premiership on the condition that he should be allowed to resign at the conclusion of the war.' Suggests a meeting in Aberdeen.

On a leaf of pink paper, roughly 18 x 23.5 cm, removed from an album. Good, on lightly aged paper. The score, on the recto, consists of eight grand staff bars, titled 'St. Andrew | A + M 403. | Jesus calls us; o'er the tumult | E. H. Thorne'. The score is folowed by the signature 'A. E. Thorne | 30th. Aug 1929.' The autographs, on the reverse, read 'Yours Very Sincerely | Russell Thorndike. | (Death in Everyman.) | Grey Friars Mar. 1929.' and 'Harry Alfred Harding | June 1. 1929.' Thorne was a leading figure in the late-Victorian Bach revival. Thorndike was the detective novelist.

12mo bifolium (leaf dimensions 21 x 13 cm): 4 pp. On lightly-aged and creased paper, with a little spotting. Strikingly simple stylised illustration (14 x 9 cm) by Ross on cover, depicting a girl with long blonde hair, large black bow an elongated neck. The 'special appeal' (whose patrons are the king and queen) aims to raise £100,000 for 'The Brompton Hospital for Consumption'. The second page lists the Appeal's officers, and the third gives the cast list for Byng's play, including Ernest Thesiger, Viola Tree, Florence Desmond and Cicely Courtneidge.

From the collection of Alec Clunes, who performed as Don Juan in this excerpt from 'Man and Superman' ('Don Juan in Hell') at the Arts Theatre Club in 1946. Carbon copy of typescript by May Hemery Ltd, paginated 1 to 60, on the rectos of sixty leaves, preceded by title leaf ('Excerpt from Act Three | "MAN AND SUPERMAN" | By | BERNARD SHAW'. In original blue paper wraps, with yellow tape spine and label on front wrap. Grubby and worn, and with light staining to wraps, but tight, complete and clear. Numerous manuscript stage directions, mostly on the facing versos.

4to: 1 p. Text complete and clear, on aged, spotted and lightly-creased paper. He has exchanged letters with 'Mr Morell' 'with reference to "Faust up to Date" ', but does not believe any contract has yet been arranged. He does not have a copy of 'the Score and Band Parts': 'I should say Mr Geo. Edwardes or Mr Meyer Lutz has these.' Sims co-wrote 'Faust up to Date' with Henry Pettitt. The music was by Lutz. It was produced by Edwardes, and first performed at the Gaiety Theatre, London, on 30 October 1888.

The dimensions of the envelope are roughly 6.5 x 12 cm. The flap has been gummed down and the reverse bears traces of glue from previous mounting. The front of the envelope is good, though slightly grubby. Reads 'James Claude Webster Esqe. | Secretary | Athenaeum Club | Pall Mall'. Docketed in a contemporary hand, in the top left corner, 'Charles Kean the Actor. | Decr. 1857.'

Dimensions roughly 26 x 20 cm. Four printed pages, in a bifolium, stapled into coloured illustrated covers. A scarce piece of theatre ephemera, in reasonable condition: creased, with rusted wraps and with one short closed tear to front cover, which carries the words 'Adelphi Theatre. Sole Proprietors, A. & S. Gatti.' and an illustration, painted in an impressionist style, of a fashionable group dining. Stamped 'Saturday Feb 19'. The back cover, also in colour, carries an advertisement for 'Vinolia Toilet Preparations', with an illustration, entitled 'Envy', by 'W.

On piece of laid paper (roughly 13 x 11 cm). Aged and chipped. Reads 'Yours truly | Frank Barrington Foote'. Chipping to the outer edge, very close to the last couple of letters of the signature. Foote, who frequently sang with Adelina Patti at Covent Garden, ended his days destitute in New York City.

On a leaf (roughly 15.5 x 18 cm) removed from an autograph album. Aged and a little grubby. Both hands bolder than usual. Recto reads '"Courage Mounteth with occasion" - | Yours sincerely | [signed] Violet Vanbrugh'. Verso reads 'Yours sincerely | Dora Labebette.'

12mo: 24 pp. In original pink printed wraps: the front wrap bearing the title; the recto and verso of the rear carrying newspaper reviews of works by 'Scribble'. Stitched. On aged and spotted paper. Wraps heavily worn. A worn presentation inscription can be made out at the head of the title: 'Dr <?> With the Authors Best regards'. Pp.1-2: Introduction and Author's Preface (the latter dated 'Dublin, May, 1864.').

12mo: 1 p. Seven lines of text. On creased and lightly-aged watermarked wove paper. Regarding Sir Henry Bate Dudley's farce 'At Home', performed 'with universal approbation' at the Theatre Royal, Covent Garden, in 1813. 'Should the Box of the Prince Regent be disengaged on Monday next at Covent Garden Lady Landsdowne [sic] (the Dow-) is anxious to see "At Home" Could she have it?'

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).

Landscape 12mo: 1 p. Headed 'Stage and Film Decor.' He thanks her for her letter of 4 November. 'I eagerly await book. If you could spare me more than one [last three words underlined] I should be appreciative.'

Thirty-six weekly issues. As poster, c.29 x 39cm, fold marks indicate possible use as a brochure, good condition. Information given on verso: Theatre, Nearest Tube, Eves. & Mats, Play, Description of Play. At the bottom information about "Official Ticket Agents for All London Theatres" and a line encouraging smoking (especially Abdullas). Information given on recto: Garges in Theatreland, Contractors to West End Theatres, the title "page", and two columns of "Theatre Notes". The only MS. annotations are: Issue for 2-7 Jan.

Two programmes, one made of silk or satin (1832), the other paper (1834), former worn at blue edges (main body cream, discoloured to yellowish, fold marks, 2 pinholes and one small hole, c.20.5 x 24cm, latter in good condition, fold marks, c.18 x 22cm. The former announces a production of "The Popular Farce of THE LIAR!" and "the Afterpiece of The Day after the Wedding, or, on 9 January 1832, the cats mixing professionals (Mr Abbott, Mr. Mildmay, Mr Balfour) and amateur (members of the Russell Family). The "Manager" adds a few words, including a special mention for Mr Balfour.

The collection is in good condition, with items on lightly aged and creased paper. Letter One (12 September 1951, Onslow Gardens; 12mo, 1 p, in envelope): As Kyrle Fletcher 'may have seen', Speaight is engaged in a biography of William Poel, and is 'anxious to trace the letters he received from Shaw & which were sold about 1930'. Kyrle Fletcher has docketed the envelope with a precis of his reply. Card (postmarked 14 September 1951): Thanking Kyrle Fletcher for his 'letter & most useful suggestions'.

First edition. Original green wraps, title in red, 14pp, 8vo, wraps frayed and sunned (or grubby) at edges, contents good. Scarce: COPAC lists two copies (BL and NLS).

First edition. Original green wraps, title in red, 14pp, 8vo, wraps partially detached, frayed and sunned (or grubby) at edges, contents good. INSCRIBED by the author: "To Norman Morrow / With the compliments of the Author//". Morrow was a member of a family which involved itself in set design and related ativity for the Ulster Literary Theatre. Scarce: COPAC lists two copies (BL and Trinity, Dublin).