The dramatist (40 Ergebnisse)

Zustand: Good. Light wear to boards. Light toning to pages with some spotting.

One page, 12mo. Very good on lightly-aged grey paper. Reads 'Dear Sir. | Here is the autograph you require. | Faithfully your's | [signed] Edmund Yates'. The words 'Here' and 'to' are slightly smudged.

On 1.5 x 6 cm. slip of paper. In good condition, with light signs of age. Presumably cut from a letter in response to a request for an autograph.

12mo, 3 pp. 30 lines. Text clear and complete. Fair, on aged and creased paper. He sends a 'list of pieces' which he considers 'suitable for a Short Company'. The first piece named is 'The Silver Lining (the St James's Comedy)', in which he says there are 'only 4 Men & 3 women exclusive of Helen Maltravers'. Other plays are named with the numbers required, including 'A New Drama in 3 Acts by John Oxenford written for the Princess's Theatre - there are but 2 Men & 2 women excluding Miss Aylmer's part.' Postscript reads 'If it should meet your Views Miss Aylmer would play "Leah" for her benefit - otherwise she would do one of the other pieces named'. The identity of the author is difficult to establish, the address in Bedford Row being occupied by solicitors' offices.…

Zustand: Very Good. First edition hard back binding in publisher's original nutmeg tonic cloth covered boards, blocked and lettered gilt back. 8vo. 8¾'' x 5¾''. Contains photographic frontispiece, 126 + i pp. Ink name and address to the front free end paper and in Very Good condition, no dust wrapper. Member of the P.B.F.A. BIO (Résumé, Memoir).…

Zustand: Very Good. First edition hard back binding in publisher's original blue cloth covers, gilt title and author lettering to the spine. 8vo. 9'' x 6''. Contains [x] 180 page play. Very Good condition book in Good condition dust wrapper with chips and short closed tears to the spine ends and edges, not price clipped, 15/-. Dust wrapper supplied in archive acetate film protection. Member of the P.B.F.A. PLAYS (Theatre Performance).…

See his entry, and Manby's, in the Oxford DNB. 1p, 12mo. In good condition, on first leaf of bifolium, with the blank second leaf carrying traces of tape from the mount. Neatly folded for postage. Addressed to 'My dear Manby' and signed 'Jno. B Buckstone'. In addition to his work as an engineer Manby was for many years involved in the management of the Adelphi and Haymarket theatres. Buckstone begins by finrming him that he is enclosing a 'fresh Bill', and has 'sent in the proposal, for a Policy of £300, which will be issued in a few days', and which he will forward to Manby, 'with thanks for your thought of such arrangement as it has only expedited what I intended to do for myself'. He takes it for granted that Manby will 'hold the Bill due on Tuesday next till you are in possession of the Policy'.…

Having left the Church of England for Roman Catholicism, Rose had had a number of well-received plays produced on the London stage before the huge success of his creation 'Mrs Brown'. 'Mrs Brown at Home and Abroad' was performed at the Egyptian Hall in 1864, and the 'Ladies' Cabinet of Fashion, Music & Romance' refers to 'Mr. Arthur Sketchley's snug little auditorium at the Egyptian Hall' for a performance of 'Mrs Brown at the Play'. When Artemis Ward's Panorama appeared at the Egyptian Hall in 1868, 'the place selected for the display of his quaint oratory' was described as 'the room long tenanted by Mr. Arthur Sketchley'. 1p., 12mo. In fair condition, lightly aged and worn. Reads: 'My dear Sir | A Box for this evening will very much oblige | Yrs very truly | A Sketchley'. …

1p., 12mo. On aged and stained paper, with small spike hole. Reads: '23rd Oct. 1858 | My dear Sir | I have given Sergeant Glover of the M[orning] Chronicle a Private Box for Monday. | Yours entirely | J. W. Cole'.

Zustand: Very Good. First edition hard back binding in publisher's original light blue cloth covered boards, blocked and lettered black back, grey paper lining papers. 8vo. 8'' x 6''. Contains (x), 326 pp with monochrome illustrations throughout by J. H. Dowd. Light foxing to the closed text block edges. Very Good condition book in Good condition dust wrapper with chips to the spine ends and top front cover, not price clipped, 8s 6d. Dust wrapper protected. Member of the P.B.F.A. LITERATURE 1926-1945.…

Novello's three decades of unprecedented success began with the First World War song 'Keep the home fires burning'. See his entry in the Oxford DNB. 8.5 x 13.5 cm publicity photograph on postcard, printed in sepia. In good condition, with tiny dink at top left. Captioned at foot 'MR. IVOR NOVELLO'. Prim-looking with side-parting in white shirt, tie, and dark double breasted suit, the darkness of which makes the signature 'Ivor Novello' rather difficult to make out. Scan on application. …

There were around thirty 'Paul Temple' radio serials between 1938 and 1968, along with four films, a dozen books, a television series and a newspaper cartoon strip. Despite obituaries in the major British newspapers Durbridge has not been granted an entry in the Oxford DNB. On 14 x 5.5 cm piece of light-blue laid paper, cut from a typed letter. In good condition, lightly aged. Good clear signature. Reads 'Thank you for your nice poem - / Best wishes to Dave. / Francis Durbridge'.…

2pp, 12mo. Bifolium. In good condition, lightly aged and worn. Folded twice. The letter begins: 'My dear Lloyds, | However I may grieve at any misunderstanding between you and James - I cannot interfere. I have given him the Knowledge some time ago - & I again remembered [sic] him of it yesterday - that I am unable any longer to pay for his Board & lodging - and that he must henceforth trust to his own exertions for a livelihood: & as he is no longer a Boy - but a Man of seven & twenty years of age, I imagine he will endeavor to do his best.' All he can do under the circumstances is offer advice, 'which is simply - if you cannot agree to live together till June, then let him seek a lodging elsewhere, & both parties will be satisfied'. He has asks James's sister Jane 'to see, & to reason with him on the subject', he hopes 'with a satisfactory result'. …

1p., 12mo. In fair condition, aged and lightly-creased. The letter begins: 'Four thousand thanks for the very kind manner in which you have given the notice of my dearest wife in your last number.' The notice will be extremely gratifying 'to her family and any of the many who loved her'. Mrs Planché was also a playwright, and is thought to have collaborated with her husband on a number of works.…

12mo, 1 p. Eight lines. Text clear and complete. Fair, on aged paper. Asking if Webster requires a seat at a celebratory dinner for George Washington, 'Tickets not to exceed one Guinea'.

One page, 12mo. Very good, if a tad grubby. Thanks Draper for his 'amiable but unconvincing' note. 'Do you not know that I was irritated into bad language by being accused of "d - d impertinence? This, too, before I said a discourteous word. - Goodman [the writer Edward John Goodman], of course, rules the Committee [of the Savage Club] and even you have listened to the voice of that Israelitish charmer.' Concludes 'Mais n'importe. Either this evening or tomorrow I send in my resignation. I will neither apologize, nor renew the matter in cold blood.' Signed 'Henry S. Leigh'. …

Both letters 2pp, 12mo. In good condition, lightly aged. Cole's handwriting is difficult. The recipient is not named. The first letter, 34 lines long, concerns a bill which Cole has drawn on the recipient of the letter. It is coming due, and he is uncertain whether it is for £90 or £100. He asks him to withhold payment for a while, as 'Lent is always a dead time with me'. He is 'going to try the experiment of Mr Butter for 6 nights', and has 'good hopes of the result'. The second letter begins: 'My dear Sir | I have made most liberal offers to Farren, Mrs. Nesbitt & Mr. Glen, as Mr Lee will tell you, & with the exception of the old lady, none of the parties appear to have the least consideration or wish to accommodate or help a manager who pays them so liberally as you do - It is not I am sorry to say an uncommon case.' The latter part of the letter is not easily read, but concludes: 'I sincerely hope the Keans & the Wife's Secret are showing you full houses.'.…

2pp, 12mo. On first leaf of grey-paper bifolium, the blank second leaf carrying a thin strip of tape from the mount. In good condition, folded once. Signed 'John W. Calcraft'. The recipient is not named. Thirty-four lines of text, in a somewhat difficult hand. After a reference to 'Mrs. Cook's letter' he gives the details of a forthcoming production, including the dates, ending with the benefit. 'Terms as understood 10£ per night & [?] halfbenefit. I do not usually play on the Friday Night at this time of the year as they are uniformly bad nights'. He explains that he often finds 'single extra nights' more productive. Asks 'Pray let me have your Books of your pieces as soon as possible & also any parts you may have by you'. Concludes: 'I think every thing is perfectly understood.'.…

Grant published six novels between 1870 and 1882, four of them published by Chapman & Hall, and two by Bentley. 1p., 12mo. In fair condition, on aged and worn paper. She is enclosing (not present) 'Piccadilly's cheque for "Hilda"' The poem he has submitted 'is really too deep and sad for my frivolous paper - in which we want something to brighten us up'. She hopes that when he feels better he will 'do some little thing in this line - Something Short [last word underlined] & humorous'.…

The material is in fair condition, lightly aged and worn. Items Two and Three are addressed to 'Cher ami'. De Cottens' handwriting is somewhat opaque. ONE: ANS, 14 May [no year]. The letterhead includes an engraved illustration of the Queen's Hotel in Leicester Square. 1p, 12mo. 'Cher Monsieur Clarkson / tous mes bien vifs remerciements pour votre aimable envoi de tickets. / Bien votre / Victor de Cottens.' TWO: ALS, 26 [March? 1910?]. 1p, 12mo. He wonders whether the recipient might put his 'experience à la disposition' of a named colleague from Brussels. THREE: ALS, 1p, 16mo. On de Cottens' monogram letterhead. 12 lines of closely-written text. He refers to the 'merveilles que vous avez faites dans le tournament', the 'Catch of the Season', 'les Isola' (the Frères Isola, theatre directors Émile and Vincent Isola), who have offered him 'la direction de leurs theâtres pour la saison prochaine'.…

Hard back binding recased in the last 100 years in black buckram, covers, gilt title lettering to the spine. 8vo. 8'' x 5''. Contains 560 pp with two full-page monochrome plates. The title page is missing, page 365 has a small piece of paper missing to the bottom corner losing the words to the end of the last three lines, general age toning to the paper. Member of the P.B.F.A. LITERATURE BEFORE 1800.…

Zustand: Very Good. Hard back binding in contemporary half donkey brown cloth covers, gilt title and author lettering to the spine, marble paper covered boards. 12mo. 6'' x 4¼''. Contains 272 printed pages of Czech text. Cheap paper browning, light rubbing to the boards and in Very Good clean condition. Member of the P.B.F.A. CZECHOSLOVAKIA.…

Contemporary full leather, the spine divided into six panels, gilt lettered in the second over red morocco label, gilt ruled lines across the others, double ruled gilt lines to the board perimeters. 12mo. 7'' x 4¼''. Contains 76; 81; 88; 85 + 4 pp. Piece of leather missing to the foot of the spine, corners rubbed through to the boards, text block clean. Member of the P.B.F.A. spine divided PLAYS (Theatre Performance). …

All three items in good condition, with both letters lightly-creased at the foot. ONE: TLS. Signed 'John Mortimer'. 11 November 1995. 1p, 8vo. He was delighted to receive Fry's letter and would 'like to visit a writing group with which you're connected. If I'm free on May 10th I'll come. I'm just waiting to hear about a trip to Florida so do let the committee write to me. I'll know by then more clearly what I'm doing.' TWO: TLS. Signed 'John', with Mortimer deleting the typed word 'sincerely'. 1 March 1997. 1p, 8vo. He found it 'a delight' to hear Fry's 'lecture at the RSL'. He would 'love to come and see you, but March is very full up. Could we ring one another at the end of the month and talk about April?' He points out that Fry did meet his daughter, 'but she might be working in Bristol'. THREE: ACS. Signed 'John/'. Undated. Card with printed letterhead, otherwise blank, with Mortimer writing on both sides. 'I was afraid my [?] was inadequate and am delighted you thought it OK. Have been travelling around a lot lately, Canada, America twice, Rome and Brussels in the last 2 months but wd love to see you. - Either in Chichester or ? here. Will ring and try and fix something. | Penny [his second wife] sends her love | ever. | John/'.…

See his entry and Blewitt's in the Oxford DNB. 2pp, 12mo. On bifolium. In good condition, on lightly aged laid paper, with thin strip of tape from mount on reverse of second leaf. Thirty-seven lines of text. Addressed to 'Octavian Blewitt Esq.' and signed 'G. L. M. Strauss'. He begins by describing his situation: 'I venture to solicit your kind friendly advice. You know that two years ago a well nigh fatal illness compelled me to leave The Charterhouse on an out pension of a guinea a week - an exchange which I bet to assure you I have no reason or wish to regret.' During his eighteen months of illness he 'received only nine pounds a quarter - fifty-four pounds in all - from the institution. Even the kindness of my friends could not, then, altogether shield me from incurring some pecuniary liability to enable me to live through this period of more than usual expense'. Since his recovery he has written his reminiscences, which have 'yielded me only seventy pounds for the copyright'. The letter continues with further news, and he ends by asking Blewitt whether he should appeal to the committee of the Royal Literary Fund.…

Hardcover. Zustand: Very Good. 1st Edition. Three French Early Eighteenth Century Novels, Probably Each Is A Roman-A-Clef. Bound In One Volume. Speckled Calf, Polished, Elaborately Gilt Spine, Gilt Edges, Marbled Endpapers. Light Wear, No Marks Or Stains.

Fourth edition hard back binding in publisher's original elaborately tooled black cloth covered boards, with splendid blocked and lettered gilt and and in-filled colour designs to the spine, front and rear boards, all page edges gilt, lemon end papers. 8vo. 8½'' x 5½''. Contains 380 pp French text with tissue-guarded plates, additional tissue-guarded illustrated title. Fox spotting to the end papers, small rub to the top of the spine. From the private library of William Treves and SIGNED by him to the front paste down 'William Treves I Class - Belonging to the II Prize Midsummer 1859.' Member of the P.B.F.A. FRANCE [Literature & History).…

Zustand: Very Good. First edition hard back binding in publisher's original black cloth covers, gilt title and author lettering to the spine. 8vo. 8'' x 5¼''. Contains 240 printed pages of text. Light foxing to the text block edges. Very Good condition book in Very Good condition dust wrapper with very light foxing to the inner rear flap, spine colour not faded, not price clipped 55s. Dust wrapper supplied in archive acetate film protection, it does not adhere to the book or to the dust wrapper. Member of the P.B.F.A. ART [Surrealism].…

Hard back publisher's original finely ribbed green cloth covers, gilt stamping to spine. 8vo xiv, 259; 234; 239, 16 [pp] catalogue dated November 1893. Former name to front end papers, volume II with proud centre section, light rippling of cloth to base of volume one's spine, light off-setting to the end papers, spine tips and corners turned in. Member of the P.B.F.A. HUNGARY (Magyarország).…

All three items are on stubs, within a card wallet. All good, on aged paper. Letter One: 'Weston Green 10th: July'. 1 p, 4to. On bifolium, with verso of second leaf addressed to 'Mr: Whitaker | St: Pauls Church Yard | London', with two postmarks (one 'KINGSTON - T | 12'), and docketed 'Mr; T. Dibdin | July 1812.' Whitaker will have 'two, or perhaps all three' of the songs by Monday's post, and 'with respect to the remuneration, I am still from the failure of my last Opera in want of the Sum I once before mentioned to you - if you woud [sic] procure me the Loan of a hundred or a hundred and fifty Pounds for a few Months you shall be welcome by way of Interest to any thing my Efforts in the scribbling way can furnish'. He will send 'the Song of Mr: Spriggs' on the Monday, and asks for an answer to be sent to 'Johnsons Coffee house, Surrey Theater'. Letter Two: 'Johnsons Coffee House | Monday Evg:'. 1 p, 4to. On bifolium, with recto of second leaf addressed to 'Mr: Whitaker | W: Smithfield', and verso of second leaf docketed 'Mr. T. Dibdin | July 1812.' He is sending 'Mr: Spriggs & nine Songs for Choice or to keep all, if of any use, and if there is any other Style you can point out I will gladly adopt it [.] there are 8 Lady's & one Sailors Song - but the latter might be sung by a Lady'. He has a farce 'accepted by Mr. Harris in which I shall introduce the Song Fawcett refused for Matthews which you I hope will publish - & if you woud [sic] take a Ballad in it I'll write one for you - there are no other Songs in the Piece'. Cheque: Addressed 'To Messrs. Button & Whitaker | St. Pauls Church Yard', and dated 'London September 19th: 1817'. Entirely in manuscript on rectangular slip of paper, 23.5 x 9.5 cm. With embossed tax stamp. 'Two Months after date please to pay me or my Order the Sum of One Hundred and Fifty Pounds Value received | [Signed] Thos Dibdin'. Crossed, endorsed, and accepted by Sir John Lubbock & Co. With typed transcript of the three items.…