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Click here to subscribe"Star Wars - A New Hope" Original 1977 Rare 1st release Pre-Oscars style British Quad film poster (30 x 40 inch) with fantastic Sci-Fi art by British artist Tom Chantrell for George Lucas space masterpiece starring Harrison Ford as Han Solo and picturing classic characters such as Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia and Darth Vader, printed by W. E. Berry of Bradford, folded.
CAPTAIN BLOOD (1935) US one sheet, this original first release US one sheet pictures Errol Flynn in the starring role as “Captain Blood”. This was the first leading role for Errol Flynn who was of course to become a movie legend. To say that this is a rare poster would be an understatement as collectors will testify. This is the first one we have ever seen and is a wonderful paper poster - completely unrestored condition with great printing by Continental Litho. Corp. Cleveland Ohio 8057, folded measuring 27 x 41 inch. (1)
Rare Special Operations Executive (S.O.E) Forged Adolf Hitler Head Stamp, interesting forgery of a 3 Reichspfennig stamp produced by the S.O.E for the production of propaganda cards given to agents dropped into enemy occupied territory to distribute in the German postal system. Accompanied by a original German produced example for comparison. Full history of this item accompanies the lot.
Rare Restricted Pamphlet “Combined Military and Police Action for Platoon Commanders and Junior Police Ranks”, Produced by the Headquarters Palestine June 1947 for issue to the Palestine Police and the British Army. 35 pp with illustrations. Produced to assist in the collaboration between the Palestine Police and the British Army. Remains in generally good condition.
Rare Grouping of Photographs of Japanese Prisoner of War Interest, consisting of black and white images taken just after the liberation of prisoners, many images show prisoners in a poor state of health, Japanese guards and general camp conditions. Accompanying the photographs is the catalogue list marked with the images that were purchased identifying the subjects in the images. These images along with others could be purchased from the Far East Section Returned British Prisoners of War Association. Rare to find with the catalogue listing. (48 images)
Great War letters, Photograph Album, Medal and Watercolour Relating to Lieutenant M. Kirke Smith, 4th H.C.Brigade Royal Field Artillery Killed Attempting to Rescue a Fellow Officer from the Royal Engineers who was Wounded, December 14th 1915 near Mametz Wood on the Somme. Poignant letters send to his mother and other family members, both from the UK and France describing his experiences, shelling and close shaves etc.(34) These have been carefully preserved in an a black album together with the original telegrams received from the War Office and The King & Queen confirming his death. Also correspondences concerning his grave and a sketch of the memorial. Among the many newspaper cuttings is confirmation that the Royal Engineer Officer that Kirke Smith tried to rescue also died and another soldier, Smith's soldier servant was badly wounded. The Photograph album as well as providing some useful family images has some rare trench photographs showing dugouts and camouflaged artillery and men and Officers. Of particular note is a large watercolour panorama completed in October 1918 by an Officer in the Leicester Regt, showing the graveyard where Kirke Smith was buried and the distance marked with a cross is the place where he was killed east of Mametz Wood. Also included is his named Victory medal. Interestingly there are also some letters and cuttings from his brother who won the DSO and was wounded, he sadly died in 1923 much weakened from his service. Tipped-in is a letter from hs 12 sergeants (1917) congratulating him on his DSO. In all an unusually comprehensive collection to a gallant young Officer.
Kurt Daleuge Presentation Signed Copy of his Own Book Nationalsozialistischer Kampf gegen das Verbrechertum (National Socialist Struggle Against Criminality) 1st Edition Munich 1936 and signed with inscription dated 10th August 1936. 138pp., photographs. Bound in full red leather, gilt. Copy belonged to Enemy Documents section Cabinet Office and more recently the Imperial War Museum (some neat stamps). Kurt Daluege was Chief of the German Order Police and following Reinhard Heydrich assassination he became Deputy Protector for Bohemia and Moravia, he was considered responsible for the Lidice massacre and was publicly executed in Prague in 1946. A rare item.
Third Reich Photograph Album Detailing The Visit of Head of the Deutsche Arbeitsfront (D.A.F) Dr Robert Ley to a Construction Site of Military Emplacements in Koblenz-Trier, Germany, the album contains a large number of highly detailed close up images showing the leader of the D.A.F on this visit. Good quality uniform shot images and photographs of him meeting workers, some wearing various armbands and insignia including that of the Organisation Todt. Towards the end of the album are photographs taken at an event in which he was speaking and later a stage show performance. Images are all housed in a period photograph album with a newspaper cutting stuck into the front. The pictures are of the quality and close access to the leader that these were probably taken by an official photographer for the visit. Very rare to find photograph albums with so many close up images of high ranking members of the Nazi elite. 108 images which nearly all include Dr Robert Ley. Dr Robert Ley was born in Niederbreidenbach in the Rhine province on 15th February 1890. At the outbreak of WW1 he enlisted in a German Artillery regiment before moving to a newly formed Artillery Aerial Observation unit. In 1917 whilst on a mission over enemy lines, his aircraft was shot down and he was taken Prisoner of War. It is said that in the crash he suffered a traumatic brain injury and as a result he spoke with a stammer and was prone to erratic behaviour and acts of aggression. He was one of the early members of the Nazi party in the 1920’s. He was not liked in the Nazi party due to his arrogance and drunkenness, but due to his loyalty to Adolf Hitler no action was ever taken against him. When the Nazis came to power in the early 1930’s, he was appointed by Hitler as the head of the German Labour Front (D.A.F), a role he held until the end of the war. During the war, Ley’s labour front were responsible for helping with the war effort and constructing military and civil establishments etc. He remained loyal to Hitler throughout his time in service and was present in the Fuhrer bunker, Berlin, in April 1945 to celebrate Hitler’s Birthday. After this he managed to escape Berlin and reach Bavaria. He was captured by soldiers from the American 101st Airborne on 16th May 1945, he was in a shoemakers house and at first stated that he was Dr Ernst Distelmeyer but was soon correctly identified by one of his enemies in the Nazi party, Franz Xavier Schwartz. Dr Robert Ley was put on trial at Nuremberg for war crimes, which he strongly believed he was not a war criminal. He was found guilty and sentenced to death. On 24th October 1945 he strangled himself in his cell using a noose made by ripping strips of his towel and fastened it to the toilet pipe in his cell.
A rare English blue and white porcelain pint mug, dated 1757, decorated with a family crest and with the inscription "in God is all our trust" the sides flanked with a figure of a gentleman with a hunting flintlock rifle, with one other figure possible holding a trowel, the reverse around the handle with a classical garden monument, the base marked in underglazed blue conforming with the decoration. M W,E Jan',1757. Height 14.5cm condition chips to the rim and cracked handle no restoration. Believed to possibly be Isleworth.
A rare and interesting 1736 book 'Histoire et Description Generale du Japon; ou L'on Trouvera tout ce qu'on a pu apprendre de la nature & des Productions du Pays, du characters e des Coutumes des Habitans...'Tome Premier'.Julien-Michel Gando, M.DCC.XXXVI. Marbled boards with leather spine, gilt title, title pages printed in red and black. original fold out maps, written in French. Condition: wear to boards, some spotting to page edges, pages tight
Federated Australia. A Rare and Elaborate Collection of Photographic Views, Depicting Sceneries, Cities, Industries, and Interesting Phases of Australian Life., New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia, and Tasmania. Cover title: Federated Australia its sceneries and splendours, commemorative volume 1901. Landscape format 238x303mm. In publisher's red cloth over boards, London 1901
CONTEMPORARY/FREE JAZZ - Fantastic collection of x x LPs. Artists/titles include Mike Westbrook - Live (SGC 1001), S.O.S - S/T (Ogun OG400 - Ex condition), The Trio (rare original Dawn DNLS 3006, please note this is a G+ copy), Morning Glory (ILPS 9237), John Stevens' Away (6360 135), Julie Tippetts - Sunset Glow (UTS 601), John Stevens, John Surman (ECM 1295), V.S.O.P. The Quintet and Sadao Watanabe. Condition is generally VG to Ex.
BLUES/JAZZ/BLUES ROCK - Electric collection of 20 x LPs and 2 x LP box sets. Artists/titles include Leadbelly's Last Sessions Volumes 1 and 2 (rare original UK Folkways releases FP 241/242 complete with booklets), Elmore James - Original Folk Blues (US 7743), Billie Holiday - S/T (Stateside UK SL 10007, clean VG+ to Ex copy), Groundhogs - Blues Obituary (1st stereo blue Liberty LBS 83253 - VG/VG tape around the edges), American Folk Blues Festival 1963 and John Mayall inc. Blues From Laurel Canyon, Beyond The Turning Point and Blues Breakers With Eric Clapton. Condition is generally speaking VG to Ex though can vary on the earlier releases.
70s ROCK/POP/PSYCH/ALT 45s - More cracking 7" now, 71 included, loaded with killer slices of obscure magic! Expect artists such a Paintbox, Rare Bird, Great Expectations, Geronimo, Lally Stott, Tractor (UK 93), Stephen Jameson, Listen, Writing On The Wall, Bitch, Slack Alice, Hi-Shots, Suzi Quatro, Paul Kent, Steel Mill, Merlin, Don Fardon, Thing, The Mad Hatters, Marmalade, Freddie Scott, Armando Sciascia & His Orchestra, Neil Innes, Axe and The Rattles. Condition is generally Ex to Ex+.
THE DEVIANTS - PTOOFF! - A fantastic original UK copy of the mind blowing LP (Underground Impresarios IMP 1). The record is in Ex condition with 2 light surface marks visible on side 2. Clean labels with some spindle wear. MATRIX: IMPS 001 A-1 & B-1. The poster sleeve, so rare to see fully intact, is in highly presentable VG+ condition. No rips or tears, there is some light wear to the 'opening' edges where you fold the sleeve out - this is not a major feature and this really is a fine example of the best crunching Underground album! The lot also features Mick Farren's 1973 book The Texts Of Festival...
JOHN PAUL II: (1920-2005) Pope of the Catholic Church 1978-2005. Book signed, a hardback edition of Crossing the Threshold of Hope, First Edition published by Jonathan Cape, London, 1994. Signed (Johannes Paulus II) in blue ink to the title page and dated 1995 in his hand. Accompanied by the dusk jacket. Rare in this form. VG The signature was obtained personally by the vendorin Papua New Guinea on 17th January 1995 when the Pope performed the beatification of Blessed Peter ToRot (1912-1945). Accompanied by a colour printed brochure entitled Blessed Peter ToRot - A Martyr of the Church.
PARKER MATTHEW: (1504-1575) Archbishop of Canterbury 1559-75. Rare D.S., Mattheus Cantuar, as Archbishop of Canterbury, one page (vellum), small oblong 8vo, Lambeth, 11th July 1561 (?), in Latin. The manuscript document, which is accompanied by a partial transcript, relates to the Parish of St. Mary Aldermary in the city of London. Signed by Parker at the foot. Lacking the seal and with some very light overall staining and minor age wear, otherwise VG
EINSTEIN ALBERT: (1879-1955) German-born Theoretical Physicist, Nobel Prize winner for Physics, 1921. A very fine A.L.S., Papa, two pages, 4to, n.p., n.d.. to his youngest son Eduard (‘Lieber Tetel!’), in German. Einstein announces ‘I hope you’ve received the course of Freud’s lectures from Vienna by now’ and reveals ‘I’ve read most of them myself in the past. They really made me admire the author, even so they didn’t convince me that his theories were correct’, although continues ‘I must admit however that, due to my own small experiences, my conviction about those theories is weakening – I feel that he was on to something, at least in regards to the main theories’. Einstein further informs his son that work is keeping him relentlessly occupied and remarks ‘Even though they say that the work of a single person will not have much of an impact in the larger picture, it does not diminish the passion of the undersigned in his pursuit of his goals…Whilst the personal illusions of the earlier years brought warmth and love into one’s life, they don’t last a lifetime. Life would be boring if the work and the passion of understanding wouldn’t exist’. The physicist also writes of his leisurely activities, ‘In my free time I am currently reading Schiller’s poems, which I have neglected since my youth. They kind of feel a bit pompous, but at the same time they are enthralling in their choice of words and grammar. I am really happy that I picked them up again’ and further comments ‘I would have liked to send you another book on top of the Freud, but didn’t know which one to send – especially because I don’t get a lot of German writings anymore’, continuing to reflect ‘When I have some extra free time, after finishing Schiller, I really want to start reading Shakespeare, everything from him I can get my hands on. If you’d like to read it too, we could discuss it at some later point in time?’. In concluding Einstein sends news of Eduard’s elder brother, Hans Albert, ‘he has been travelling up and down the country for the past 6 weeks and will have seen and experienced many interesting things. I really hope he has followed my advice and kept a journal, but I am not holding high hopes. When it comes to talking and writing he seems to be chronically obstructed’. A letter of exceptional content for the personal views Einstein reveals about Freud, and further enhanced by his references to both Schiller and Shakespeare. Some very light, extremely minor age wear, VG Eduard Einstein (1910-1965) Youngest son and third child of Albert Einstein, brother of Hans Albert Einstein (1904-1973) who pursued a career as an engineer and educator. Sigmund Freud (1856-1939) Austrian Neurologist, the father of Psychoanalysis.Friedrich Schiller (1759-1805) German Poet, Philosopher, Physician, Historian & Playwright. William Shakespeare (1564-1616) English Poet, Playwright & Actor. Einstein and Freud (along with Karl Marx) have been described as ‘the architects of the modern age’ and letters linking the two men are extremely rare and highly desirable.
MELIES GEORGES: (1861-1939) French Film Director, a pioneer of cinema and innovator in the use of special effects. Rare D.S., G. Melies, one page, 4to, Paris, 25th October 1912, being a receipt issued on Melies' attractive printed stationery. The manuscript receipt, in French, is for the sum of 370 Francs, being the payment of royalties due from the sales, in New York, of Melies' film, which is detailed on a separate sheet, Judgement of the Sea. Three file holes to the left edge of both documents, not affecting the text or signature. VG, 2
CHESHIRE LEONARD: (1917-1992) British RAF Pilot of World War II, Victoria Cross winner for his aerial actions during World War II. A poignant war date T.L.S., G L Cheshire, with holograph salutation and subscription, one page, small 4to, R.A.F. Station, Woodhall Spa, Lincolnshire,17th February 1944, to Mrs. T[ommy] W. Lloyd. Cheshire writes with sympathy to his correspondent, on the death of her husband, stating, in part, 'Your husband was killed while flying from Ford, in Sussex, back to this Station. He had been down there with the Squadron, as was his usual custom, and having finished his work down there, was on his way back with us. The pilot was a Canadian called Suggitt, an experienced Captain with 64 operations to his credit. I regret to say that they crashed into a hill while flying in cloud. The whole crew died instantly except Suggitt, who although unconscious, remained alive for two days. Your husband had been with this Squadron ever since it first formed, and wherever the Squadron went, he went too. He looked after us not only as an Intelligence Officer, but also as a friend, and I don't think that any loss could mean more to us than his' Cheshire continues 'I know there is little I can say that will help you or ease your burden, but I would at least like to tell you something of the influence that Tommy had on all of us. He was somehow a man to whom you could always turn in trouble, and a man who always did so much to make our life happier and more comfortable. Wherever I may go, I know that I shall meet no-one more tolerant or more unselfish.' A rare letter of fine content. One minor trace of former mounting to the verso, VGThomas Williams Lloyd (1892-1944) British Squadron Leader and Intelligence Officer. Lloyd was commissioned into the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve at the beginning of World War II and served as the Intelligence Officer at Woodhall Spa. This appointment resulted in him acting as Intelligence Officer to Guy Gibson's newly formed 'Squadron X', soon to be renamed as No. 617 'Dambuster' Squadron. Lloyd was a first hand witness to the momentous events of May 1943, not least when he debriefed the returning heroes of the 'Dambusters' raid.William Suggitt (1920-1944) Canadian Squadron Leader of World War II, who served with 617 Squadron from October 1943, flying special bombing missions on difficult enemy targets.On 12th February 1944, Suggitt's crew bombed the Antheor viaduct in southern France. They had used Ford airfield in Sussex as a staging post and successfully landed there in the early hours of the next day. Lloyd was present at the airfield in order to debrief Suggitt and his crew on their return. In his best selling history Paul Brickhill recounts 'the weather worsened and it looked as though they were stranded for a while. [Squadron Leader Bill] Suggitt thought he could make it to Woodhall Spa all right and offered a seat in his aircraft to Lloyd, a gallant and revered World War I veteran. The immaculate Lloyd accepted but insisted on having a shave before take-off. A little later, spruce and monocled, he climbed into “J Jug” with Suggitt, and five minutes later the aircraft flew into a hill and everyone was killed instantly except Bill Suggitt, who lingered for a couple of days before he died.'
TENISON THOMAS: (1636-1715) Archbishop of Canterbury 1694-1715 who crowned both Queen Anne and King George I. Rare ink signature ('Tho: Cantuar') as Archbishop of Canterbury, on a small oblong 12mo piece of folded vellum, evidently neatly removed from a document, with a slightly irregularly clipped lower edge. With several pencil annotations in an unidentified hand to the verso. Some very light, minor age wear, about VG
COFFEE TRADE: A.L.S., Mason, one page, folio, Cornhill, London, April 1674, to a Gentleman ('Much Hon…'), of Messrs Clayton & Morris, Merchant Bankers. Mason informs his landlords that he had hoped to provide the rent sooner, however, money owed to him by those he sub-lets to have not been forthcoming, promising, 'I shall have it speedly & soe soone as I can receve it I will be with you… I now scarse take dayly ye mony I spend and my charge is upon ye mattr as great as when trade was more rife…' further explaining the problems caused by moving from established premises at Glasshouse hall to a new building, 'you were pleased to treat mee about this place and gave me to hope yt it should bee built fit for mee, by yt tyme ye exchange removed from Gressham Colledge but my hopes and expectations therein were greatly disappointed the building beeing soe long before it was ffinished; the change removing most of all my ould customers had fixt themselves elsewhere…' continuing to discuss sub-lets by stating, 'I was ffaine to let them at more than a 3rd part less than I was one bid for them, & might have had, had they bin ffinisht in tyme, the letting those at an under rate & ye others lieing still dead upon my hands, together wth ye greate decay of my trade, doth threaten nothing less than my ruin of ye wise providence of ye almighty prevent not', concluding his plea, 'I am at a very greate loss in my thought conserning this matter… in hope of a trade to assure it but meeting with a disapoyntement. It is a very greate tryall; but I must submit all to ye lord and yor consideration....' A rare letter referring to the business premises of a London coffee retailer within Britain. With paper loss to the head and foot, partially affecting the text, the letter being professionally laid down to prevent further decay, with age toning and age wear. Accompanied by a full transcription, and the original typed description for the sale of the document sent to Ambrose Heal by George Sherwood, Record Searcher and Archivist, Strand, London, dated 12th August 1927. G, 3London's first coffee house opened in 1652 in St Michael's Alley, near St Michael at Cornhill's churchyard. Samuel Pepys visited the London coffee house on 10th December 1660: 'He [Col. Slingsby] and I in the evening to the Coffee House in Cornhill, the first time that ever I was there, and I found much pleasure in it, through the diversity of company and discourse'. Ambrose Heal (1872-1959) English Furniture Designer and Businessman. Heal collected London historical ephemera, mainly from the 17th and 18th centuries, including records of tradesmen, goldsmiths, calligraphers, signboards and furniture makers.
LOVELOCK JACK: (1910-1949) New Zealand Athlete, Olympic Gold Medallist and World Record holder in the 1500 metres at the 1936 games. Vintage signed postcard photograph, the image depicting Lovelock in full stride, running for New Zealand at a track event. Signed ('J E Lovelock') in blue fountain pen ink with his name alone to a clear area of the image. Autographs of Lovelock are extremely rare in any form due to his sudden death at the age of 39 as a result of being killed after falling into the path of an oncoming train. Very minor traces of former mounting to the corners, VG
POWELL KENNETH: (1885-1915) British Athlete and Tennis Player. Killed in action at Ypres during the First World War. Rare A.L.S., Kenneth Powell, one page, 8vo, Reigate, 4th May 1913, to Percy Rootham. In a brief message Powell informs his correspondent, in full, 'Please except this (no longer present) from me as an expression of thanks for what you have done for the Surrey Clubs.' Annotated at the foot with, '(Enclosing a copy of the Redhill L.T.C. for 1913)' in an unknown hand. With slight foxing to the right edge and with minor age wear. Together with a Bronze Medal awarded to Powell by the Amateur Athletic Association. The inscription engraved into the medal states, 'Standard Medal, 120 Yds Hurdles, 22nd June 1912, K.Powell'. Accompanied by the original presentation box, the lid being embossed in gold with 'Amateur Athletic Association 1912', from Vaughtons Ltd, Goldsmiths & Silversmiths, Birmingham. Also including two pages, 4to, containing two neatly adhered press cuttings regarding Powell's life and death, one page being dated 3rd March 1915. Signatures of Powell are rare due to his untimely death during World War I. G to VG, 3 Percy Rootham (1872-1939) British Vice President of the Lawn Tennis Association 1923-39. One month after this medal had been presented for his third place in the 120 Yds Hurdles, Powell was running in the same event, this time in the finals at the 1912 Summer Olympics, held in Stockholm. Powell finished in fifth place. Since the revival of the Olympic Games in 1896, Oxbridge athletes, such as Powell, provided the lifeblood of the British Olympic movement. By the end of the First World War, nearly 28 percent of the young men going up to Oxford and Cambridge between 1910 and 1914 had perished in battle.
RIMSKY-KORSAKOV NIKOLAI: (1844-1908) Russian Composer. A fine pair of A.M.Qs.S., N. Rimsky-Korsakov, one page, manuscript paper, small oblong 8vo, n.p., n.d. In black ink the composer has neatly penned four bars of music which he identifies as being from his opera La Nuit de Noel (‘Christmas Eve’, 1894-95) and immediately beneath penned a further quotation of six bars of music which he identifies as being from his opera Snegourotchka (‘The Snow Maiden’, 1880-81). Signed by Rimsky-Korsakov at the base of the page and with an inscription in his hand to the upper edge. An unusual and rare pair of signed quotations. VG The Snow Maiden was Rimsky-Korsakov’s own favourite work. Provenance: The present quotations were formerly part of the inventory of the noted American autograph dealer Robert Batchelder (1927-2007) and are accompanied by his original catalogue description.
KAI-SHEK CHIANG: (1887-1975) President of the Republic of China 1948-49, 1950-75. A rare vintage large signed and inscribed (?) 14½ x 17½ sepia toned photograph, the portrait depicting Chiang in a head and shoulders pose. With a small blue photographer's credit stamp from a Taiwan Studio to the lower photographer's mount. Signed, in Chinese characters, in bold black ink to the left border of the photographer's mount. There are some additional words, in Chinese, beneath the signature and also to the right border of the photographer's mount, presumably an inscription. With some light overall age wear, otherwise VG
RUSHDIE SALMAN: (1947- ) British Indian Novelist & Essayist. Book signed, being a softcover uncorrected advance proof copy of The Satanic Verses, published by Viking, London, 1988. Signed by Rushdie in black ink to the title page, also adding the title 'The Satanic Verses' in his hand above his signature. Although it would appear that there are no differences in the text between the proof and first trade editions of The Satanic Verses, the present proof copy does possess some unique features. There are no ornamental devices separating the sub-chapters and page 549 (the 'Acknowledgements' page) is completely lacking. The beginning of chapter IV entitled Ayesha (page 203) allows for a numerical sub-division although is unnecessary as there are none. Proof copies of the book vary in so much as some have the title printed on the title page and others don't; the present copy does not have the printed title (evidently the reason why Rushdie added the title in his own hand in the present copy). Bound in the publisher's blue wraps and with red lettering to the front cover. The original admission ticket stub for Rushdie's appearance at The Forum, St James Parade, Bath, on 25th May 2017 as part of The Bath Festival, and the occasion on which the present book was signed, is loosely inserted. Rare in this form. Some slight age toning to the text block, a few minor creases to the spine and with some slight age wear and creasing to the edges and corners of the wraps, otherwise VG The 1981 Booker Prize winning Rushdie's work combines magical realism with historical fiction and much of his work is set on the Indian subcontinent. His fourth novel, The Satanic Verses, was the subject of a major controversy which resulted in the British government placing the author under police protection. In 2008 The Times ranked Rushdie thirteenth on its list of the 50 greatest British writers since 1945.
DYLAN BOB: (1941- ) American Singer & Songwriter, Nobel Prize winner for Literature, 2016. A hardback bound 4to edition of Hematite, the yearbook of Hibbing High School, issued in 1959 and thus marking the 50th anniversary since the first yearbook was issued in 1909 (then entitled The Rail Splitter when the school was known as Lincoln High School), the present copy previously belonging to student Marietta Turk and bearing a number of signatures and inscriptions to her by various friends and fellow students including Bob Dylan. The front pastedown and front free endpaper feature nine individual blue ink signatures and inscriptions, Dylan’s appearing just below the centre of the front free endpaper and stating, in full, ‘I’ll write under Echo’s name. Good luck in your acting career. Everyone knows you’ll make a good one. Sincerely, Bob Zimmerman’. Other signatures and inscriptions to the pages include those of Echo Helstrom (who dated Dylan whilst at Hibbing High School), ‘Hi Turk, I don’t have to bid you a fond farewell because I’ll most likely see you in the L & B. It sure has been nice having you as a friend all these years. I hope we can continue to stay friends as the years progress. A pal, Echo’, Rochelle Matonich (‘Well, the last of our high school years is finally over. It was really nice having you in Dramatics. Remember “Sob Stuff”. Boy was that play a blast. Don’t forget our Winston breaks….’), Judith Hendrickson (‘Remember the days when we were back at old Lincoln….How can we forget. The past twelve years have been long waited for to come to an end, and here we are…..’) etc., and a few further signatures and inscriptions appear to other pages at both the front and back of the Yearbook, two also referring to an individual named Bob (Dylan?), ‘I remember the first night I met Bob and I slept over your house because I would have come home late. The only trouble with that was that I didn’t call my parents so they made me stay in for 2 weeks’ and ‘Remember all the trips to the Y.M.C.A. to see Bob & Tom, when we got there we were too embarrassed to talk to them. Sure hope I see them again in the future’. The inside pages of the yearbook are profusely illustrated and with accompanying text relating to various school events etc., and also feature small portraits of the students, including the young Dylan (‘Robert Zimmerman’) whom the printed text states wishes ‘to join “Little Richard”’. An extremely rare and early example of Dylan’s autograph in a yearbook which also records his early musical ambition! Some light overall age wear, a few inside pages loose and with some small areas of paper loss to the lower right corners of the first pages (including the one signed by Dylan) caused by previous damp exposure, otherwise about VG Provenance: the present yearbook is accompanied by a typed statement of provenance signed by Marietta Turk in August 2017, headed ‘My Friendship with Bob Dylan’ and stating, in part, ‘…I went to Hibbing High School with Robert Zimmerman aka Bob Dylan in 1957, 1958 and 1959. I had him in almost all of my classes and he sat behind me in auditorium, so we were in close proximity. His girl friend Echo Helstrom was a good friend of mine and they were “dating” for a period of time. We hung out at the L & B Café….at lunch or after school. We all wore black leather jackets. Sometimes Bob wore a shiny vest and a cowboy hat. There we talked, played the small jukebox in our booth, drank chocolate coca cola, and smoked cigarettes. In our senior year, 1959, Bob and I and some others had Dramatics Class together and were in a play called Sob Story….It must have been okay because the audience roared with laughter and applause. Hence, Bob wrote in my yearbook “Good luck in your acting career. Everyone knows you’ll make a good one”.’ Bob Dylan, born Robert Zimmerman, formed several bands while attending Hibbing High School in Minnesota, including one named the Golden Chords who performed covers of songs by Little Richard and Elvis Presley. .
LEY WILLY: (1906-1969) German-American Science Writer, an advocate of spaceflight who helped popularise rocketry. A.L.S., Willy Ley, one page, 4to, Jackson Heights, New York, 29th July 1958, to Ashley T. Cole, with Ley's name and address rubber stamped in the upper left corner. Ley responds to his correspondent's request for 'a few lines on my official or personal letter paper' and remarks 'Well, this is as official as my paper can get; mainly because I rarely write anything without using the typewriter', further continuing 'There are not even any real “manuscripts” in existence. Sometimes I compose a lead or even a page by hand, but this is then re-typed and from then on the typewriter rules'. Accompanied by the original envelope, bearing a typed address. A rare holograph letter by Ley's own admittance. VG
LAUD WILLIAM: (1573-1645) Archbishop of Canterbury 1633-45 during the reign of King Charles I. Laud was accused of treason, arrested in 1640 and imprisoned in the Tower of London before being executed five years later. Rare ink signature ('W: Cant:') as Archbishop of Canterbury, on a small slim 12mo piece of folded vellum, evidently neatly removed from a document. With several pencil annotations in an unidentified hand to the verso. Some very light, extremely minor age wear, about VG Laud was a noted collector of manuscripts.
MATA HARI: (1876-1917) Dutch Exotic Dancer and Courtesan, executed by a firing squad for espionage during World War I. Rare D.S., Mme. McLeod (her real name being Margaretha Geertruida McLeod), one page, slim oblong 4to, Paris, 7th November 1905. The partially printed document, completed in French, is issued by the costumier Edouard Souplet of Paris and is a mandate authorising a payment of 400 francs to be made to 'Madame McLeod dite Mata Hari' and further provides the addresses of the Palace Hotel in Paris and the Hotel Metropol in Monte Carlo. Signed by Mata Hari in bold red ink with a few additional words in her hand, 'Accepte pour la somme de quatre cents francs'. The document is also signed by Souplet and bears various official stamps, cancellations and annotations to the recto and verso, none of which affect Mata Hari's signature. Some light overall creasing and a few minor, small tears to the edges, about VG
MYERS ELIZABETH: (1912-1947) English Writer. Rare A.L.S., Elizabeth Myers, to one side of a picture postcard featuring a reproduction of an illustration of Sherborne Abbey to the recto, n.p. (Sherborne, Dorset), 20th December 1944, to Neville Braybrooke. Myers thanks her correspondent for six copies of The Wind and The Rain, adding that it is a very interesting number and further sending Braybrooke her greetings for Christmas and the New Year. In a postscript the writer remarks 'Your editorial is first-rate. John Rowland seems a trifle muddle-headed'. Autographs of Myers are rare in any form as a result of her tragically early death at the age of 34 from tuberculosis. Together with Eleanor Farjeon (1881-1965) English Author of Children's stories. T.L.S., Eleanor Farjeon, two pages, 8vo, Perrins Walk, London, 11th June 1967, to [Neville] Braybrooke. Farjeon announces 'Of course I remember you, though I am so dim-sighted now that I pass you in the street without recognising you' and continues to write about Elizabeth Myers, explaining 'After her death Littleton Powys collected many of her short stories in a volume that did not include “Metamorphosis”. So either he had not a copy of this, or Betty had herself decided to scrap it; this sounds likely to me….she wouldn't want to be thought of as an incestuous writer, after her death any more than during her life. This is only my opinion, from knowing her well, and I have no claims to judge or decide'. Farjeon also offers her advice concerning copyright, recommending that Braybrooke contact Myers's mother, and providing her address at Wandsworth Common, and suggesting 'In writing to her I think it only fair for you to tell her the circumstances just as you have told them to me, for she is a simple, sweet and sensible woman (without perhaps great literary judgment), but both as Betty's mother and a devout Catholic she might not wish to do anything contrary to Betty's expressed wishes'. In concluding Farjeon remarks 'Most of her work is out of print, but her influence streams on like an undercurrent, and it would be a pity if her memory were revived, especially at this anniversary of her death, by publishing something she had reason to condemn'. Some light overall age wear and a couple of minor stains to Farjeon's letter, G to about VG, 2 Neville Braybrooke (1923-2001) English Poet, Writer, Editor, Literary Critic and Publisher. Son of Patrick Braybrooke (1894-1956) English Literary Critic.
WREN CHRISTOPHER: (1632-1723) English Architect. An attractive D.S., Chr. Wren, (twice), two pages, large folio, Chelsea, 15th October & 12th November 1700. The neatly and boldly penned document is a page (numbered 161 and 162 at the head of each side) removed from the official ledger of the Royal Hospital in Chelsea and is an 'Abstract of the Expense of Provisions' for the two months in which Wren, in his capacity as a Commissioner of the hospital, and two other commissioners, Viscount Ranelagh (Paymaster of the Forces) and Sir Stephen Fox (Commissioner of the Treasury) authorise Ralph Cooke, Treasurer of the hospital, to pay various sums to listed individuals in payment for their provisions, the total payable for September being £510.14s.6¾d and for October £459.14s.1¾d. Each of the tradespeople have individually signed the document as confirmation of having been paid, and include Charles Hudson, butcher (£159.12s.8d), Thomas Marston, baker (£63.19s.8d), John England, brewer (£72.18s.11d), Robert Madock, cheesemonger (£80.10s.7¼d), John Gill, whitster (£74.14s.3½d; a whitster supplying bleach for whitening clothes), Elizabeth Hastings, tallow-chandler (£6.14s.9¼d; a tallow-chandler supplying candles made from animal fats), Barthalina Fells, lamps (£6.16s.9d) and Henry Powell, steward (£45.6s.10d). Individually signed by Wren, Ranelagh and Fox to either side of the document. An interesting and very handsome document. Some extremely light, very minor age wear to the extreme edges, not affecting the text or signature, VG Richard Jones (1641-1712) 1st Earl of Ranelagh. Irish Peer & Politician. Paymaster of the Forces 1685-1702. Ranelagh was expelled from the House of Commons in 1703 when discrepancies were found in his accounts as Paymaster, and he was discovered to have appropriated more than £900,000 of public funds. Sir Stephen Fox (1627-1716) English Politician. Paymaster of the Forces 1661-76 and 1679-80. Fox founded the Royal Hospital Chelsea, from where the present document originates, to which he contributed £13,000. Unlike some other statesman of his day, Fox grew rich in the service of the nation without being suspected of corruption or forfeiting the esteem of his contemporaries. The Royal Hospital at Chelsea was founded by King Charles II in 1682 as a retreat for veterans and opened its doors to the Chelsea Pensioners a decade later (mismanagement by Ranelagh, a signatory to the present document had caused the delay). Wren was responsible for designing the hospital and the hospital's chapel is a fine and rare example of the architect's pure ecclesiastical work. Sir Christopher Wren is one of the most highly acclaimed English architects in history, responsible for rebuilding many churches in the City of London following the Great Fire in 1666, including his masterpiece, St. Paul's Cathedral, completed in 1710. Wren was also a noted astronomer, mathematician and physicist whose work was highly regarded by Isaac Newton. A founder of the Royal Society, Wren served as its President from 1680-82.
FREUD LUCIAN: (1922-2011) German-born British Painter. A.L.S., Lucian Freud, one page, 8vo, Gloucester Terrace, London, 21st November 1971, to [Neville] Braybrooke. Freud states that his correspondent's letter has only just reached him and continues 'As far as I can remember I only received one letter from Joe Ackerley' and further remarks 'I did go down to Putney to try and draw Joe's dog but her behaviour was so unsettling that nothing came of this'. Rare. Some light overall creasing, otherwise about VG Neville Braybrooke (1923-2001) English Poet, Writer, Editor, Literary Critic and Publisher who edited The Letters of J. R. Ackerley (1975). Son of Patrick Braybrooke (1894-1956) English Literary Critic. J. R. Ackerley (1896-1967) British Writer and Editor of The Listener, the BBC's weekly magazine. Ackerley published many emerging poets and writers who would later become successful and influential in Great Britain. Ackerley was openly homosexual, a rarity at a time when homosexuality was socially ostracized and forbidden by law.
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