'Tommy and I are going to be married…..’ DU MAURIER DAPHNE: (1907-1989) British Author. An exceptional, lengthy A.L.S., Daphne, twelve pages, 8vo, Woking, n.d. ('Saturday', 1932), to [Foy Quiller-Couch], on the printed stationery of Pirbright Camp. In a revealing letter, written in bold pencil, Du Maurier announces to her friend 'It is perhaps a strange coincidence that my earliest recollections should be the sound of bugles in Albany Street barracks, the Revelle (sic) to wake me and the Last Post to send me to sleep, that I should once more find myself in the same atmosphere - for many years now pushed back in my dusty memory. But maybe the things that happen to us in life recur again and again, like a strange cycle' and continues 'Tommy and I are going to be married. When I am not sure, probably early one morning in Lanteglos church before anyone is awake, with the grave digger for witness, and so out and away to Helford or beyond', further confessing 'I never thought or intended that this should happen to me; or if it did would have lived carelessly in Walmsley fashion, but he is trying to teach me that those ways of living are messy and stupid and very very young. Your father (unwittingly!) pushed me a step further in the right direction when he spoke to me last week about a code of living, and a standard, and that marriage and children meant more in life than all the novels and successes ever written'. Du Maurier further muses 'Its going to be a bit of a job at first, to change all my old ideas and to have a shot at living “unselfishly” for the first time in my life, and I hope I shan't make too big a mess of it. Having, by a queer stroke of fate, been “picked first” by someone with the ideals and principles and standards of a Sir Courtenay Vyvyan maybe it won't be so difficult. It's a bit of a jolt to discover that the fellow in dirty pants who laughs at me when I make a mistake on a boat is known here as the officer who sets the highest standard of efficiency in the whole Brigade of Guards, that at 32 he was the youngest major in the entire Army!!!'. Du Maurier also writes that she has informed her family of the news, and are suitably agreeable, 'I've already had a typical letter from the Aunt saying how selfish I am not to have a big wedding because mummy would have loved it!!' and also remarks 'There is something agonizing in the gush and publicity of getting married which I know you will feel for me about - I'm not wearing an engagement ring or being different at all and I trust life will go on being the same as ever. I don't see any need to make a scene just because two people find they like each other's company enough not to mind sharing a tooth brush, sort of thing do you? Anyway, there we are'. The writer also explains her immediate plans, 'I'll bring Tommy to the Farm if I may and back to tea, but you do understand that any formal introduction and presentation would be agony and embarrassing - I simply refuse to be looked upon as an engaged young lady!....I've now got to pluck up my best manners and be taken to his home and be introduced to “mother”! I've got a pair of red pants to change into - do you think they will cause a scandal?!'. Du Maurier concludes with a brief reference to her literary work, 'By the way Tommy said all the things to me about Book 2 that your father did, and will go carefully through Book 3'. A remarkable letter in which Du Maurier announces her marriage and hints at the somewhat unconventional circumstances surrounding her engagement. Some very light, minor age wear and a small area of paper loss to the upper right corner of one page, just affecting a few words of text. The signature is slightly rubbed at the fold of the page, although remains legible. About VGFoy Quiller-Couch - daughter of British writer Arthur Quiller-Couch (1863-1944), and a life-long friend of Du Maurier. Indeed, Du Maurier was accompanied by Foy Quiller-Couch when she became inspired with the storyline for her novel Jamaica Inn. Some years previously the two ladies were staying at Jamaica Inn and went riding on Bodmin Moor. They became lost in bad weather conditions and apparently sheltered for some time in a derelict cottage on the moor but were eventually led back to Jamaica Inn by their horses.Sir Frederick Browning (1896-1965) British Lieutenant General of World War II, Commander of the First Allied Airborne Army during Operation Market Garden, September 1944. As the present letter confirms, Browning was promoted to the rank of major in May 1928 and was later posted to the 2nd Battalion of Grenadier Guards at Pirbright from where Du Maurier wrote her letter.In 1931 Browning had read Du Maurier's novel The Loving Spirit and, impressed by the depictions of the Cornish coastline, set out to see it for himself in his boat. The following year he invited Du Maurier out on the boat and after a short romance he proposed to her, however she rejected the offer, not believing in marriage. Browning's friend, Major General Eric Dorman-Smith, then went to see Du Maurier and explained to her (amongst others, as the present letter would suggest) that living together with Browning without being married would be disastrous for the soldier's career. Unconventionally, Du Maurier then proposed to Browning, who accepted. OWING TO RESTRICTIONS IMPOSED BY THE SALEROOM THE COMPLETE DESCRIPTION FOR THIS LOT CAN NOT BE DISPLAYED HERE - PLEASE CONTACT IAA FOR A COMPLETE DESCRIPTION
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DU MAURIER DAPHNE: (1907-1989) British Author. Conclusion of an A.L.S., Daphne, being the final two pages of a longer letter, 8vo, n.p. (Cornwall), n.d. (1932), to [Foy Quiller-Couch]. Du Maurier writes of future plans with her friend, 'One day we must do that six months in a covered wagon. Then there is all Scotland, and the west of Ireland. There can be no end to the places at home that one would like. I should like to settle in Fowey, and then (to give ones household a nest) chose the less attractive months such as August and perhaps March, for trekking about the land in other parts of the country', and also refers to her husband, 'The Guardsman (Frederick Browning) is even narrower, and does not seem to want to venture west of Par! So much for Foreign service broadening the mind! All he wants is a fleet of curiously rigged boats and a sprinkling of engines, and dig himself in'. Du Maurier concludes in a jovial manner, 'I have become rather ambitious, and plan for him (Browning) to be Lord Lieutenant of the Duchy in 1956, but am scared at the thought of the flower shows I might have to open. Better perhaps to be squire of Bodinnick - or if funds sunk very low - run shilling trips in Ygdrasil, and back to a split-and-cream tea on Ferryside lawn (served rather badly by me in a checked apron!)'. The present partial letter is evidently written in an early period of Du Maurier's marriage and contains an amusing reference to her husband's boat which played an important part in the couple's romance. Some light creasing and a minor tape stain at the head of the page, not affecting the text or signature, otherwise VGFoy Quiller-Couch - daughter of British writer Arthur Quiller-Couch (1863-1944), and a life-long friend of Du Maurier. Indeed, Du Maurier was accompanied by Foy Quiller-Couch when she became inspired with the storyline for her novel Jamaica Inn. Some years previously the two ladies were staying at Jamaica Inn and went riding on Bodmin Moor. They became lost in bad weather conditions and apparently sheltered for some time in a derelict cottage on the moor but were eventually led back to Jamaica Inn by their horses.Sir Frederick Browning (1896-1965) British Lieutenant General of World War II, Commander of the First Allied Airborne Army during Operation Market Garden, September 1944. In April 1932, Du Maurier was in Fowey convalescing from an appendix operation when she received an invitation from Major Frederick Browning to have an outing on his boat, Ygdrasil, which he had moored in the River Fowey the previous winter having visited the Cornish coastline as a result of having read Du Maurier's novel The Loving Spirit in 1931. The outing led to a romance between Du Maurier and Browning and soon afterwards the couple were married in a simple ceremony at the Church of St Willow at Lanteglos-by-Fowey on 19th July 1932.
LINDBERGH CHARLES: (1902-1974) American Aviator who made the first solo non-stop flight across the Atlantic from Paris to New York in the Spirit of St. Louis, May 1927. Vintage signed 10 x 8 photograph, the image depicting Lindbergh standing in a full length pose on the United States Navy cruiser USS Memphis at the Washington Navy Yard on 11th June 1927 following his return to America after his historic flight. A number of crew and sailors can be seen standing in several rows behind Lindbergh. Signed ('C. A. Lindbergh') by the aviator in bold black fountain pen ink with his name alone to a clear area at the head of the image. An historic signed photograph. Some very slight corner creasing and a small area of paper loss and one minor tear to the white border in the lower left corner, about VG
Collectables : Wine labels, Cigar bands and Railwayana- Vast Quantiry of Wine, Spirit and fortified wine labels, (many 100s) including Price Lists of yesteryear and a catalogue. Cigar Bands both large and small depict Railway Engines and Rolling Stock. All these items appear to be of Spanish origin.
Victorian silver and ivory three-piece tea set by George Fox, London 1875 and a later close matching kettle and stand by CS Harris, London 1904, each with a wrythen compressed globular body, teapot diameter 13cm, gross weight 91oz 2dwt (4).Pineapple on the lid bent and ivory missing from the handle, cane grip in need of repair on the spirit kettle, overall the condition good.
A Regency mahogany plan or map table, the deep, circular revolving top with four frieze drawers alternating with four faux drawers, with ring handles on rosette back plates, raised on a substantial turned column with gadrooned upper section, on four swept, channelled supports with decorative brass cap castors, 60in. (152.5cm.) diameter, 29½in. (75cm.) high.* The family believes that the table was made by Trotter & Young of Edinburgh, c.1830.** Condition: Although low, the table doesn't appear to have been reduced in height. The top revolves, although it is a little stiff. The base has a substantial iron bracket beneath the top of the supports - this may have been added later, as there appear to be some old splits and cracks around the lower section of the column and top of one of the legs. The end of one leg has been repaired, approx. 2in. in from the brass cap. The table shows sign of considerable daily use as a dining table - the polish throughout is worn and there is wear around the brasses from cleaning and use. One side of the top has some dark spirit stains and the centre joint of the top is separating a little. Three of the legs appear to have a worn dark stained finish, but the other is not stained, which is a little odd - possibly this leg has been off and repaired at some point, as there are three dowels showing near this leg in the lower column. The table overall is stable and useable but would benefit from restoration to the finish.
A collection of ceramics relating to clowns including a set of three limited edition plates designed by Ben Black from the Behind the Painted Masque series, a 19th century Brownfield Carnival pattern jug with printed decoration of jesters, a spirit flask and six mugs in the form of a clown seated on a barrel, a collection of Allerton's Noah's Ark pattern nursery wares, etc together with further ceramics including Wedgwood jasperware boxes and covers, etc
George II silver spirit kettle on stand with embossed and engraved floral and C-scroll decoration with wicker covered handle and boxwood finial on a pierced and cast mask head decorated stand with shaped supports (lacking spirit burner), makers mark for Robert Tyrell, date letter for London 1744 / '45, 60 troy ozs
Rare original vintage advertising poster: Shell is Nature's Mixture. Shell Spirit is singularly rich in Natural Benzol in correct proportion with the petrol to assure perfect combustion. Being a great engine cleaning agent there is no risk of sticky valves or a fouled engine. Every drop is converted into power, hence the high mileage of Shell. Reduce friction losses by lubricating with Shell Motor Oils. Great early black and white illustration by Edmund Joseph Sullivan (1869-1933) depicted two ladies sitting in a nature scene surrounded by trees and flowers while pouring liquid into a giant shell from large jars, the text at the top and below. Fair condition, tears in left and bottom margins, creases and folds, irregular edge on the right side. UK,1923. Designer: Edmund Joseph Sullivan . Size (cm):63.5x50
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