NOVELIST

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[Jessica Brett Young, widow of novelist Francis Brett Young.] Four Autograph Letters Signed to 'Mr Jackson', 'Manager, Heinemann & Cassell', discussing her husband's copyrights in an energetic style, with notes on the writing of 'My Brother Jonathan'

Author: 
Jessica Brett Young [née Hankinson], (1883-1970), wife of the English novelist Francis Brett Young (1884-1954)
Publication details: 
All four on letterheads of the Mount Nelson Hotel, Cape Town. Written in October and November 1967.
£200.00

The first three letters each 1p., 4to; and the fourth 2pp., 4to. In good condition, on aged and creased paper, with three of the four letters stapled together. Letter One: 13 October 1967. She writes 'for information about my position concerning my late husband's books, and my Biography of him which Heinemann's published in London in 1962'. The closing of the firm's Cape Town office has been a shock to her. Letter Two: 4 November 1967.

[Mary Cholmondeley.] Autograph Letter Signed to fellow-novelist Frances Mary Peard

Author: 
Mary Cholmondeley (1859-1925), English novelist [Frances Mary Peard (1835-1923), English novelist, author of more than forty books]
Publication details: 
Hendon. 29 January [no year].
£56.00

3pp., 12mo. Bifolium. Good, on lightly-aged paper, with short closed tear at head of second leaf. She begins: 'I was so disturbed and disappointed when I came in on Tuesday to find I had missed you. And I believe you had been kind enough to call when we ought to be, and almost invariably are in - after 4.

[Frederick Forsyth] Two Typed Letters Signed "Frederick Forsyth" to Sally Worboyes, organiser and hostess of Fen Farm Arts Ltd (seminars for would-be writers)

Author: 
Frederick Forsyth, novelist
Publication details: 
[Headed notepaper] From the Office of Frederick Forsyth, East End Green Farm, Hertfordbury, Hertfordshire. SG14 2PD, 19 Oct. 1992 amd 7 Sept. 1993.
£100.00

One page each, obl. 12mo, good condition. (1992) He has to disappoint her. He receives "a constant stream of requests for appearances, lectures, utorials, charity fun runs, mixed in with pleas for book reviews, the reading of unpublished manuscriipts, help[ to find an agent,help to get published, etc. Heart-touching as these requests are, I fel I really have to stick to my guns and decline if I am to get any work done for myself.

[William Plomer] Two Autograph Letters Signed "William" and "William Plomer" to "Veronica" [C.V. Wedgwood, eminent historian].With Programme for The Memorial Service for Plomer. (1973)

Author: 
William Plomer South African-British author, novelist
Publication details: 
[Heade] Rossida, Stonefields, Rustington, Sussex, 30 Dec. 1955 AND [Also Headed] 43 Adastra Avenue, Hassocks,Susssex, 21 Aug. 1971.
£120.00

Two pages each, 12mo, good condition. [1955] He apologises for being late in telling her how enjoyable he found her luncheon party. "Whatever they were like when they arrived and at least two (I don't include myself) had been rather under the weather - your guests all went off as radiant as glow-worms." Further thanks and joyful remembrances; [1971] A shakier hand, he expresses his pleasure at his visit "except for one thing - which was seeing poor Philip afficted.

[Tom Sharpe, novelist] One Autograph Letter Signed and one Autograph Note Signed "Tom Sharpe" to Sally Worboyes, organiser and hostess of Fen Farm Arts Ltd (seminars for would-be writers)

Author: 
Tom Sharpe, novelist
Publication details: 
38 Tunwells Lane, Great Shelford, Cambridge, CB2 5LJ, no date [c.1990] and 25 Jan. 1991
£90.00

One page each, 4to and 8vo, good condition.[1990?) I wouldn't mind talking to your students but I'm not at all sure I'd be any good as a Tutor [...] In fact I might have an adverse effect on [?] students if I had to set projects and then read what they had written. I don't think I'm an adequate judge of other people's work: I know when I'm satisfied with my own work but that's as far as my judgment goes. Still I'm all in favour of encouraging writing, which is what your course sets out to do"; (1991) "I am off to Scotland for a bit but my wife Nancy will forward my letters.

[Margaret Drabble] Autograph Note Signed 'Margaret Drabble' to Sally Worboyes, organiser and hostess of Fen Farm Arts Ltd (seminars for would-be writers)

Author: 
Margaret Drabble, novelist
Publication details: 
[Headed Notepaper] Margaret Drabble Holroyd, The Kiln, Porlock Weir, Minehead, Somerset, TA24 8PB, 28 Oct. 1993.
£35.00

One page, 4to, good condition. "Thanks for your letter. I'm afraid that my reading days are long over - too busy - Sorry! Thanks for the invitation."

[Elizabeth Goudge, English novelist.] Autograph Letter Signed to 'Dear Mr. Ranesh', thanking him for his appreciation, and contrasting England with India.

Author: 
Elizabeth Goudge [Elizabeth de Beauchamp Goudge] (1900-1984), English novelist
Publication details: 
On letterhead of Rose Cottage, Dog Lane, Peppard Common, nr. Henley on Thames. 9 May [no year].
£80.00

2pp., 12mo. On grey paper. In good condition, lightly creased. She begins by thanking him for his 'very kind letter': 'It is always such an encouragement to me to hear that someone has liked my books, especially someone far away in India.

Autograph Letter Signed to Sylvia Lynd, poet and novelist.

Author: 
John Galsworthy, novelist
Publication details: 
Bury House, Bury, nr Pulborough, Sussex; 12 Nov. 1932.
£45.00

ALS, Bury House, Bury, nr Pulborough, Sussex; 12 Nov. 1932, good condition. 'We have been wondering what those delightful little noises we've been hearing about the house, were.'

[Terry Pratchett] Eight Typed Letters Signed or "initialled" (a squiggle) to Sally Worboyes of Fen Farm Arts Ltd (seminars for would-be writers, Pratchett being one of the well-known tutors).

Author: 
Terry Pratchett, fantasy author
Publication details: 
1991-1995
£1,350.00

Eight typed letters, total nine pages, 4to, varying in length from 2 or 3 lines to a page and a half.

Autograph Card Signed "P. Loti", French author ["to A . Chasserian", (publisher?)pencil note]

Author: 
Pierre Loti, French novelist
Publication details: 
No place or date.
£110.00

Card, 11.5 x 9cm, vestiges of laying down in corners of verso, good condition. "J'ai été obligé de changer mes petits places de voyage. Voulez-vous aussi chamger les votres et venir mercredi au lieu de Vendredi. |Amitié[ ...]"Note in another hand on verso: "Autograph of Pierre Loti, Académician, officier in the French Navy (real name Viaud) author of Pecheur d'Islande, Fantomes d'Orient, etc. | Given me by M. Arthur Chasserian to whom it was addressed, Decr/92."

Autograph Note Signed "Aldous Huxley" to a "Florence Just".

Author: 
Aldous Huxley, novelist
Publication details: 
No place, 1955.
£56.00

Piece of paper, 12 x 8cm, with message "Florence Just | with all good wishes, | Aldous Huxley | 1955", essentially framed by sellotape (with staining), c.7mm, stain extruding once into white space, sellotape and staining covering without concealing the "ey" of Huxley and the tail of the "9". Image available.

Autograph Letter Signed ('W. E. Norris') from the Victorian novelist William Edward Norris [to the father of Stephen John Aldrich], apologising for being unable to assist the recipient in settling his son.

Author: 
William Edward Norris (1847-1925), English novelist, author of more than sixty books [Stephen John Aldrich]
Publication details: 
14 Dover St, W. [London] 6 December 1889.
£65.00

2pp., 16mo. Twenty-two lines of text, written in small, neat style. From the papers of the subject of the letter, Stephen John Aldrich. In an era when the making of such an appeal as Aldrich's father's was commonplace, this is a remarkably well-written response: a model of tact and consideration. It reads: 'My dear Sir, | I most sincerely wish that I could be of any use to you in finding some opening for your son, but I fear that it is out of my power to help you.

Memorandum, signed twice by Rudyard Kipling, of a deposit made by him at the London City and Midland Bank Limited's Newgate branch, with corresponding receipt signed for the branch manager by J. H. Coulson.

Author: 
Rudyard Kipling [Joseph Rudyard Kipling] (1865-1936), English writer and poet; J. H. Coulson, Manager, London City and Midland Bank Limited, Newgate Street, London
Publication details: 
The London City and Midland Bank Limited, Newgate Branch [London]. Both documents dated 7 December 1910.
£500.00

The two documents were originally attached along a perforated line, and both bear the serial number 115476. Having been detached, they have been reattached by a strip of light brown paper. In good condition, on lightly-aged paper. Both are forms, printed in red and black, and both are filled in by Coulson, regarding a deposit by Kipling of '£500 (Five hundred pounds) Grand Trunk Pacific Branch Lines Co. First Mortgage Sterling Bonds' and '$2500 (Two thousand five hundred dollars) Northern New Brunswick & Seaboard Rly Co. 4% Gold Bonds'.

Part only of Autograph Letter Signed "Georgiana Fullerton".

Author: 
Georgiana Fullerton, novelist
Publication details: 
No place or date survives.
£25.00

Part of page, c.11 x 7.5, staining but surviviing text clear and complete as follows: "thy own, I remain Reverend Sir | Yours sincerely, | Georgiana Fullerton".

Typed Note Signed (in pink) "J Cartland" [ She has typed at top of letter "From: Miss Barbara Cartland, D. St. J."] to Mrs V. Ong, a fan.

Author: 
Barbara Cartland, romantic novelist
Publication details: 
[Printed heading] Camfield Place, Hatfield, Hertfordshire, 17 May 1983.
£120.00

One page, 8vo, good condition, thanking Mrs Ong for her letter and congratulating her on her fund-raising. She continues: " I am sending you my book 'Romantic Royal Marriages' which I have autographed for you. Last time it was auctioned it raised £50-oo so I do hope you do as well. | I am enclosing for you details of Selenium-ACE which really is amn amazing mineral, and after being cured of cancer I would certainly recommend that you take it."

Typed Letter Signed "Arthur" to "My dear Peggy"

Author: 
Arthur Hailey, Anglo-American novelist.
Publication details: 
[Printed heading] Lyford Cay, P.O. Box N-7776, Nassau, Bahamas, 30 October 1974.
£75.00

One page, 4to, good condition, initially giving family news and movements. "After you had all gone, it seemed strange to be in the house at Enfield, knowing I would never see mother again, and yet the place still spoke of her. However that changed quickly, and perhaps as well. The house was empty of furniture by Friday, and sold on Saturday. Only a few formalities remain, and those can be handled by mail." He suggests she might like a copy of a letter he wrote to his mother when her terminal illness "came to attention", which his mother had kept and obviously valued.

[Verse] Thought (Signed at end "Ann S. Stephens").

Author: 
Ann S. Stephens, American "dime" novelist.
Publication details: 
Washington, 29 June 1866.
£200.00

One page, 17.5 x 12cm, 8 lines, heavy grey paper, corner smudged, good condition. Title "Thought". "Give me thought - glorious thought [...] | To the sight of a flower; | Though it trembles and shrinks | From the touch of its thorn." Note: She was not known for her verse.

Autograph Signature of the British novelist Margaret Kennedy [Margaret Davies, Lady Davies].

Author: 
Margaret Kennedy [Margaret Davies, Lady Davies] (1896-1967), English novelist and playwright
Publication details: 
Place and date not stated.
£20.00

On one side of a piece of 11 x 11 cm paper, cut from the bottom of a letter. In good condition, lightly-aged. Reads, all in Kennedy's hand: 'Yours sincerely | Margaret Kennedy'.

Manuscript Memorandum and Manuscript Receipt, both signed ('Mortimer Collins') by the poet and novelist Edward James Mortimer Collins, assigning copyrights of his works to the London publishers Henry S. King & Co.

Author: 
Mortimer Collins [Edward James Mortimer Collins] (1827-1876), English poet and novelist [Henry S. King & Co., 65 Cornhill, London publishers]
Publication details: 
Both dated from Knowl Hill, Twyford, Berks. 19 March 1872 and 14 December 1872.
£95.00

ONE (memorandum): Headed: 'Memorandum of an Agreement between Messrs: Henry S. King & Co: of 65 Cornhill London of the one part and Mortimer Collins Esqre. of Knowl Hill, Twyford, Berks of the other part.' 19 March 1872. 1p., folio. In fair condition, on lightly-aged and worn paper. Pencil annotations. Five stamps at head (four embossed and one ink).

Autograph Note Signed ('Edward Sackville West'), a presentation inscription from the novelist and music critic Edward Charles Sackville-West, 5th Baron Sackville, to 'Madame Charles'.

Author: 
Edward Sackville West [Edward Charles Sackville-West, 5th Baron Sackville] (1901-1965), novelist and music critic
Publication details: 
No place. October 1934.
£35.00

1p., 12mo. On fly-leaf of book. Written in green ink on aged and spotted paper. Reads: 'For | Madame Charles with best wishes from | [signed] Edward Sackville West. | Oct. 1934'.

Autograph Letter Signed ('M. Hewlett') from the novelist and poet Maurice Hewlett, complaining that he has been underpaid for two pieces of writing.

Author: 
Maurice Hewlett [Maurice Henry Hewlett] (1861-1923), novelist and poet
Publication details: 
On letterhead of Broad Chalke, Salisbury. 5 December 1922.
£45.00

1p., 16mo. Fair, on aged paper, laid down on piece of card. '1349' in blue pencil at head of page. The letter reads: 'Thank you for the cheque. He ought to have paid for two, as both appeared in November. | - | Yes, I have another copy of . | - | [signed] M. Hewlett'.

Autograph Letter Signed ('Coulson Kernahan') from the English novelist John Coulson Kernahan, responding in a jocular fashion to a request for an autograph.

Author: 
John Coulson Kernahan (1858-1943), English novelist
Publication details: 
On letterhead of "Thrums", Westcliff-on-Sea, Essex.10 November 1900.
£38.00

1p., 16mo. 13 lines. In fair condition, lightly-faded on grey paper. 'You are quite welcome to my autograph - as long as you don't ask for it at the front of a cheque.' He apologises for not replying to the 'first letter': 'Let me make amends by sending this by return of post.' Signed 'Autographically Yours, | [signed] Coulson Kernahan'

Autograph Letter Signed from the Victorian novelist Ethel Bourne [to Rupert Simms, author of the 'Bibliotheca Staffordiensis'] explaining her reasons for publishing under the pseudonym 'Evelyn Burne'.

Author: 
Ethel Bourne, Victorian novelist under the pseudonym 'Evelyn Burne' [Rupert Simms (1853-1937), bookseller and author of the 'Bibliotheca Staffordiensis']
Publication details: 
On letterhead of Hilderstone Hall, Stone, Staffordshire. 18 May 1892.
£38.00

1p., 12mo. 10 lines. On bifolium. Good, on lightly-aged paper. She explains that her only publications up to that point are 'Stormbeaten and Weary' and 'Spectre Stricken' ('a Christmas Story'). 'I wish to remain unknown until I can write a book I consider sufficiently good to have my own name - for this reason I have called myself "Evelyn Burne".'

Typed Letter Signed from the Anglo-Jewish novelist Emanuel Litvinoff, thanking Derek Stanford for a review, and discussing the novelist Angus Wilson ('one of the few writers to whom I've written a fan letter') and short story writing.

Author: 
Emanuel Litvinoff (19150-2011), Anglo-Jewish novelist [Derek Stanford (1918-2008), Anglo-Jewish author and critic; Angus Wilson (1913-1991), English novelist]
Publication details: 
36 Byron Court, Mecklenburgh Square, London. 2 July 1973.
£165.00

1p., 4to. He thanks Stanford for sending 'the carbon' of his 'warm review' of Litvinoff's novel ('A Death out of Season'). He missed the article and the note Stanford wrote 'about my autobiographical sequence' in the Scotsman, but is now iinterested to see from the review that Stanford is 'nursing the idea of a 'Forties memoir. Amazingly, few of us have written about the decade. I shall be getting around to it one day also, I hope.

Autograph Letter Signed "Edward George Lytton Bulwer", to [Barbarina Lady Dacre], about her Poems (published 1821).

Author: 
Edward Bulwer Lytton, novelist
Publication details: 
Knebworth, Saturday morning [n.d. - pre-1844 when he became Bulwer-Lytton].
£180.00

One page, 8vo, laid down on another paper, fold marks and slightly crumpled, trimmed with loss of part of "K" of "Knebworth" only, otherwise text clear and complete. "It is with many thanks that Ireturn your Ladyship's Poems [...] I must differ from your Ladyship in the remark that 'Tragedy is not the field for female powers- I cannot help particualrly admiring the nobleness of the characters you have described, & the sentiments they atter are such as Man should utter.

Autograph Letter Signed and Typed Letter Signed Hugh Walpole to Robert Lynd, essayist and Irish Nationalist.

Author: 
Hugh Walpole (1884-1941), English novelist.
Publication details: 
York Terrace, London and Brackenburn, 1921, 1930.
£320.00

ALS and TLS, the TLS, on letterhead of 24 York Terrace, Regents Park, London; 3 October 1921; ALS, on letterhead of Brackenburn, Manesty Park, Keswick; 8 July 1930, 4pp., 12mo. A significant letter (TLS), relating to the formation of the PEN Club. 'Dear Mr. Lynd, | Several people who are interested in the business of books, including Mr. J. D. Beresford, Mr. Sidney Pawling, Mr. St. John Ervine, Mr. J. G. Wilson, Mr. Cecil Palmer and Mr.

Autograph Letter Signed Violet [Paget] to Robert Lynd, essayist and Irish Nationalist.

Author: 
Violet Paget ['Vernon Lee'] (1856-1935), author.
Publication details: 
Letterhead of 36 Chepstow Place, London; 24 September [1935
£150.00

ALS, on letterhead of 36 Chepstow Place, London; 24 September [1935], 2pp., 8vo. 'I have just come back from seeing Winifred Holtby in the nursing home where she is lying ill, & I fear there is no hope whatever for her. Her friends are very anxious that she shd. be adequately written about in the News Chronicle when the time […] & have asked me to ask you to see, if you wd.

The Popular Family Tales of Mrs. Craik

Author: 
[Mrs Craik]
Publication details: 
London: Simpkin, Marshall, Hamilton, Kent & Co (earliest published work in BL 1890).; Glasgow: Thomas D. Morison[after 1887, her year of death]
£350.00

430pp., 8vo, “Biographical Sketch,” unsigned, p. 5–6,bookplate (Presentation), bokseller's label (both inside front cover), very dark red smooth cloth, spine blocked in gold., sl. worn, corners bumped wear to edges of spine, eps foxed, pages stained (mainly sides), ow good. Copy in Parish Collection, Princeton; none listed on COPAC, WorldCat. or Woolf.

Autograph Letter Signed ('Elizabeth M. Delafield') from the novelist E. M. Delafield [Edmée Elizabeth Monica Dashwood, née de la Pasture] to an unnamed male recipient, referring to Charlotte M. Yonge's 'History of Christian Names'.

Author: 
E. M. Delafield [Edmée Elizabeth Monica Dashwood, née de la Pasture] (1890-1943), English novelist best-known for her 'Diary of a Provincial Lady' [Charlotte Mary Yonge (1823-1901)]
Publication details: 
On letterhead of Croyle, Cullompton, Devon. 5 December 1939.
£56.00

1p., 12mo. Fair, on lightly-aged paper. She thanks him for writing to her, and sending 'the two charming postcards'. She continues: 'I, also, often use the History of Christian Names - what a lot of research it must have meant for dear Miss Yonge!' Charlotte M. Yonge's 'History of Christian Names' was first published in 1863, with a revised version appearing in 1884.

[Typed] Memorandum of an Agreement.... Signed "May Laffan", Irish novelist, agreementy with publishers, Henry S. KIng, concerning her novel "Hogan, M.P.".

Author: 
May Laffan [Hartley] (1849–1916), Irish novelist.
Publication details: 
[London], 26 April 1876
£150.00

One page, sm. fol., sl. chipped and damp-affected but text legible (see scan on my website).

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