THEATRICAL

English actress (1892-1977), daughter of actor Fred Terry (1864-1932) and his wife the actress Julia Emilie Neilson (1868-1957). One page, 4to, in a large hand. "Dear Mr. Bass. / Many thanks for yr. kind letter & the present. / It was nice of you. / Yours very truly / Phyllis Neilson-Terry". Paper somewhat discoloured.

English actress (1806-99), wife of the actor Robert Keeley (1793-1869). 2 pp, 12mo. "Mr Gowing is coming to eat his dinner with me at 5 oclock to day, will you join him at 5 sharp as he has to leave at 1/2 pt nine / faithfully yours / M A Keeley". Slight waterstaining to head of letter.

English actress (1892-1977), daughter of actor Fred Terry (1864-1932) and his wife the actress Julia Emilie Neilson (1868-1957). One page, 4to. "Thank you very much indeed for your charming letter of welcome. / I sincerely hope that you will enjoy "Trilby". I have had great success with it elsewhere, and I only hope that Manchester will love the old play also. / thankyou for your inquiries regarding my mother and Father, they are both well."

Classical actress and theatre manager (1872-1957), later Lady Simson. The signature is 2½ inches long, on a piece of grey paper, with one crease but otherwise in good condition. The paper is mounted on a piece of card which is neatly docketed, 'Lena Ashwell | now | Lady Simson 1925 | Actress | famous in | [...] | Appointed Office of the Order of the British Empire for valuable work in providing concerts at the front and at Home during the Great War'.

English actress (1806-99), wife of the actor Robert Keeley (1793-1869). One page, 12mo. A formal acceptance in the third person. "Mrs Keeley accepts with great pleasure Mrs Lewis's kind invitation for Thursday July 7th." Traces of previous mounting to blank reverse. The spelling of her second name "Ann" appears erroneous.

Lessee of the Adelphi Theatre. English actress (1799-1860), wife of the actor Frederick Henry Yates (1795-1842). 2 pp, 12mo. An interesting letter to "Mrs. Yates" shedding light on the theatre mores of the period. "Mr. Beckett & Mr.

English actress (1882-1976), Dame of the British Empire (1931), Companion of Honour (1970). Written on an empty 12mo envelope. "Please come round & see me when the matinee is over. / Sybil Thorndike".

English actress (1868-1957), the wife of Fred Terry. 2 pp, 12mo. Written in a bold hand. "[...] if they will come & see me as they used to when I lived in Devonshire Street - With again many thanks / Sincerely yours / Julia Neilson-Terry / My husband is also rehearsing.

English actress (1806-80), wife of Charles John Kean (1811-68). One page, 12mo. "Sir/ / Under the sofa in our sitting room you will find a long narrow deal Box. [at least we left it there] it contains a roll of Pictures - will you oblige me by sending it properly directed to Mr. Kean 8 Torrington Square London and sent immediately / Ellen Kean". Cropped, with traces of previous mount on reverse.

English actress (1868-1957), the wife of Fred Terry (1864-1932). 2 pp, 12mo. On the recto: "Dear Sir / Herewith I am sending portrait of myself [not present] All my pictures". Lengthwise on the reverse, in a bold hand, "Truly yours / Julia Neilson=Terry".

English actress (1806-80), wife of Charles John Kean (1811-68). "Dear Mr. Shaw / I have not forgotten the little girl and I want more books / I hope you are well through this weather / yours very sincerely / Ellen Kean". Negligible evidence of previous mounting.

Actress, singer and dancer (1797?-1867), a great beauty whose amours were the subject of a number of pamphlets. "Thursday 2 o'clock", 3 pp, 12mo. She sent him a dinner invitation that morning but he had gone. "Thank Ferdinand for his Book which I return - and for the apple - which I shall cut up with some curiosity". In a postscript she thanks him for "I cannot sing". Signed "M H", so dating from after her marriage to Harrington in 1831. In good overall condition, despite negligible water staining, tears and traces of mount.

Actress. 2 pp, 12mo. She thanks him for his letters and the handkerchiefs. "I am very glad you enjoyed "Kismet", it is indeed a fine play." She encloses a postcard [not present] and will let him have one of the photographs she is having taken.

2 pp, 12mo. She thanks her for her "sweet present", and then makes what appears to be a reference to John Gielgud: "I'm taking Betty tonight to see John - her first evening performance! She is so thrilled. I am so sorry he has been so reedy, but perhaps the enforced rest will do him good." Slight traces of adhesive tape to left-hand margin of recto.

English actress (1868-1957), the wife of Fred Terry (1864-1932). 2 pp, 8vo, on blue paper. Intimate letter written in a large hand. "Darling - Yes the book arrived I do congratulate the way you've written & arranged the book. Delighted with it & everything about it: splendid / You would have heard before this only I've been rather ill with day & night nurses = even now I'm finding it difficult to recover my strength / I shall hope to see you in the new year & here is my love & good wishes from / your affectionate old / Julia".

[Saville] Esme Percy, Actor (1887-1957). The first, 21 November [1911], Theatre Royal, Bury, Lancashire. "So glad you are coming over Saturday night. If you will kindly let me know how many of you are coming I shall be pleased to give you all Tea if you will accept my invitation." The second, 24 November 1911, Theatre Royal, Bury, Lancashire, on deleted letterhead of the Gaiety Theatre, Manchester. "I shall expect you at 5 pm at 34 Shepherd St. Bury - am so glad your friends are coming with you". Two items,

One page, 12mo. She has just returned from the theatre at 11 o'clock and is "delighted to have been able to obtain a ticket". Signed "May". Stuck to the foot of the page is a newspaper cutting describing Sarah Bernhardt's performance in Emile Moreau's play on Queen Elizabeth. This ends, "A word is fairly due to the work of M. Lou Teilegen and Madame May Agathe, and to the excellence of the stage management." Creased and with traces of mount on reverse.

English actress (1868-1957), the wife of Fred Terry (1864-1932). 4pp, on two identical 12mo cards, both with the letterhead. "My dear Mrs Davis / I am so grieved to hear about the poor . I hope & trust it is not very serious & that they will get well very quickly what an anxiety for you all I am quite well thank you but am awfully sorry I I shall not be able to help you on the 22nd as I am dining out. With best love to you all / Yours sincerely / Julia Neilson" Both cards bear traces of previous mounting.

Actress (1839-1921), wife of the actor-manager Squire Bancroft. 2 pp, 12mo. "Send me the lines & I will see what I can do. I am so sorry to give you all this trouble for I know how busy you are / yrs very sincerely / M. E. Bancroft".

English actress (1868-1957), the wife of Fred Terry (1864-1932). 4 pp, 8vo. She thanks her for her kind invitation, which she cannot accept as they are going back to London on the Sunday. "We are only giving a matinee at Wolverhampton & have to return to Birmingham to play at night / It was very sweet of you to ask us." Minor traces of previous mounting.

Actress (1894-1978). Card, on one side of which is printed, "30 CONDUIT ST / BOND STREET / W / TELEPHONE / 1923 / MAYFAIR / INSTEAD thanks / .... / for .... letter, and order for Photographs which are being proceeded with. / .... 192 ...." Over this, lengthwise and upwards, is the signature "Fay Compton", and above it an attempt at forgery, with the "Compton" reasonably convincing, but with "Fey" for "Fay". On the blank reverse another signature by Compton. The actress would appear to have provided these examples of her signature for copying onto her publicity photographs.

Actress (1839-1921), wife of the actor-manager Squire Bancroft. One page, 12mo. She declines an invitation. "Dear Mrs. Moscelles / I am going out of town tomorrow for some days or I shd. have been delighted / Yrs very sincerely / Marie Bancroft". Removal from a mount has resulted to loss at the top of the leaf, and there are traces of glue and paper on the reverse.

American actress (1874-1950), sister of Maxine Elliott. One page, 12mo, mounted on a piece of card. "Dear Madam / Pray accept my hearty thanks for so kindly subscribing to the Actors Benevolent Fund."

English actress (1839-1895), for a time manageress of the Olympic Theatre. 2 pp, 12mo. "I enclose you the Stalls with much pleasure - and I hope you will enjoy the performance. Please place the enclosed cheque for £25 - to my account and oblige / Yours sincerely / Ada Cavendish". Traces of glue and paper from previous mounting at foot of second page.

English actress (1868-1957), the wife of Fred Terry (1864-1932). 2 pp, 12mo. "Dear Mrs Lewis / My mother & I will be delighted to accept your kind invitation on Friday afternoon / With kind regards / very truly yours / Julia Neilson". With traces of paper and glue from previous mounting on blank recto of second leaf.

English actress (1855-96), sister of Ellen Terry and member of celebrated theatrical dynasty. 2 pp, 12mo. "You really must think me a pig for not having written to you all this time - but now I send these few lines to thank you first for your good wishes and congratulations on my engagement to Mr Morris & for kind remembrance of my birthday - The card was a very pretty one - I hope to be home after the 4th of next month - so I shall hope to see you before long now: It must be delightful on the Thames: With love and thanks to you & Alice Lewis for all your good wishes".

Actress (1839-1921), wife of the actor-manager Squire Bancroft. 2 pp, 12mo. "Will you lunch with me on Wednesday at 2 oclock / You will meet a few nice people / Yrs sincerely / Marie Bancroft".

English actress (1839-1895), for a time manageress of the Olympic Theatre. One page, 12mo. "Sir / I have much pleasure in forwarding you my autograph / Yours truly / Ada Cavendish". One of the edges unevenly cropped, and slight traces of previous mounting on the reverse.

English actress (1844-1938), daughter of the actor-manager Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree (1853-1917). One page, 8vo. "Thank you a thousand times for the lovely herbs, how glad I was to have them and their sweet smell, instead of the artificial things - / It was a sweet thought - / Yours sincerely / Viola Tree". Creased, and with traces of paper and glue from previous mounting to the blank reverse.

American-born actress (1842-1917). End of letter on mourning paper, now 12mo, signed in her married name. "Very truly yrs / Kate Crowe".