[BRITISH AUTHORS & WRITERS]

787. [BRITISH AUTHORS & WRITERS] Archive of twelve 19th century authors, writers, poets and dramatists. Comprising mostly ALsS and ANsS, some with multiples. Included are author GILBERT PARKER (1861-1921). Five TLsS, 1910-1924, declining a lecture tour, his membership in the Sulgrave Institution and sending documents in 1915 to an American defending England during World War I [not present]. Plus three ALsS, 1905-19, with literary and social content; novelist JAMES PAYN (1830-1898). Six ALsS, ca. 1892, regarding literary and business matters; novelist ROBERT HICHENS (1864-1950). ALS with social content. Also Scottish missionary ROBERT MOFFAT (1795-1893) who translated both the New and Old Testaments into Tswana. ALS (1882) transmitting an enclosure [not present]; and clergyman SAMUEL WILBERFORCE (1805-1872). Signature page of ALS "Wilberforce" to Rear Admiral Dundes and including separate unsigned envelope addressed in his holograph. Also, clergyman and novelist CHARLES KINGSLEY (1819-1875). ALS, n.d., with social content; geographer CHARLES BEKE (1800-1874) who determined course of the Blue Nile. ALS, 4pp, 1868, with friendly personal content; dramatist and actor ARTHUR W. PINERO (1855-1934) writes in 1893 declining an invitation for work because he feels he has no aptitude; poet BRYAN W. PROCTOR. Pseudonym Barry Cornwall (1787-1874). ALS "B W Proctor" transmitting a gift from his garden to a friend. Also present is German biographical writer EMIL LUDWIG (1881-1948). TLS, May 21, 1938, regarding the publication in a Jewish paper of his father's photograph on the occasion of his 100th birthday. Plus actor SQUIRE BANCROFT (1841-1926), who with his wife Marie Effie, opened the Prince of Wales Theatre and later performed at the Haymarket. Five ALsS, 1870-1885, one on Prince of Wales and four on Haymarket letterheads, mostly regarding theatre events and details; plus his signature on Prince of Wales's Royal Theatre document portion, May 9, 1871. Also, Italian tragedian TOMMASO SALVINI (1829-1915). In 1874 he played Hamlet opposite the ghost portrayed by Edwin Booth. AQS in Italian in four lines, London, May 23, 1884. Untranslated. Lastly included is portraitist and historical artist FRANK O. SALISBURY (1874-1962), who writes on both sides of note card imprinted with his "Red Gables, Harpenden, Herts." address, Mar 24, 1909, transmitting train ticket and penning schedule on verso. Normal toning; wear; mounting residue; occasional edge tears with little paper loss; and some soiling; and collectors' annotations. Overall Good/VG. [30 items] Est: $400-600

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