4th Dec, 2019 10:30 GMT/BST
Shaw, George Bernard
Four autograph letters and one typed, signed variously 'G.B.S.' or 'G. Bernard Shaw', 4 Whitehall Court, dated 1930-37 to The Leighton-Straker Bookbinding Company, relating to the bindings of his works, one (1934) with original envelope.
Two show Shaw's hands-on concern with the appearance of his Collected Works (which initially consisted of 30 works published in 1932). He pushes for a specific green dye for the cloth (as it remains fast even at the Equator) and advocates against the 'holland back' because he wants a decorative element to the presentation on a shelf. One (1930) is interesting bibliographically: Shaw requests they run a copy of one work up from waste in order to secure an interim American copyright. There is also a letter from Leighton-Straker in 1939 requesting the right to act on Shaw's behalf in securing War Risks insurance. Shaw's MSS reply at the foot displays a sanguine attitude to government actions. Finally there is a slip (from R.M.S. Empress of Britain, Haifa, 24/12/32) sending his compliments to an unnamed party. With two other letters from Dan H Lawrence (editor of the Collected Letters and Literary and Dramatic Advisor to the GBS estate) relating to these letters. [9]
Sold for £600
Estimated at £500 - £700
If you've got a similar item to sell, complete the valuation form below and one of our experts will get in touch.