4th Dec, 2019 10:30 GMT/BST

Books, Maps & Ephemera

 
Lot 86
 

86

Shaw, George Bernard Four autograph letters and one typed, signed variously 'G.B.S.' or 'G. Bernard

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


 

Auction: Books, Maps & Ephemera, 4th Dec, 2019

Books, Maps & Ephemera

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