Appealing mini archive of 11 items signed by beloved English playwright Noel Coward, including five photographs and six ALSs signed either “Noel” or “Noel Coward.” The photos, glossy and matte-finish, ranging in size from 3.5 x 5.5 to 8 x 10, depict Coward at various stages of his influential career and are each signed in ballpoint or fountain pen, two of which are inscribed, and two dated to 1930 and 1959. The handwritten letters, 11 total pages, dating between 1925 and 1947, consist of sundry updates, pleasantries, and publishing advice, all penned with Coward’s lively and congenial writing style. Snippets of each letter are as follows:
February 24 [no year], to Martin Secker, thanking him for a book: “I consider it absolutely brilliant, filled with colour and excellent writing — and added to both it is tremendously exciting.”
No date, to noted theater manager Charles Dillingham: “I’m terribly sorry to have missed saying good bye. I have been hectic to the verge of insanity. Thank you a thousand times for having been so sweet to me during my stay here.”
No date (circa 1925), also to Dillingham: “Everything was agony with the temperature at 9000, particularly in the shade, but the last set raised screams of enthusiasm which was a great surprise. Oh God, when I think of New York.”
April 27, 1929, to writer Sewell Stokes: “I am terribly sorry, but I don’t want to have any publicity at all, so I would rather not have an article written about me just now. Please don’t think me ungracious.”
July 25, 1933, to Lt. Commander R. H. S. Rodger of the H.M.S. Glorious, offering advice on getting a tune published: “It's rather difficult to advise you about publishing a single tune, particularly if you have no lyric. It's worse than useless to send a tune to a publisher without a lyric and, anyhow, the publication of a single number is pretty rare these days unless the number in question happens to be in a show. I should advise that you find a lyric writer somewhere, or write a lyric yourself, and do two or three other tunes as well. Then, if you will send them to me, I will let you know what I think of them and maybe be able to help you. I shall be here for several months now.” Includes original mailing envelope.
April 13, 1947, to entertainer Denys Fitzpatrick: “Of course I understand perfectly. Having had nerve trouble myself in the past, I sympathize with your point of view completely. Try your best to relax…It would be a pity were you to give up the Theatre forever as you are a fine actor.” In overall fine condition.
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