Every day Sophie Dupre presents two items from her large stock of signed photographs, autograph letters, autographs for sale, royal memoralbilia and antiquarian manuscripts.
The photographs are presented with the catalogue descriptions.
On this day... see what happened on your special day
May 19
ON THIS DAY
On this day in 1861 Dame Nellie Melba, the Australian opera singer was born. She was one of the most famous singers of the late Victorian era and the early 20th century and the first Australian to achieve international recognition as a classical musician. She took the pseudonym "Melba" from Melbourne, her home town.
In 1984 the poet Laureate John Betjeman died at the age of 77. He was a founding member of the Victorian Society and a passionate defender of Victorian architecture. He began his career as a journalist and ended it as one of the most popular British Poets Laureate.
MELBA
(Dame Nellie, 1867-1931, Australian Soprano)
Fine Autograph letter signed in French with translation to an unnamed correspondent saying that she “will take great pleasure in seeing you again, but up to the 24th of this month I haven't a day free, it's terrifying. I will ask you to come and have dinner one evening after that date but please come and see me in the late evening some day before then ...”, 2 sides 8vo., 30 Great Cumberland Place, no date
38085
BETJEMAN (Sir John, 1906-1982, Poet Laureate)
Typed Letter Signed with autograph postscript, in his by now shaky hand, to Mr Clough regretting that he does ”not seem to have any time to myself this summer and so would not be able to see the film you made from my poem ‘Indoor Games Near Newbury’ ...” but I am sure it is good and “it was kind of you to donate the £10 to the York Minster Restoration Fund ...” in the postscript he says that he “generally works the other way round - film first then I write the verse ...” , 1 side 4to., on his headed paper, no place, 13th July 1976
37162
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