Simpson wallis edward viii (4 risultati)

Couverture rigide. Condizione: bon. RO60138932: 1986. In-8. Relié. Bon état, Couv. convenable, Dos satisfaisant, Intérieur frais. 308 pages. Illustré de nombreuses photos en noir et blanc dans et hors texte. Avec Jaquette. . . Classification Dewey : 420-Langue anglaise. Anglo-saxon. Illus. With Photos (illustratore).…

See Sitwell's entry in the Oxford DNB. In his 1999 biography Philip Ziegler describes how the 'doggerel polemic Rat Week' 'excoriated' the supporters of the Edward VII and Mrs Simpson: 'Osbert realised that this diatribe, if published, might land him in a flurry of libel actions, but he could not resist having a few copies made and distributed to his closer cronies; Mrs. Greville, Lady Aberconway, Lady Cholmondeley and Philip Frere among them. They showed it to their closer friends, copies were made, word of it passed around, soon it was known to everyone who was anyone in London.' Sitwell himself has described how it spread 'with the force and urgency of an eighteenth-century ballad: little did I know that it had multiplied and taken to itself wings, that it was being declaimed in drawing-rooms and saloon-bars and the public rooms of hotels, and that strangers were handing garbled versions of it to one another, later to be read aloud in crowded omnibuses or over the subterranean roar of the tube-trains. No contemporary work of which I am cognisant ever obtained a similar immediate popular response.' When the editor of the magazine 'Cavalcade' published an expurgated version, Sitwell sued for breach of copyright. After some litigation the magazine settled out of court for £500. Mimeograph typescript. 3pp, 4to. Fifty-six irregular lines of rhymed verse, in six stanzas. Paginated. On three loose leaves. In good condition, lightly aged and worn. Folded twice. Underlined at top right of first page: 'Private.' Considering the mimeographed nature of the document, the typewriting style, the watermark, and not least the word 'Private', there is every indication that the present item is one of the 'few copies' Sitwell had made. Begins: 'Where are the friends of yesterday | That fawned on Him, | That flattered Her? | Where are the friends of yesterday, | Submitting to His every whim, | Offering praise of Her as myrrh | to Him?' Individuals whose names were suppressed in the 'Cavalcade' version are 'sweet Maid Mendl', 'Colefax - in her iron cage / of curls' and John McMullen. There are also references to 'Balmoral's Coburg Towers', 'dear Fort Belvedere' and 'the Ritz Bar'. Published (Penguin) 1986 (described by dealteers as "First Edition").…

Mimeographed typescript. Thin, white paper (25.5 x 20.2cm), pp. 3, titled "RAT WEEK by Osbert Sitwell" and comprising 56 lines of mimeographed black type in eight stanzas, printed on one-side only, final page detached, rusty staple to top left corners, rust echo to bottom of pages, toned, a few fox spots, two-folds, some creasing at central fold. Else, clean. Very good An unusual, mimeographed copy of the unexpurgated version of Osbert Sitwell's "doggerel polemic Rat Week," his satirical poem about the abdication of King Edward VIII, which denounced "the [once] gay, courageous pirate crew" of the monarch's (apparent) friends; he named Lady Mendl, Lady Colefax, and the fashion editor Johnny McMullen, who Sitwell considered treacherous sycophants. Sitwell knew that publication would likely lead to libel action, "but he could not resist having a few copies made and distributed to his closer cronies; Mrs Greville, Lady Aberconway, Lady Cholmondley and Philip Frere among them. They showed it to their closer friends, copies were made, word of it passed around, soon it was known to everyone who was anyone in London." (Ziegler, 1999). Retrospectively (and with some glee, it seems), Sitwell likened the spread and popularity of the poem to "an eighteenth-century ballad" and claimed: "little did I know that it had multiplied and taken to itself wings, that it was being declaimed in drawing-rooms and saloon-bars and the public rooms of hotels, and that strangers were handing garbled versions of it to one another, later to be read aloud in crowded omnibuses or over the subterranean roar of the tube-trains." (Sitwell, 1986). It received further attention when the editor of the weekly magazine Cavalcade published an expurgated version of 'Rat Week' the following year; Sitwell took legal action, demanding damages for breach of copyright, an apology, and the withdrawal of all unsold copies of the issue. The magazine eventually settled out of court for £500. A likely contemporary, but "garbled version" (at least compared with the version published in Sitwell's 1986 account of the debacle, Rat week: An essay on the abdication: it differs in stanza number, capitalisation, use of commas and semicolons, and includes an extra word to line 2 of the penultimate verse), with no indication of the agent of reproduction, and twice identifies Sitwell as its author (at its head and foot). Osbert Sitwell (1986) Rat week: An essay on the abdication (London: Michael Joseph); Philip Ziegler (1999) Osbert Sitwell: A biography (London: Pimlico).…

Soft cover. Condizione: Very Good. Original photograph & letter framed in gilt wood under glass. Photo & letter custom mounted side by side. The two documents: an original association letter (TLS - typed letter signed, 3 5/8" x 5 1/4" showing) and an original b/w - tending to slightly sepia - photograph 3" x 5 1/4" showing). The letter, typed on light blue paper, is from the Secretary of the Duchess of Windsor, Jean D_____ (can't quite decipher) to Mrs. Clay Harrell, addressed to the U. S. Consulate in Bermuda and dated 17th July, 1941. This is an imprinted letterhead: Government House / Nassau / Bahamas. In the upper left hand corner a small crown is imprinted. Following the salutation and above the signature lines are two paragraph with 10 lines total. The subject is an acknowledgment, with delight on behalf of Wallis Simpson, the reception of "two little books showing the horoscopes of His Royal Highness and herself. The Duchess is glad to have your views on the subject which has always been of interest to her." Immediately under the content of the letter, the sheet has been carefully cut, separating the content from the signature information. In between is carefully inserted, on slightly darker blue paper, the typed address, presumably from the envelope. Under that is carefully re-laid the signature information. The three pieces are skillfully joined. The photograph shows Edward and Wallis standing formally under the British Flag with a portion of a military and civilian crowd in the background. At the bottom are two original signatures in ink, "Edward" and "Wallis Windsor." Edward's signature is dark and Wallis' is more transparent, but both are strong and clear. Edward is wearing white ceremonial dress of some sort that an expert on royal/military dress will be able to identify, and a pith helmet. He is saluting. His left hand holds a ceremonial staff of some sort which extends from waist-level to the platform. Wallis is holding in her left arm and hand her handbag/purse and also what appears to be a folder of some sort. She is wearing a white suit with dark piping at the lapels and hem, and dark and white heels. She is also wearing a dark head adornment/small hat of some sort. The condition of both pieces is very good, but we will point out that the right side of the photo has a dark shadow about an inch wide from top to bottom. It does not obscure the figures on that side. The reason for the shadow is that the photo was obviously placed partially against the paper letter as the latter sports an opposite side shadow or "burn." It darkens the paper but does not obscure the text. There may be a slight darkening to the whole photo due to some contact with the letter, but the area we point out is more obvious. Rather good information may be found on the internet about the recipient, Mrs. Merrill. Her husband, Mr. Edwin Clay Merrell, "served as US Vice Consul and Consul to Bermuda from July 1920 until January 1947." In the June 1941 issue of The American Foreign Service Journal, reported is that the Merrells were moving. "Clay Merrell of Oklahoma, American Vice Consul at Hamilton, Bermuda, has been appointed American Vice Consul at Hamilton, Ontario, Canada." Mrs. Merrell married Clay in 1938. There is some sort of symmetry to the fact that Mrs. Merrell (Jane Benson Smith Weadock Merrell) had been married twice before she met Mr. Merrell, and Wallis Simpson had also been married twice before she married Edward, who abdicated the throne to marry her! Obviously this a desirable and rare item for collectors of more than one interest field. Framed size: 10 1/2" x 12/1/2". Signed by Author(s). …