STEEN, Marguerite. An impressive archive covering much of her literary career, most signed or inscribed association copies, with original photographs and typed letters signed. The archive includes her early work, Oakfield Plays (1932) which offers most of what remains of her early artistic career, and three of her four famed biographies—of Mary ’Perdita’ Robinson, of the Terry family of theatre fame, and of her lover, the artist William Nicholson. A Pride of Terrys (1962) also includes a signed photo-card of Ellen Terry, whom Steen met when pursuing a theatrical career, Terry, then in her twilight years, offering sage advice to Steen to pursue a writing career. She went on to write over thirty novels undetected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature. Her important biography of her lover, William Nicholson remains one of the finest portraits of the artist, and this copy is signed by both the author and her lover, probably uniquely so. Also included are excellent copies of her autobiographies, Looking Glass (1966) and Pier Glass (1968), both excellent portraits of her own life and of the British art scene from the 20s through to the 60s. Both volumes are inscribed by Steen with original photographs and negatives of Steen and the recipient, likely in Blewbury in Oxfordshire, where Steen and Nicholson moved to after the war. A typed copy of an address given at the requiem and funeral of Steen by Hugh Pickles, Vicar of Blewbury, is also included. Her two belles letres, Granada Window, a portrait of her life spent in Spain, and Little White King, a fond celebration of her cat, are included, plus two of her mid-career novels published when Steen was very much a household name. There is also a postcard from Steen to the recipient detailing her trips across the UK to visit old friends and past acquaintances. The recipient was long-time friend and eventual neighbour of Steen, Eileen Crowe, and most volumes are very affectionately inscribed to her, as ‘Aunt Maggie’ often enough. A wonderful cache of ten books, details of each below.
Oakfield Plays: including the Inglemere Christmas Play (Ivor Nicholson and Watson, 1932), inscribed; The Lost One: A biography of Mary Perdita Robinson (Methuen, 1937); William Nicholson (Collins, 1943), inscribed by both Steen and Nicholson; Granada Window (The Falcon Press, 1949), signed and inscribed; Little White King (Michael Joseph, 1956), signed, inscribed and with a postcard ALS; The Tower (Collins, 1959), signed; The Woman in the Back Seat (Collins, 1959), signed and inscribed; A Pride of Terrys: A Family Saga (Longmans, 1962), signed and with a photograph printed ‘the only authorised photograph of Mr. Irving as “The Vicar” and Miss Ellen Terry as “Olivia” by Window and Grove of London, signed by Ellen Terry at top corner; Looking Glass and Pier Glass (Longmans, 1966-1968), both copies signed and inscribed, the former with Book Society Alternative Choice bellyband, and with several original photographs of Steen with Crowe in, presumably, Blewbury, in their later years, with the photograph negatives and a Book Token loosely inserted again inscribed to Crowe. Most volumes very good or better. All first editions, first printings, and with their dust jackets. Across the collection, there are some instances of mild foxing, toning and light marks, the jackets all unclipped with nicks to Granada Window and Little White King, the others usually fine. More condition details on request.
STEEN, Marguerite. An impressive archive covering much of her literary career, most signed or inscribed association copies, with original photographs and typed letters signed. The archive includes her early work, Oakfield Plays (1932) which offers most of what remains of her early artistic career, and three of her four famed biographies—of Mary ’Perdita’ Robinson, of the Terry family of theatre fame, and of her lover, the artist William Nicholson. A Pride of Terrys (1962) also includes a signed photo-card of Ellen Terry, whom Steen met when pursuing a theatrical career, Terry, then in her twilight years, offering sage advice to Steen to pursue a writing career. She went on to write over thirty novels undetected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature. Her important biography of her lover, William Nicholson remains one of the finest portraits of the artist, and this copy is signed by both the author and her lover, probably uniquely so. Also included are excellent copies of her autobiographies, Looking Glass (1966) and Pier Glass (1968), both excellent portraits of her own life and of the British art scene from the 20s through to the 60s. Both volumes are inscribed by Steen with original photographs and negatives of Steen and the recipient, likely in Blewbury in Oxfordshire, where Steen and Nicholson moved to after the war. A typed copy of an address given at the requiem and funeral of Steen by Hugh Pickles, Vicar of Blewbury, is also included. Her two belles letres, Granada Window, a portrait of her life spent in Spain, and Little White King, a fond celebration of her cat, are included, plus two of her mid-career novels published when Steen was very much a household name. There is also a postcard from Steen to the recipient detailing her trips across the UK to visit old friends and past acquaintances. The recipient was long-time friend and eventual neighbour of Steen, Eileen Crowe, and most volumes are very affectionately inscribed to her, as ‘Aunt Maggie’ often enough. A wonderful cache of ten books, details of each below.
Oakfield Plays: including the Inglemere Christmas Play (Ivor Nicholson and Watson, 1932), inscribed; The Lost One: A biography of Mary Perdita Robinson (Methuen, 1937); William Nicholson (Collins, 1943), inscribed by both Steen and Nicholson; Granada Window (The Falcon Press, 1949), signed and inscribed; Little White King (Michael Joseph, 1956), signed, inscribed and with a postcard ALS; The Tower (Collins, 1959), signed; The Woman in the Back Seat (Collins, 1959), signed and inscribed; A Pride of Terrys: A Family Saga (Longmans, 1962), signed and with a photograph printed ‘the only authorised photograph of Mr. Irving as “The Vicar” and Miss Ellen Terry as “Olivia” by Window and Grove of London, signed by Ellen Terry at top corner; Looking Glass and Pier Glass (Longmans, 1966-1968), both copies signed and inscribed, the former with Book Society Alternative Choice bellyband, and with several original photographs of Steen with Crowe in, presumably, Blewbury, in their later years, with the photograph negatives and a Book Token loosely inserted again inscribed to Crowe. Most volumes very good or better. All first editions, first printings, and with their dust jackets. Across the collection, there are some instances of mild foxing, toning and light marks, the jackets all unclipped with nicks to Granada Window and Little White King, the others usually fine. More condition details on request.
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