SHAW, George Bernard (1856-1950). - photo 1

SHAW, George Bernard (1856-1950).

Lot 83
12.07.2023 00:00UTC +00:00
Classic
Sold
£ 1 134
AuctioneerCHRISTIE'S
Event locationUnited Kingdom, London
Buyer Premiumsee on Website%
Archive
The auction is completed. No bids can be placed anymore.
Archive
ID 993246
Lot 83 | SHAW, George Bernard (1856-1950).
Estimate value
£ 1 000 – 1 500
SHAW, George Bernard (1856-1950).

Autograph letter signed (with initials, 'G.B.S.') to Ellen [Terry], Wyndham Croft, 15 June 1916.

One page, 114 x 177mm, with printed address of 10 Adelphi Terrace. Provenance: Parke Bernet, New York, 16/17 May 1961, lot 402; Bonhams, 12 June 2012, lot 140. With a picture postcard of Terry in costume, signed by her.



An extravagant love-letter to the great actress Ellen Terry. 'My blessedest darling Ellen – for such were the feelings that rushed over me when you appeared, willow slender, on the roof the other day – I have been away from London ever since the book came out, and so have been unable to send a single copy to anyone. When I return you shall have your own copy; so you may give away the sordid commercial sample you have acquired. / Why do I make you nervous? I know why you make me nervous. It is because people are looking on, and the way I want to and ought to behave would be ridiculous and indecorous. But meet me by moonlight alone; and – my word! – you shall see'.



The book referred to is the new edition of Androcles and the Lion, Overruled and Pygmalion, which had appeared in New York on 21 April and London on 25 May. Shaw's long friendship, and correspondence, with the great actress Ellen Terry (1847-1928) is thought to have been no more than an amitié amoureuse, in spite of the exuberance of the present letter. The Shaw-Terry correspondence was published in 1931.





Special notice

This lot is offered without reserve.
Address of auction CHRISTIE'S
8 King Street, St. James's
SW1Y 6QT London
United Kingdom
Preview
12.07.2023 – 12.07.2023
Phone +44 (0)20 7839 9060
Email
4FQ.AYGKAGLUQ@FO3G@
Buyer Premium see on Website
Conditions of purchaseConditions of purchase

More from Creator

Saint Joan
Saint Joan
£4 000
George Bernard Shaw (1856-1950)
George Bernard Shaw (1856-1950)
£100
George Bernard Shaw (1865-1950)
George Bernard Shaw (1865-1950)
£100
Gertrude Stein (1874-1946) and others
Gertrude Stein (1874-1946) and others
£100

Related terms

Frequently asked questions

First of all, you should register to be able to purchase at auction. After confirming your email address, enter your personal information in your user profile, such as your first name, last name, and mail address. Choose a lot from the upcoming auction and the maximum amount you want to place on it. After confirmation of your choice, we will send your application by e-mail to the appropriate auction house. If the auction house accepts a request, it will participate in the auction. You can view the current status of a bid at any time in your personal account in the "Bids" section.
Auctions are performed by auction houses and each of the auction houses describes their terms of auction. You can see the texts in the section "Auction information".
The results of the auction are published within a few days after the end of the auction. In the top menu of the site, find the tab "Auctions". Click on it and you will be on the auction catalog page, where you can easily find the category "Results". After opening it, select the desired auction from the list, enter and view the current status of the interested lot.
The information about the auction winners is confidential. The auction winner will receive a direct notification from the auction house responsible with instructions for further action: an invoice for payment and the manner in which the goods will be received.
Each of the auction houses has its own payment policy for the won lots. All auction houses accept bank transfers, most of them accept credit card payments. In the near future you will find detailed information for each case in the section "Auction information" on the page of the auction catalog and the lot.
Shipment of the won lot depends on its size. Small items can be delivered by post. Larger lots are sent by courier. Employees of the auction houses will offer you a wide range to choose from.
No. The archive serves as a reference for the study of auction prices, photographs and descriptions of works of art.
?>