1st Dec, 2023 13:00
Autograph Letters, Manuscripts & Historical Documents
69
COWARD NOEL: (1899-1973
COWARD NOEL: (1899-1973) English actor, playwright and composer, Academy Award winner. A.L.S., Noel Coward, two pages, 8vo, Ebury Street, London, 24th February n.y. (1920s?), to Martin Secker. Coward states that he has just returned from America and received the book that Secker had kindly sent him, remarking ‘I consider it absolutely brilliant, filled with colour and excellent writing – and added to both it is tremendously exciting’. One very small, extremely minor pinhole to the upper left corner, VG
Martin Secker (1882-1978) British publisher noted for producing the work of a number of distinguished literary authors including D. H. Lawrence, Thomas Mann and George Orwell.
It was at his home in Ebury Street where Noel Coward wrote his play The Vortex in 1924. It was the first play about drug addiction and depicts the sexual vanity of a rich, ageing beauty, her troubled relationship with her adult son, and drug abuse in British society circles following World War I. The play premiered in London in November 1924 and subsequently went on tour around Britain, followed by a New York production in 1925-26. Despite (or because of) its scandalous content for the time, The Vortex was Coward’s first great commercial success.
Condition Report
The condition is given at the end of each lot description, noting any faults, and providing a grading as to our opinion of the overall condition.
If you require more specific information, please submit a request using the button below.
COWARD NOEL: (1899-1973) English actor, playwright and composer, Academy Award winner. A.L.S., Noel Coward, two pages, 8vo, Ebury Street, London, 24th February n.y. (1920s?), to Martin Secker. Coward states that he has just returned from America and received the book that Secker had kindly sent him, remarking ‘I consider it absolutely brilliant, filled with colour and excellent writing – and added to both it is tremendously exciting’. One very small, extremely minor pinhole to the upper left corner, VG
Martin Secker (1882-1978) British publisher noted for producing the work of a number of distinguished literary authors including D. H. Lawrence, Thomas Mann and George Orwell.
It was at his home in Ebury Street where Noel Coward wrote his play The Vortex in 1924. It was the first play about drug addiction and depicts the sexual vanity of a rich, ageing beauty, her troubled relationship with her adult son, and drug abuse in British society circles following World War I. The play premiered in London in November 1924 and subsequently went on tour around Britain, followed by a New York production in 1925-26. Despite (or because of) its scandalous content for the time, The Vortex was Coward’s first great commercial success.
By far the most popular way to participate in our auctions is to bid live via our website on the day. If you are bidding online with IAA Europe for the first time you will need to create an account, which is a very easy and straightforward process. Once you have an account you will simply be required to register to bid in each sale. On the day you will have access to a live audio and visual stream so that you can follow the excitement of the auction as it happens and submit bids in real time.
There are also several simple ways that you can bid at our auctions without being online. The most traditional method is to submit a commission (or absentee) bid. This can be done through your personal IAA Europe account, or by contacting us directly via email or telephone to submit the information.
It is also possible to bid ‘live’ on the telephone during our auctions. However, there are a limited number of telephone lines available to us and telephone bids will only be accepted on a first come, first served basis. Unfortunately, we will not be able to accept telephone bids for lots with a minimum estimate of less than 400€. Whilst every effort will be made to accommodate the concession of telephone bidding, please be advised that IAA Europe S.L. are unable to accept any liability, howsoever caused in connection with telephone bidding. Please note that any lots purchased through telephone bidding will be subject to an additional 3% commission charge + VAT at the rate imposed on the hammer price.
Auction: Autograph Letters, Manuscripts & Historical Documents, 1st Dec, 2023
