Guinness, Sir Alec.

autograph manuscript neatly written in blue ink, underlinings in red ink,  with scattered revisions in pencil, Acts I, II and an abandoned early draft of Act III in a lined account book, 60 pages, plus blanks, a revised and completed version of Act III on loose sheets, 32 pages, plus blanks, text on rectos only, boards slightly scuffed, nicks and tears to loose sheets

Alec Guinness; Mrs Agnes Stiven (the author's mother); C.H. Dillon-Trenchard (President of the Winchester Amateur Dramatic Society); to the present owner (since c.1965) 

Condition is described in the main body of the catalogue, where appropriate
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

"...In the last summer of 1939, temporarily out of work, I made an adaptation of Great Expectations and showed it, almost casually, to George and Sophie Devine..." (from Guinness, Blessings in Disguise)

An unpublished script by Alec Guinness, providing a unique insight into how this most literary of actors responded to Dickens. The adaptation was staged in December 1939 with Guinness himself playing Herbert Pocket and Martita Hunt as Miss Haversham. Both the play and Guinness's performance were well received but the war prevented its transfer and the production was short-lived. The young David Lean was in the audience and was deeply impressed with the production; he was to cast both Guinness and Hunt in their earlier stage roles when he came to make his own film of Great Expectations - a film that is highly significant in its own right, and provided Guinness with his breakthrough screen role.