Lot 196
  • 196

Laurence Olivier

Estimate
600 - 800 GBP
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Description

  • Laurence Olivier
  • A collection of books owned by or inscribed to Laurence Olivier, comprising:
i) Jane Austen. Jane Austen’s Novels. Edited by Richard Brimley Johnson. London: J.M. Dent, 1895-1896, 10 volumes, 8vo, fifth editions, LAURENCE OLIVIER’S COPIES with his ownership inscription (“Olivier”) on the a preliminary blank in each volume, title pages printed in black and red within a decorative border, half olive green calf over marbled boards, top edges gilt, boards very worn, some boards and spines detached

ii) Alethea Wiel. The Story of Verona. London: J.M. Dent, 1925, small 8vo, presentation copy inscribed in Italian to Laurence Olivier and dated 13 July 1954 on the verso of the frontispiece, original full vellum; 



iii) Will Durant. The Story of Philosophy. London: Ernest Benn Limited, [c.1926], 8vo, LAURENCE OLIVIER’S COPY WITH HIS OWNERSHIP SIGNATURE (“This book belongs to | Laurence Olivier “) and address (“The Gates, Baldock, Herts”) on the front free endpaper, original green cloth, joints fragile



iv) Asataro Miyamori. Masterpieces of Chikamatsu. The Japanese Shakespeare. London: Kegan Paul, Trench, Trubner & Co., 1926, 8vo, presentation copy inscribed to Laurence Olivier (“Sir Laurence Olivier | Trust that this volume | may prove a useful | addition to your library. | With Best wishes | Sincerely | LXXX Bush | Tokyo | 20/4/49”) on the front free endpaper, original teal cloth; 



v) A.A. Milne. The Ivory Door. New York: G.P. Putnam’s Sons, 1928, 8vo, FIRST AMERICAN EDITION, PRESENTATION COPY INSCRIBED TO LAURENCE OLIVIER BY THE AUTHOR (“To Laurence Olivier | this legend of a King | in return for Henry V and Richard III | from | A.A. Milne | 13.xii.45”) on the front free endpaper, original yellow printed boards; 



vi) John Drinkwater. All About Me. Poems for a child. London: W. Collins Sons, 1928, 8vo, reprint, LAURENCE OLIVIER’S COPY WITH HIS OWNERSHIP SIGNATURE on the front free endpaper, printed slip commemorating the 250th performance of Bird in Hand at the Royalty Theatre on 23 November 1928 tipped in at front endpaper, original orange cloth gilt



vii) James Laver. The Circle of Chalk. London: William Heinemann, 1929, tall 8vo, one of 1000 copies, PRESENTATION COPY INSCRIBED BY THE AUTHOR (“For Laurence Olivier | with very many thanks | from | James Laver | 14.3.29”) on a preliminary blank, additionally inscribed (“To | Larry Olivier | May life treat you | kindly and bless you with | much happiness and success. | Sincerely | Ann May Wong | April 20, 1929”) on the half-title, original black cloth over green boards; 



viii) [John Keats]. Keats. London: William Collins, 1931, 8vo, presentation copy inscribed to Laurence Olivier (“Laurence Olivier | from April Joffé | May 1943”) on the front free endpaper, original printed boards, dust-jacket; 



ix) J.S.H. Bransom. The Tragedy of King Lear. Oxford: Basil Blackwell, 1934, 8vo, WITH AN AUTOGRAPH NOTE FROM THE AUTHOR (“To Laurence Olivier | With the author’s compliments | and best wishes for the | success of a great venture. | James S.H. Bransom”) loosely inserted, original navy cloth, cloth spotted



x) W. Somerset Maugham. Altogether. London: William Heinemann, 1935, 8vo, reprint, presentation copy inscribed to Laurence Olivier (“28th May 1937 | Dear Mr Olivier | A trifle (to | while away an hour”) in | appreciation of your | splendid season at the | “Old Vic” 1936-1937 […] Yours, | Ancient Pistol”) on the front free endpaper, original red cloth; 



xi) Clemence Dane. Will Shakespeare. An Invention in Four Acts. London: William Heinemann, 1936, small 8vo, reprint, presentation copy inscribed to Laurence Olivier (“23rd November | 1937 | Dear Mr Olivier, | Will you | please accept this small | tribute to your art […] Yours | “Pistol.””) on the front free endpaper, original brown cloth; 



xii) G.W.L. Day. Libellous Lyrics on Superior People. London: Herbert Jenkins, 1937, 8vo, PRESENTATION COPY INSCRIBED TO LAURENCE OLIVIER BY HIS SISTER SYBILLE (“For my adored Larry – with love from | the author’s | Wife! | Syba | (To bring you, Macbeth.) | 22.11.37”) on the front free endpaper, original green cloth, dust-jacket; 



xiii) Vladimir Nemirovich-Danchenko. My Life in the Russian Theatre. London: Geoffrey Bles, 1937, 8vo, typed letter signed to Laurence Olivier from Eugene Iliyn loosely inserted, original green cloth; 



xiv) Henry James. The Turn of the Screw. [London?]: The Hand and Flower Press, 1940, 4to, number 88 of 200 copies, presentation copy inscribed to Laurence Olivier (“To Larry | from | your fans Nos 1 an 2 | The Sammies | Dec 1946”) on the front free endpaper, original cloth over marbled boards, some rubbing to upper edge of boards



xv) Maud Wellington. The Wife of Wellington. London: Printed for the author, 1943, 8vo, PRESENTATION COPY INSCRIBED BY THE AUTHOR (“To | Laurence Olivier | souvenir from | Maud | Wellington”) on the front free endpaper, original maroon cloth; 



xvi) A.L. Rowse. The English Spirit. London: Macmillan & Co., 1944, 8vo, PRESENTATION COPY INSCRIBED TO LAURENCE OLIVIER (“With gratitude | To Larry from Beau | A.D. 1944. Xmas | In token of remembrance for two | ventures you have let me share”) on the front free endpaper, original red cloth; 



xvii) Bruce Marshall. All Glorious Within. London: Constable & Co., 1944, 8vo, reprint, PRESENTATION COPY INSCRIBED BY DENYS BLAKELOCK (“Larry - | with love | from | Denys | December | 1944”) on the front free endpaper, original blue cloth; 



xviii) Robert McEnroe. The Silver Whistle. New York: Dramatists Play Service, 1948, 8vo, LAURENCE OLIVIER’S COPY, with ownership inscription (“Laurence Olivier Pro. Ltd. | 7 St James’s St | SW1”) on the front free endpaper, original blue cloth; 



xix) Ronald Searle and Kaye Webb. Paris Sketchbook. London: The Saturn Press, 1950, 4to, presentation copy inscribed to Laurence Olivier (“Many happy return, dear Larry! | Much love | Feathers | 22/5/51”) on the front free endpaper, original blue cloth, dust-jacket, jacket a little worn at upper edge



xx) Percy Mackaye. The Mystery of Hamlet King of Denmark. New York: The Bong Wheelwright Company, 1950, 8vo, PRESENTATION COPY INSCRIBED BY THE AUTHOR (“To | Sir Laurence Olivier | the sincere esteem of | Percy MacKaye | By courtesy of Sir Cedric Hardwicke”) on the front free endpaper, original blue cloth, dust-jacket, jacket worn



xxi) Henry De Montherlant. The Master of Santiago and four other plays. London: Routledge & Kegan Paul Limited, 1951, 8vo, WITH A NOTE TO LAURENCE OLIVIER FROM THE PUBLISHER LOOSELY INSERTED (“It is the first time such plays have been translated into English, and we hope very much that they may find a place in the English theatre…”), original red cloth, dust-jacket; 



xxii) Eleanor Ruggles. Edwin Booth. Price of Players. New York: W.W. Norton & Company, 1953, 8vo, presentation copy inscribed to Laurence Olivier (“To Larry Olivier | Than whom there could | be no greater reincarnation | of Booth. | Best personal regards, | from one Player to another, | John Byram | new York, March 26 | 1953”) on the front free endpaper, original red cloth; 



xxiii) Arthur Colby Sprague. Shakespearean Players and Performances. London: Adam and Charles Black, 1954, 8vo, AUTOGRAPH LETTER FROM ALEC CLUNES TO LAURENCE OLIVIER (“Dear Larry, Here – with affection and admiration – is a book which will, I hope, rest you mind a little from your current labours…”) loosely inserted, original blue cloth; 



xxiv) M.E. Clifton James. I was Monty’s Double. London: The Popular Book Club, [c.1955], 8vo, , PRESENTATION COPY INSCRIBED TO LAURENCE OLIVIER BY HIS SISTER SYBILLE (Larry | from | Syba | with love | May 22nd 1958”) on the front free endpaper, original red cloth; 



xxv) René Hainaux. Stage Design throughout the world since 1935. London: George G. Harrap, 1956, 4to, presentation copy inscribed to Laurence Olivier (“Offered – respectfully | to Sir Laurence | Olivier | by Gilbert Harding | in gratitude | and with admiration. | May Day 1957”) on the front free endpaper, original cloth, dust-jacket, dust-jacket a little worn



xxvi) Tullia Gasparrini Lepoace. Il Mappamundo di fra Mauro. Venice: Istituto Poligraphico Dello Stato, 1956, folio, number 203 of 700 copies, presentation copy inscribed to Laurence Olivier in Italian and dated 30 May 1957, in cream cloth folio with 49 plates and one acetate sheet, publisher’s slipcase, some soiling to cloth folio (35)