Fantome
22nd Jan 2014, 16:57
From Lawrence's catalogue for this coming auction.
Note estimate 12000 to 15000 for correspondence with GBS
2390 Avions Henri & Maurice Farman. A signed typed letter to Robert Loraine, discussing his interest in their aircraft and outlining specifications and pricing, together with a 20pp. catalogue of Farman aircraft, original wrappers, 4to, Billancourt, 1919; and a copy of Georges Prade, Veritable histoire de l'Aeroplane, original wrappers, 4to, [c.1919] (3)
Estimate: 120-180
391 An amateur album of photographs documenting Robert Loraine's early flights. Containing 23 prints mounted in frame and 4 loose, including his flight from the Isle of Wight to Bournemouth, July 1910, a signed portrait postcard from Jules Vedrines, and a visit to the Antionette Factory, France, loosely inserted is also an envelope of 6 photographs of an aircraft in flight and landed, some titled 'Bristol Biplane', 5 x 3 inches approx., original cloth, landscape 8vo
Estimate: 80-120
2392 Press Cuttings. An substantial album of more than 200 press cuttings covering Robert Loraine's early adventures in flight, 16 July to 12 September, 1910, each clipping mounted and arranged chronologically, some leaves loose, original half morocco, worn and shaken, 4to
The flights covered are Holyhead to Dublin, Bournemouth to the Needles and Blackpool to Liverpool.
Estimate: 100-150
2393 An amateur album of photographs documenting Robert Loraine's early flights. Containing 24 prints mounted in frame, including an Antionette monoplane visit to Pau, Bleriot working on an aircraft at Pau, Antionette and Robert Loraine at Pau, the Farman biplane in the chalk pit on the Isle of Wight, etc., 5 x 3 inches, original cloth, landscape 8vo
Estimate: 80-120
394 A large photograph of Robert Loraine standing beside a Bristol Boxkite, probably on the occasion of sending the first radio signal from the air, Salisbury Plain, September 1910, 13.5 x 8 inches, approx., glazed; a large photograph of Robert Loraine in the Farman, landing on the Golf Course at Ross-on-Sea, 1910, 13.5 x 9.5 inches, glazed and one other (3)
Estimate: 40-60
2395 An album of photographs documenting Robert Loraine in Wales. Containing 46 mounted prints and 6 loose, including his unexpected landing in the Farman at Ross on Sea in 1910, a balloon at Wandsworth Gas Station, the Bristol Boxkite at Salisbury Plain in 1910, and numerous images of Robert Loraine relaxing on the beach in Wales with friends, 4 x 3 inches, approx., original morocco, 8vo
Estimate: 80-100
396 Balloon Mail. Two manuscript letters dispatched by balloon from the beseiged city of Paris during the Franco-Russian War, both to addressed to 'Eugene Mayeur, 4 Great Lower Street, E.C. London', dated '21 October [1870]' and '22 November 1870' respectively, providing news of the seige and the movement of Russian forces, each 4pp. but folded flat, the early letter with portion missing, the later without a stamp, framed and glazed (2)
During the course of the Franco-Russian War (1870-1872) sixty-five unguided mail balloons were released.
Estimate: 200-400
http://www.lawrences.co.uk/Catalogues/FS310114/lot2396-0_small.jpg (http://www.lawrences.co.uk/Catalogues/FS310114/lot2396.html) 2397 Robert Loraine's Flying Log Book for America, the entries dated 17 August 1933 to 10 August 1935, his address noted as '130 West 44th Street, New York City', and the entries preceded by the comment, 'Previous to this log book I have had not less than 1200 hours solo flying time, Robert Lorraine', original limp cloth; together with a small quantity of documents and photographs relating to Robert Loraine's flying in the USA (13 items)
Estimate: 40-60
2398 Aviation, etc. A miscellaneous collection of of documents and publications, including correspondence to Mrs Loraine from the Loraine Club, Dublin, mostly 1930s; Royal Aero Club Year Book 1920-23; another edition, 1924-26; Berriman, A.E. Aviation, original cloth, damp stained, 1913; By Air to Paris, original wrappers, 1924 (a quantity)
Estimate: 50-70
2399 An album of photographs documenting Robert Loraine's early flights. Containing 22 photographs mounted in frame and 3 loose, including the Bleriot School of Flying at Pau, the Farman Biplane in the Isle of Wight chalkpit at Highdown, Freshwater, etc., 4.5 x 3.5 inches approx., original cloth, landscape 8vo
Estimate: 80-120
http://www.lawrences.co.uk/Catalogues/FS310114/lot2399-0_small.jpg (http://www.lawrences.co.uk/Catalogues/FS310114/lot2399.html) 2400 Kondor Flugzeugwerke GmbH, an souvenir album of 29 mounted photographs and 6 loose, depicting the design and manufacture process at the factory workshops, and of Robert Loraine test piloting various aircraft, most of the mounted images 5.5 by 3.5 inches or smaller, original wrappers, landscape 4to, Munich, 1913
Estimate: 100-200
2401 Robert Loraine's aviator 'Leg Compass', by Ross of London, c.1910, the dial 2 inches in diameter, mounted on a shaped wooden bracket with leather strap and buckle, length 4.5
inches
This compass was used by Robert Loraine in his flight across the Irish Sea on 11 September, 1910.
Estimate: 200-300
http://www.lawrences.co.uk/Catalogues/FS310114/lot2401-0_small.jpg (http://www.lawrences.co.uk/Catalogues/FS310114/lot2401.html) 2402 Blundstone, Frank Victor. A silver-plated bronze group of a winged man and his consort, titled 'Sic Itvr Ad Astra', with a presentation plaque, 'Robert Loraine from a number of his friends in admiration of his high achievements in aviation and as an expression of the pride they feel in his being a fellow member of the Green Room Club. 18th December, 1910', on marble base, 13.5 inches high
The Green Room Club was a London gentleman's club, primarily used by actors.
Estimate: 600-900
http://www.lawrences.co.uk/Catalogues/FS310114/lot2402-0_small.jpg (http://www.lawrences.co.uk/Catalogues/FS310114/lot2402.html) 2403 A captured rudder control for a German Albatross combat aircraft, c.1915, shot down by Robert Loraine on October 26 1915, length 21 inches, together with fragments of the aircraft fuselage punctured by friendly fire, the manufacturer's serial plaques, and an original photograph of the wreckage.
Robert Loraine was awarded the Military Cross for his conduct during this encounter. The aircraft was No. 782.
Estimate: 500-700
http://www.lawrences.co.uk/Catalogues/FS310114/lot2403-0_small.jpg (http://www.lawrences.co.uk/Catalogues/FS310114/lot2403.html) 2404 A pair of German World War I binoculars, with a mounted commemorative plaque 'To Captain Robert Loraine... in Remembrance of October 26 1915 in the field', Jena (name indistinct), length 10.5 inches
These binoculars were captured from an aircraft shot down by Robert Loraine in October 1915. See lot XXX
Estimate: 100-200
http://www.lawrences.co.uk/Catalogues/FS310114/lot2404-0_small.jpg (http://www.lawrences.co.uk/Catalogues/FS310114/lot2404.html) 2405 Robert Loraine's WWI Flying Log Book, the entries dated 17 April 1915 to 28 February 1916, noting, '26 [October]... 2:20, Patrol and photographs. Shot down German Albatross', and '8 [February]... 2:15, Patrol. engaged Scout over Polygon wood. He dived eastwards. engine stopped owing to petrol being exhausted...', 23pp., original cloth; a pocket diary commencing 2 August 1914, noting his early service and ending at his first term in hospital subsequent to being wounded on 22 November 1914, original cloth, together with a photograph of Loraine in uniform (3)
Estimate: 200-300
http://www.lawrences.co.uk/Catalogues/FS310114/lot2405-0_small.jpg (http://www.lawrences.co.uk/Catalogues/FS310114/lot2405.html) 2406 Robert's Loraine's Service during WWI. A collection of documents recording his career in the Royal Flying Corps, from 2nd Lieutenant on 12 August 1914 to Lt. Colonel and Wing Commander on 13 Febraury 1917, including mentions in dispatches, press-cuttings, X-ray photographs of injuries, correspondence and informal and group photographs of Loraine and the 40th Squadron (a quantity)
At the outbreak of World War I Robert Loraine was enlisted for service by the Royal Flying Corps as a 2nd Lt, Special Reserve. He was injured by gunfire on 22 November 1914 and invalided out, returning to France in April 1915. In September he was promoted to Flight Commander and on 26 October 1915 shot down a German Albatross, an action that earned him the MIlitary Cross. (See lot XXX). Towards the end of the war he was awarded the D.S.O.
Estimate: 100-200
http://www.lawrences.co.uk/Catalogues/FS310114/lot2406-0_small.jpg (http://www.lawrences.co.uk/Catalogues/FS310114/lot2406.html) 2407 Aerial Navigation and Combat during World War I. A collection of documents, instructive booklets and maps, including typescripts on aerial navigation and gunnery, standing instructions for operations 4th Brigade R.F.C., etc., loose (a quantity)
Estimate: 100-150
2408 Royal Air Force War Film, 1926-27. A collection of documents concerning Robert Loraine's plans to make a 'film epic of the skies', dealing with 'the activities of the R.F.C. and the R.A.F. in the recent war', including a rough draft of a preliminary scenario, 'This picture must be done in colour, and the scenes showing aeroplanes in flight must have a background of clouds...', and extensive correspondence from Robert Loraine, Claude Solman and others concerning the political and contractual obstacles (a quantity)
The first successful film showing realistic aerial combat was Howard Hughes' WWI epic Hell's Angels (1930) which featured a short colour sequence. Robert Loraine's project would appear to predate it, but due to contractual difficulties was never made.
Estimate: 100-150
2409 Barrie, Sir James Matthew. Three A.Ls.S. to Robert Loraine, Adelphi Terrace House, 4 1/2pp., 8vo. On 26 Sept. 1918 he writes, "if you are to act again it would be a great pleasure for me to see you in something of mine…how about this that you should play Crichton in a revival of 'Admirable Crichton' at Coliseum…"; and 2 others, June 15 1928 and 20 July 1929 (?) regretting that he has no plays with roles for R.L. at present.
Estimate: 100-150
2410 Bennett, Arnold. ALS. to Robert Loraine, 7 (?) March 1932, 12B George Street, one page, 4to., concerning a dinner invitation, with a P.S. "I ought to tell Mrs. Loraine that she does not get an invitation from my wife because my wife is no longer living here…"
Bennett separated from his French wife and fell in love with the actress Dorothy Cheston. They did not marry but stayed together for the rest of his life.
Estimate: 50-80
http://www.lawrences.co.uk/Catalogues/FS310114/lot2410-0_small.jpg (http://www.lawrences.co.uk/Catalogues/FS310114/lot2410.html) 2411 Caine, Sir Thomas Henry Hall (1853 - 1931), novelist and playwright. ALS to Robert Loraine, Palace Hotel, St. Moritz. One page, 4to., n.d. "The only news that has reached us is that owing to fog and rain you had to come down in Germany"; ALS to the same, 8 April 1920, Savoy Hotel, London, 2pp., concerning the return of R.L.'s luggage from Switzerland.
R.L. chartered an aeroplane in order to return to London from St. Moritz, having received a telegram from Sir James Barrie begging him to appear in the play Mary Rose.
Estimate: 50-80
2412 Forester, Cecil Scott, "C.S.", pen name [Cecil Louis Troughton Smith]. Collection of eight A.Ls.S. to Winifred Loraine, 10 1/2pp., 8vo. & 4to., with 6 envelopes. The first n.p. or d. (signature detached), about the possibility of meeting to discuss his playwriting; two dated 13 (piece torn away) & 17 Sept. 1929, seeking advice about his play U97; another 16 Oct. 1929 concerning his new baby son, all from East Dulwich; three from Ajaccio, Corsica, 17th & 28 December 1929, & 5 Jan 1930 concerning her suggestions about U97, telling her of an idea he has for a play about Napoleon III, "…I am intrigued with the thought of R.L. made up as Napoleon III…". but concluding that he needs to write a novel to pay the rent, "I would go on writing plays if there was any money in it…", with a small photograph of the author loosely inserted, and another from Folkestone, 25 March 1930, on the family's return from abroad, "Corsica was a heavenly place with a hellish population…"
With 2 printed flyers concerning a protest meeting against Dr. Serge Voronoff , June 7, n.d. (c. 1930). The Russian doctor, infamous for his rejuvenation experiments involving monkey glands. With 3 other unrelated items.
Estimate: 150-200
http://www.lawrences.co.uk/Catalogues/FS310114/lot2412-0_small.jpg (http://www.lawrences.co.uk/Catalogues/FS310114/lot2412.html) 2413 Visitors Book belonging to Robert and Winifred Loraine. Oblong 4to., original decorative green morocco gilt, a.e.g. With signatures of George Bernard and Charlotte Shaw; C. S. Forester, with 4 line verse, August (19)30; Arnold Bennett, "Only people of short moral stature find it necessary to stand on their dignity." 20.10.(19)21;John Drinkwater, January 22nd 1923 and autograph copy of his poem Birthright, with loosely inserted autograph signed copy in pencil of poem on Byron by the same, on 2 small sheets ;Gerald and Muriel Du Maurier, and approx. 9 others
Estimate: 200-300
http://www.lawrences.co.uk/Catalogues/FS310114/lot2413-0_small.jpg (http://www.lawrences.co.uk/Catalogues/FS310114/lot2413.html) 2414 Shaw, George Bernard, Robert Loraine and others. Photograph album of a holiday in Wales, [1908]. 4to., original straight grained green morocco, (loose in binding), containing 61 black and white prints, 138 x 87 mm., mostly window mounted, some loose, including duplicates;and a quantity of negatives of the same.
With many informal photographs of GBS on the beach, some in scanty bathing wear, with his wife Charlotte at the wheel of an open topped car, coastal views etc. According to Winifred Loraine's biography of her husband, the Shaws spent a summer holiday at Llanbedr in 1908, and invited Robert to join them. On one occasion the two men got into difficulties while swimming and almost drowned, "When we recovered our breath, Shaw said very coolly: 'That was a near thing'…"
Estimate: 800-1200
http://www.lawrences.co.uk/Catalogues/FS310114/lot2414-0_small.jpg (http://www.lawrences.co.uk/Catalogues/FS310114/lot2414.html) 2415 Shaw, George Bernard. Man and Superman, one of 100 copies for the Actor's Fund Fair, New York, 1907. Portrait frontispiece of Robert Loraine, signed. 8vo., orig. cloth, slipcase (half title, title, and frontis. loose); The Inca of Perusalem. Printed rough proof, 8vo., orig. wraps., 1915. Inscribed by Shaw on upper cover, "Major Loraine."
In February 1917 Shaw was one of the distinguished visitors to make a semi-official tour of the British Front. He spent several days at Trezennes and attended a dress rehearsal of The Inca of Perusalem which was acted by the men.
Estimate: 100-150
2416 Shaw, George Bernard. An important and extensive collection of correspondence to Robert Loraine (1876-1935), actor, actor-manager, soldier and aviator.
Comprising 24 A.Ls.S. (46pp), 13 T.Ls.S. (28pp) [one unsigned], 4to and 8vo., 27 Autograph postcards, signed mostly with initials, some in full; with 2 receipts, a compliment slip,and several original envelopes, from Adelphi Terrace, Ayot St. Lawrence, Ireland, Wales etc., 25 April 1908 - 14 April 1933.
The pre 1914-18 war correspondence mainly concerns the theatre: in the first postcard Shaw refers to Loraine's role in Getting Married, "I find I made a couple of notes about Hotchkiss at today's rehearsal. When Sykes says 'a promise is a promise' turn & chuckle; so as to give a cue for the Cheshire cat." (1908); payment terms (1909), "When the National Theatre is established every leading actor will have to give it the benefit of a special scale…"; the legality of making additions or alterations to a play (1911), and "You really must not revive M & S [Man and Superman] as a music hall turn, in three acts. I can stand the damage much better than you can…" (1912).
The wartime letters show Shaw's concern for Loraine's welfare when he was seriously wounded in the lung while flying over France, "Charlotte managed to track you down within twentyfour hours of your landing by a sustained frontal attack on the War Office and the Horse Guards. Before that we could hear nothing about you except legendary matter…your habit was to charge the Uhlans with your aeroplane, at last driving French to declare that if you were not speedily slain there would not be a serviceable flying machine left in the whole ---- army" (December 1914); in 1915 he offers advice to Loraine who is thinking of writing a book about his experiences, "You will not know, until it comes to actual pen and ink, how much or how little of what you know and what you think can be turned to literary account." Following recovery Robert returns to France as a Flight Commander in September 1915 and was awarded the M.C. for shooting down a German Albatross, though evidently complains of the cold. Shaw comments, "Serve you right being frozen! You have had your M.C.: why be greedy?" (November 1915); in August 1916 Shaw acknowledges receipt of a packet containing his Military Cross, keys, and Pilot's Flying Log Book for safe keeping. In 1918 Loraine is wounded again, "Why the devil need they have hit you in the knee joint ? The shin would have served their purpose just as well."
After the war Robert returns to the stage as actor and actor-manager and Shaw congratulates him on his performance in Cyrano, "It is enchanting, and has the quite special quality that belongs to you in an extraordinary degree…" (April 1919), but a revival of Arms and the Man provokes a different reaction, "I did not enjoy myself a bit; and the audience, which came anticipating a great treat, cooled down all through and ended by being annoyed and rather cross", with further detailed criticism and stage instructions (December 14 & 20, 1919). However on 16 January 1920 Shaw writes that he wants to revive Pygmalion, "Charlotte declares you are the only possible Higgins", but on 19 January, (on green paper) following an "unpremeditated" visit to a matinee of Arms and the Man, "If I were a vain author I should have concluded that you were intoxicated with my comedy…Now, here is what I want to know…Was it morphia?" In spite of this, the correspondence continues with advice and comment on possible revivals and even the suggestion "Why don't you go into parliament and chuck the wretched stage?" (February 1925). The following year he advises Robert not to act in Captain Brassbound's Conversion with Stella (Mrs. Patrick Campbell) "She would explain to you that there is something hopelessly wrong with your person, and that you are no gentleman; and she would stop the rehearsals every ten seconds to show you what you were to do next."
In the final letter, written on board The Empress of Britain, 14 April 1933, while returning from America Shaw gives his views on the film industry, "I looked into a studio or two…the photography is beautiful: it leaves the British work nowhere. But the stuff they waste it on is pitiful."
Thirteen letters from the collection were quoted by Winifred Loraine in her biography Robert Loraine Soldier Actor Airman, Collins 1938.
With four cables from Shaw; two carbon copies of letters to Loraine to Shaw; an envelope of photographs mainly of Robert and six postcard portraits of Shaw.
In addition the archive contains correspondence from Shaw to Winifred Loraine, comprising a short autograph note, 7 April 1932 with a 2pp. typed questionnaire completed by Shaw, giving humorous answers to questions such as "Would you like to end your days in Russia?"; with three Autograph postcards, and three T.Ls.S., 1932 - 38, mainly concerning her biography. With printed change of address card (the Shaws move to Whitehall Court, 1927); small collection of press cuttings relating to Joan Loraine, and a printed Christmas card from Edward Elgar, 1932 - 33.
Shaw, Charlotte. Three A.Ls.S & 15 postcards to Robert Loraine, 1906 - 11 - 31, from Ayot St. Lawrence and Adelphi Terrace. Mostly brief notes concerning invitations. With a further A.L.S. inserted into bound volume of typed Meditations.
Loraine, Winifred. Partial typescript with corrections of her biography of Robert Loraine, chapters 6 - 20, some top copies, others carbons. Chapter 14 has annotations by Shaw on pp. 1, 7, 34, 37 & 38; typescript inscribed "Robert Loraine's own account" describing his acting career, and relationship with Shaw; another by the same "On Facing Death" about his flying achievements ( the information in both these was incorporated into the biography) ; proof copy of the same with ms. corrections by the author; a large quantity of manuscript and typed material about Charlotte Shaw; and a folder of notes mainly concerning Winifred Loraine's ancestor, William John Warneford.
Estimate: 12000-15000