Photographs, Autographs and Ephemera

CHAIN PIER, BRIGHTON. - A manuscript deed of covenant on parchment between Samuel Brown et al and Frederick Cooper, dated 1st May 1822. (632 x 693mm.) The document to raise monies to build the Chain Pier, contains the seals and signatures of the subscribers with sums promised, who include the Duke of Wellington, the Earl of Egremont, Admiral Sir Edward Codrington, Joseph Hume MP, Samuel Lenox, Robert Seppings, Samuel Brown and his wife and various local dignitaries. (Folded and somewhat creased, slightly soiled, wax seals cracked). - And a mortgage deed of related interest from Messrs. Hall, West and Borrer at the Union Bank dated June 25th 1824 and redeemed on 20th October, 1828. Both contained within a modern cloth pamphlet case by A.D.E. Note: the famous Brighton Chain Pier was designed by Samuel Brown, an early pioneer of chain design and a suspension bridge designer. It was built under the superintendence of William Clegram and opened in 1823. The Pier had four 255ft spans and the flat, wrought iron eye-bar chains passed over cast-iron towers and were anchored into the cliff at one end and the seabed at the other (2).

AUTOGRAPHS. - Robert TAYLOR. A signed black and white promotional photograph of the actor. [N.p.:] dated [19]53. (259 x 203mm.) The photograph inscribed 'To Valerie Best Wishes - Robert Taylor '53'. - And another photograph signed by Elizabeth Taylor, circa 1954. Provenance: Valerie [Williams] (obtained by Vicky Ward, publicity secretary at M.G.M. Studios, Boreham Wood and sent to Valerie).

AUTOGRAPH. - Ava GARDNER. A signed black and white promotional head and shoulders photograph of the actress. [N.p.: n.d. but circa 1953.] (252 x 197mm.) The photograph inscribed 'To Valerie - Best Wishes Ava Gardner'. Provenance: Valerie [Williams] (obtained by Vicky Ward, publicity secretary at M.G.M. Studios, Boreham Wood and sent to Valerie).

AUTOGRAPH. - Clark GABLE. A signed black and white promotional head and shoulders photograph of the actor. [N.p.: n.d. but circa 1953.] (253 x 198mm.) The photograph inscribed 'Best Wishes to Valerie, Clark Gable'. Provenance: Valerie [Williams] (obtained by Vicky Ward, publicity secretary at M.G.M. Studios, Boreham Wood and sent to Valerie).

AUTOGRAPHS. - Gene KELLY. A signed black and white promotional photograph inscribed 'To Valerie Good Luck Gene Kelly'. Provenance: Valerie [Williams] (obtained by Vicky Ward, publicity secretary at M.G.M. Studios, Boreham Wood and sent to Valerie). - And a collection of other ephemera of similar interest, including a few other autographs (a lot).

AUTOGRAPH, HORSE RACING. - Sir Gordon RICHARDS. A black and white photograph mounted and signed in ink. Newmarket: dated 1953. (250 x 300mm.) Depicting the jockey-up on 'Pinza', winner of the Coronation Derby 1953, signed 'Best Wishes Gordon Richards 1953'. Framed and glazed.

AUTOGRAPHS. - Mae WEST. A signed small format black and white photograph. [N.p.: n.d.] (74 x 61mm.) The photograph of the actress signed in blue ink (slightly faded). - And three autographed leaves signed by Mae West, Miss Lou and Peter Fielding, and a small autograph album containing further autographs of Vera Lynn, Leslie Crowther and others (a lot).

KRAY, Reginald 'Reggie'. A group of five a.l.s. to his dental nurse, Georgina Fox. Lewes Prison: dated 11th August [1989] - 5th May [1990]. 13pp., folio (293 x 207mm.) The letters, occasionally flirtatious, request and thank for toothbrushes, and mention music and his books 'Our Story', 'Slang' and 'Born Fighter', one with integral doodle of a cowboy, all with associated addressed envelopes, a few with doodles in pencil. (Folded). - And a Christmas card and two facsimiles of articles of related interest (a lot).

PHOTOGRAPHS. An album of mounted photographs, the majority albumen-print. [N.p.: n.d. but circa 1874-1875.] Elephant folio (615 x 315mm.) The photographs (various sizes, 190 x 250mm. to 59 x 102mm. approx.) Approximately 257 mounted photographs, most titled below the image in manuscript, a few coloured, on 87 leaves. (Some spotting, damp-staining and fading.) Contemporary half-morocco, g.e. (somewhat rubbed, scuffed and soiled, a few leaves torn at inner joins). Note: an interesting album including views of Gibraltar (3), Malta (8), Aden (4 including a panorama in sections), Ceylon (3), Melbourne (37), Echuca and Geelong (16), Bombay (2) and numerous views of Europe including Nice, Monte Carlo, Genoa, Rome, Naples and Pompeii, Florence, Venice, Milan, Munich and Brussels.

AUTOGRAPH, Victoria EUGENIE of Battenberg, Queen of Spain. - Janet JEVONS (photographer). A cream-toned chlorobromide printed bust-length photograph mounted on tissue, signed by the sitter and photographer. [N.p.:] dated 1938. (250 x 178mm.) The photograph signed and inscribed in ink 'To Peggy' and 'Victoria Eugenie 1938' and signed in pencil by the photographer to the tissue mount. (Minor spotting and soiling.) Mounted on thick paper and framed and glazed.