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Three items signed by Benjamin Britten

On behalf of a local vendor we are offering for a sale as one lot a small group of three items each signed by the Lowestoft born composer Benjamin Britten, together with a brief handwritten covering statement by the vendor explaining their provenance. The items are two Christmas cards, which the vendor is offering on behalf of her mother, and a brief biography of Britten by Imogen Holst in the Faber 'Great Composers' series, which had been sent to her by the composer.

An extract from the vendor's covering statement:

When my mother was a private nurse in the 1960s - one of her patients was Benjamin Britten.

In late Spring/early Summer 1968 I did an illustrative picture of "A Midsummer Night's Dream" as a sort of Get Well gift which I gave to him via my Mother. She said he had stuck it up between the Constable and the Gainsborough on his bedroom wall!

A week or two later my Mother brought home "Britten" by Imogen Holst, which Benjamin Britten had signed - by way of a Thankyou......

The first Christmas card:  Full signature (Benjamin Britten) in card with a printed personalised address

The second Christmas card:  Abbreviated signature (Benjamin B) in a card with handwritten 'Aldeburgh'

 

The biography:  Full signature with personal inscription to the current vendor and dated

Condition:

None of the three items is in pristine condition. The cards show evidence of handling and the book, a 2nd impression, is rubbed at the extremites with wear at the spine ends.

Price:

The vendor's preference is for all three items to be sold together and so offers are invited for the collection. If you are interested in only one item then an offer for it will be considered. The items may be viewed, by arrangement, in Lowestoft. If the items are eventually sold separately the vendor is prepared to provide a written explanation of the acquisition of each.

For further details or to make an offer please

We will collect payment on behalf of the vendor which may be made by cheque (drawn in GBPounds on a British bank), Visa, Mastercard, Maestro or Paypal. Insured shipping will be added at cost.