W. Somerset Maugham. Two Autograph Letters Signed and One Typed Letter Signed, including a very warm response to a fan lette... (Total: 3 Items)

Description

Items in this lot include:

Autograph letter signed by Maugham on Hotel Devon (New York) stationery, dated June 13 (no year, but circa 1917), addressed to Miss Hauser (?), who was, perhaps, a representative of Maugham's American theatrical agent. Signed "W. S. Maugham." Two-page letter on one sheet of notepaper. Center horizontal fold. Paper toned, much darker along the left margin; with a few small spots of discoloration and a couple of pencil marks made, presumably, by the recipient. Good to very good. In the letter, Maugham expresses concern that he has not received royalties due him from American stock productions of Lady Frederick in Denver and San Francisco. [and:]

Autograph letter signed by Maugham on Villa Mauresque stationery, dated February 14 (1934), addressed to Sam M. Steward at Ohio State University. Signed "W. Somerset Maugham." Center vertical fold. With transmittal envelope containing Maugham's symbol on the flap. Fine. Maugham's warm and effusive response to a letter of praise and appreciation from a member of OSU's Department of English. In it Maugham writes: " Your letter gave me a most unusual pleasure. Like all writers (I suppose) I suffer from a certain doubt about the value, the real value, of my work & it is very comforting to get from a stranger a letter like yours. I know it is absurd at my age to want reassurances, but there it is, writers are silly & childish creatures." [and:]

Typed letter signed by Maugham on Dorchester Hotel (London) stationery, dated May 12, 1959, addressed to Mrs. McLaren. Signed "W. S. Maugham." Center horizontal fold. Fine. Maugham writes in part: "What a clever girl you are to have sold For Services Rendered[.] I am very much pleased." He is apparently referring to the licensing of his play (originally written in 1932) to ITV's "Play of the Week" which broadcast their production in July, 1959.

From the Collection of Norman F. Moore.