細節
BARRIE, Sir James (1860-1937). Autograph manuscript signed of Mr. Robey, Auctioneer, a 'word picture' written on the occasion of George Robey's concert at The Coliseum in aid of The Manor House Orthopaedic Hospital at Hampstead, 9 May 1918, 10 pages, 8° (200 x 125 mm), signed and dated on the last page, calligraphic title page, blue calf by Riviere and Son, lettered in gilt (slightly rubbed).
A delightful essay in praise of the famous comedian known as 'The Prime Minister of Mirth'. Recalling one of Robey's performances, Barrie pinpoints the secret of his success, 'This faculty for making himself loved is probably the chief of Mr. Robey's varied charms. You ought not to love him, for he does almost everything that you have been taught not to do, and from his first appearance it should be evident to you that he has just that moment escaped from a just captivity', and after a splendid description of Robey conducting an auction, 'I don't know how he manages it all. That is the Robey secret. He 'does that' as the boy said. Some day I expect to see him auction the non-existent banjo with which he makes such sport in the play. He will sell it to you for hundreds and hundreds of pounds, and the buyer will give it back to be resold ...'
The manuscript was written by Barrie to be offered for sale at one of George Robey's Sunday evening 'Patriotic Concerts', the proceeds of which went to support various charities during the First World War. Barrie and other writers and stars of the stage contribued items for an auction to be held afterwards. Robey, who wrote that the essay was 'the one I treasure most of all the articles which have appeared on my work and self', recalled that it was sold for 650, the proceeds of the entire evening raising 8,000.
Mr. Robey, Auctioneer was published as the introduction to George Robey's autobiography, Look Back on Life (1933).
Provenance: By descent from Wilfred de Selincourt who purchased the manuscript at the auction in 1918.
A delightful essay in praise of the famous comedian known as 'The Prime Minister of Mirth'. Recalling one of Robey's performances, Barrie pinpoints the secret of his success, 'This faculty for making himself loved is probably the chief of Mr. Robey's varied charms. You ought not to love him, for he does almost everything that you have been taught not to do, and from his first appearance it should be evident to you that he has just that moment escaped from a just captivity', and after a splendid description of Robey conducting an auction, 'I don't know how he manages it all. That is the Robey secret. He 'does that' as the boy said. Some day I expect to see him auction the non-existent banjo with which he makes such sport in the play. He will sell it to you for hundreds and hundreds of pounds, and the buyer will give it back to be resold ...'
The manuscript was written by Barrie to be offered for sale at one of George Robey's Sunday evening 'Patriotic Concerts', the proceeds of which went to support various charities during the First World War. Barrie and other writers and stars of the stage contribued items for an auction to be held afterwards. Robey, who wrote that the essay was 'the one I treasure most of all the articles which have appeared on my work and self', recalled that it was sold for 650, the proceeds of the entire evening raising 8,000.
Mr. Robey, Auctioneer was published as the introduction to George Robey's autobiography, Look Back on Life (1933).
Provenance: By descent from Wilfred de Selincourt who purchased the manuscript at the auction in 1918.