Details
WAUGH, Evelyn (1903-1966). Two autograph letters signed ('Evelyn Waugh'), and one autograph postcard signed ('E.W.'), to Lady Beerbohm (Florence Kahn Beerbohm), 11 October - 18 November 1957, together 3 pages, 4to and oblong postcard, on personal stationery.
WAUGH SAVOURS THE WORK OF MAX BEERBOHM, in these three letters to his widow Florence, Lady Beerbohm. On 21 October he writes: 'Thank you very much indeed for sending me the enchanting incident which is quite new to me and will have an honoured place among Sir Max's works. I am afraid that the drawing of the Prince of Wales & Cassell which I possess has never been photographed. It was never exhibited as the Leicester Galleries thought it might offend some of their Jewish customers. I don't think anyone can identify the minor figures.' On 11 October he again thanks Lady Beerbohm for 'the sketch you found among Sir Max's papers. It was I who drew it from a large drawing of Sir Max's in my possession and I sent it to him some years ago in the hope that he would be able to identify the characters. But I received no answers.' On 18 November 1957, he tells her that of course he has a copy of Fifty Caricatures, and is 'delighted to see the Prince's friends identified. They don't quite correspond to my drawing but Edward Lawson appears in both and Ernst Cassell. It is very good of you to go to such trouble.'
When Beerbohm died in 1956, Waugh called him 'a genius of the purest kind. He stands at the summit of his art.' The drawings Waugh refers to here were most likely private sketches prepared by Beerbohm. He stopped doing caricatures for publication around 1930. 'Pity crept in,' he explained. 'So I gave up caricaturing, except privately.' (3)
WAUGH SAVOURS THE WORK OF MAX BEERBOHM, in these three letters to his widow Florence, Lady Beerbohm. On 21 October he writes: 'Thank you very much indeed for sending me the enchanting incident which is quite new to me and will have an honoured place among Sir Max's works. I am afraid that the drawing of the Prince of Wales & Cassell which I possess has never been photographed. It was never exhibited as the Leicester Galleries thought it might offend some of their Jewish customers. I don't think anyone can identify the minor figures.' On 11 October he again thanks Lady Beerbohm for 'the sketch you found among Sir Max's papers. It was I who drew it from a large drawing of Sir Max's in my possession and I sent it to him some years ago in the hope that he would be able to identify the characters. But I received no answers.' On 18 November 1957, he tells her that of course he has a copy of Fifty Caricatures, and is 'delighted to see the Prince's friends identified. They don't quite correspond to my drawing but Edward Lawson appears in both and Ernst Cassell. It is very good of you to go to such trouble.'
When Beerbohm died in 1956, Waugh called him 'a genius of the purest kind. He stands at the summit of his art.' The drawings Waugh refers to here were most likely private sketches prepared by Beerbohm. He stopped doing caricatures for publication around 1930. 'Pity crept in,' he explained. 'So I gave up caricaturing, except privately.' (3)
Special notice
VAT rate of 17.5% is payable on hammer price plus buyer's premium.