The Quintessential
G.B.S. : Correspondence
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George Bernard Shaw
Autograph postcard, signed, to James Waters, 7 September
1905.
Shaw wrote to James Waters about his new play: "Major
Barbara -- the heroine being a major in the Salvation Army. It
is simply an ethical discussion in three long acts -- virtually
in four
It will be a public charity to warn our romantic
playgoers to keep away from it, as I have thrown them over
completely."
Sidney P. Albert -- George Bernard Shaw Collection |
George Bernard Shaw
Typed letter, signed, to Dr. Wright, 15 September 1905.
In this letter, written to Dr. Wright who was Shaws model for the
doctor in The Doctors Dilemma, Shaw discusses his views on
vaccination, concluding:
"I have great hopes that you will eventually prove up to the
hilt that the safest way to deal with tuberculosis is not to get
it."
Sidney P. Albert -- George Bernard Shaw Collection
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George Bernard Shaw
Autograph letter, signed to John Eugene Vedrenne, 19
February 1908.
In this letter to Vedrenne, Shaw writes about a young actor
named Hamer, whom Shaw considered to be his best Marchbanks. A
year later, Hamer was arrested for attempted chloroforming of a
young lady (presumably for sexual purposes). Shaw was a character
witness for the defense at his trial. He was, however, found
guilty and served a prison sentence.
Sidney P. Albert -- George Bernard Shaw Collection
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George Bernard Shaw
Stereotyped Postcard, signed, to F. N. Pryce, November 1, [1908]
Declining to lecture far from London.
London, [1908].
In 1906, tired of sending standard to replies in manuscript to
standard questions, Shaw had five stereotyped postcards printed with
various messages printed up on various coded shades of card stock. Over
the years, the messages and colors proliferated and by the time of Shaws
death in 1950, there were more than thirty variant texts in a wide range
of shades. There are 31 in the Sidney Albert Collection.
On this postcard, sent to F. N. Pryce of the Literary and Debating
Society, University College of Wales, Shaw wrote: "You are too far
off. A journey to Aberystwyth lasts more time than I can spare."
Sidney P. Albert -- George Bernard Shaw Collection
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George Bernard Shaw
Typed letter, signed, to Pte. W. B. Southgale, 21 July
1917.
In this letter, Shaw discusses various methods of
shorthand, as discussed in his Preface to Pygmalion.
Sidney P. Albert -- George Bernard Shaw Collection
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George Bernard Shaw
Autograph letter, signed, to The Theatre Guild, 6 January
1921.
In this letter, Shaw sends an article about Heartbreak House to
The Theatre Guild, writing: "Give the enclosed to your Press
Agent, and tell him to get it inserted and commented on in as many
New York papers as possible
If the H. H. audiences are noisy,
print the article in the program, or circulate it as a slip."
Sidney P. Albert -- George Bernard Shaw Collection
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George Bernard Shaw
Stereotyped Postcard, declining to send autograph.
London, [1927]
The printed portion of this card contains Shaws
message: "It may interest collectors of autographs to know that
Mr. Bernard Shaw does not regard requests by strangers for his
signature as legitimate collection. He signs enough genuine documents
every day to give collectors ample material for the proper exercise of
their peculiar industry. His secretary has instructions to return all
albums and refuse all applications which ignore this
distinction."
Below, Blanche Patch typed: "But she sometimes
obliges if she happens to have a spare signature lying by her,"
and pasted onto the card a very nice example of Shaws autograph.
Sidney P. Albert -- George Bernard Shaw Collection
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George Bernard Shaw
Autograph note, signed, 8 September 1929, in reply to letter
of Stanley Unwin.
In this letter to Shaw, dated 24 August 1929, Stanley Unwin
wrote: "I notice with interest Sir Edward Elgars statement
that your musical criticisms ought to be republished, and that he
would like to edit them." Shaw replied: "I shall
have to get these old things together for the long delayed
Collected Edition of my works; but God forbid that I should waste
Elgars time on the editorial drudgery."
Sidney P. Albert -- George Bernard Shaw Collection
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