A collection of 13 autograph letters and telegrams to Lionel...

Hammer

£600

A collection of 13 autograph letters and telegrams to Lionel Jeffries, from 20th century film and theatre celebrities, consisting:- Alfred Hitchcock (1899-1980) - a two page manuscript telegram, from Los Angeles, dated 12th March, 1971, ‘’Dear Jeff, You have not half made a mess of my private projection room at the studio stop. After seeing your delightful and charming film [‘’The Railway Children”] I have to call in the studio fire brigade to pump the water out because I had with me a very lachrymose pair in Alma and Pat [Hitchcock’s wife and daughter] stop. Congratulations on your water dividing [sic] power. Hitch’’

Fred Astaire (1899-1987) - a telegram, from Beverly Hills, undated, circa 1970, to Mr and Mrs Lionel Jeffries, Little Prestwick, St. Huberts Lane, Gerrard Cross, Bucks, ‘’Loved Railway Children. Congratulations. Christmas greetings all family, Fred Astaire’’; a 2 page autograph letter, from Beverly Hills, dated 25th March, 1972, explaining why he turned down the offer to play Mr. Blunden, in The Amazing Mr. Blunden, signed, ‘’As ever - Fred’’. Together with original air mail envelope. And a postcard, ‘’Dear Friend, Sorry missed you. We never heard a word after receiving your telegram. Am leaving this weekend, but Ava is going on to London & will give you a ring. All best, Fred’’

Sir Richard Attenborough (1923-2014) - Two typescript letters, from Old Friars, Richmond Green, Surrey, dated 21st July, 1972, thanking Jeffries for sending a telegram in support of Attenborough’s production, as director, of ‘’The Young Winston’’ and a further typescript letter, from the same address, dated 18th June, 1993, thanking Jeffries for his congratulations upon receiving the title Baron Attenborough.

Leslie Caron Hall (1931-) Two autograph letters, both from Flat 8, 24, Hyde Park, London, one dated 22nd April [1957] acknowledging the congratulations on the birth of her son, Christopher Hall. The other, a note offering sympathy for an accident suffered by Jeffries, [During location filming for a 1983 episode of Tom, Dick and Harriet, a stunt involving a car and a lake went very badly wrong, ending up with Jeffries only just managing to get out of the car's front window before the vehicle sank in 45 feet (14 m) of water]

Bryan Forbes (1926-2013) - a 2 page typescript letter, from Seven Pines, Wentworth, Surrey, dated 26th November, 1972, congratulating Jeffries for his directorship of the film ‘’The Amazing Mr. Blunden, and 2 page manuscript letter, dated 20th October, 1981, relating to their mutual collaboration for the film, directed by Forbes - ‘’Better Late Than Never’’.

Diana Dors (1931-1984) - a 2 page manuscript letter, on Yorkshire TV letterhead, dated 18th July, 1972, thanking Jeffries for offering her the role as Mrs. Wickens, in ‘’The Amazing Mr. Blunden’’, together with a receipt relating to a Mink coat, which was sold to Lionel’s wife, Eileen.

Lord Cecil Douglas (1898-1981) [Lord Cecil Douglas was the grandson of Oscar Wilde’s lover Lord Alfred Douglas] - a 2 page typescript letter, from 3, Chesham Street, London, dated 12th April, 1960, addressed to ‘’Lionel Jeffries Esq., posing as John Sholto, Marquis of Queensbury (Anti-Sodomite)’’ - a satirical piece concerning Oscar Wilde. (Lionel Jeffries played Lord Queensbury in ‘’The Trials of Oscar Wilde’’), together with a rare historic framed photograph (annotated by Jeffries) of the opening night party of the Golden Globe and British Academy Award (now BAFTA) winning film - The Trials of Oscar Wilde, with the film’s director Ken Hughes, producer Irving Allen, actors John Frazer, Peter Finch and Lionel Jeffries - joined by Lord David Douglas, Lord Cecil Douglas and Vyvyan Holland (Oscar Wilde’s son), (14).
Provenance: Lionel Jeffries (1926-2010) - all items from the personal collection of his son, Ty Jeffries.

More Information