George Bernard Shaw (1856-1950), an original hand-written le...

Hammer

£260

George Bernard Shaw (1856-1950), an original hand-written letter, dated 30th March 1928 on headed notepaper, from his home in Ayot St Lawrence, Welwyn, Hertfordshire, to Mr Murray Carrington (1885-1941, actor), reading 'That is not exactly what I contemplated. My fees are 5%, 7.5%, 10% and 15% respectively when the gross receipts per performance, averaged for the week, do not exceed £50, £100 and £300. My secretary will send you a printed memorandum from London, my stock having been exhausted. This is as much as a performance can reasonably bear. At any rate, if you pay more you put up the market (by paying an extra 5% which I shall naturally add to my own terms if I find that it is to be had for the asking). My position is that I must reserve Cardiff and the play for Mr Macdona [Charles Macdona, Irish actor, born 1860] if he contemplates a performance there. If he stops you I shall expect him to take on the job himself. But if he consents you will have to deal with me and pay my fees in full. You will have no further obligation to me. If you choose to give Mr Macdona an interest in the affair, that must be between yourself and him. I am the sole owner of the performing right; and he must come in on the managing side, with which I have nothing to do so long as my fees are paid. His hold on me is that as he tours with companies performing my plays exclusively, I must not let him down (to say nothing of letting myself down) by spoiling his business in any town on his circuit. Faithfully, G. Bernard Shaw'.

Private collection.

Central vertical fold, with some foxing spots to the paper. No tears or holes.