Shaw, George Bernard. (1856-1950) British novelist and playwright, awarded 1935 Nobel Prize for Literature.
Typed Document Signed Twice. Three pages, large legal Folio on heavy bond, London, February 28, 1931. Being a contract, entitled "Agreement - Terry Shaw Correspondence - Limited Edition," authorizing the publication of the letters between Shaw and the famous actress Ellen Terry. This contract, involving the publishing firm Fountain Press of New York, Elbridge Adams (the owner of the rights to Terry's letters), Shaw and the publishing firm of Constable and Co. of London, is a "Memorandum Agreement" appending two previous agreements assigning the copyrights involved in the publication of this volume. Both of these earlier agreements, signed by Terry's daughter Edith Craig, are also included in this lot. The first is a six page TDS dated April 23, 1930, the second a three page TDS dated February 28, 1931. Neither of theses earlier agreements are signed by Shaw.
The publication of the correspondence between Shaw and Eleanor Terry had a difficult birth, evidently due to the ownership of the copyrights to Ellen Terry's letters. When these wrinkles were ironed out, it was agreed that the book would be issued in a limited edition, partly at Shaw's own expense, with the type being destroyed after the manufacture of 3050 copies. Ellen Terry appeared in several of Shaw's plays and was one of his great loves, although the romance was conducted primarily through letters. Fine.
Estimated Value $750-1,000.
