Autograph Collection.- Sir John Mills

A unique collection of various autographs and ephemera from the estate of the British actors Sir John Mills, comprising: a house guest book from 1973, featuring signatures by: Elspeth March, Roger Moore (three signatures, including a full page one with a 007-themed doodle), Colin Douglas, Michael Denison, Vera Lynn, Laurence Olivier ("Larry O., Thank you for an unforgettable evening Darling"), Sylvia Syms, Richard Attenborough, Edward Fox, Marvin Hamlisch, Noel Coward, Olivia de Havilland, Timothy West, Amanda Bellamy, Raine Spencer, Ian McKellen and many others, with candid snapshots of Mills, members of his family and the signers affixed onto pages, red morocco, 4to; a guest book titled "The Good Companions, Her Majesty Theatre, 1974" and labelled "Separate Tables and Jan 1977, Hills House from April 1986", featuring signatures by Ronnie Harwood, Brenda de Branzie, Richard Attenborough ('Dickie') and Sheila Sim, Rod Steiger, Evelyn Laye, Joan Plowright, Anton Dolin, Alicia Markova, Florence Desmond and her husband Charles Hughesdon, Jack Lynn, Burt Lancaster, Ben Oakland, Peter Scott and his wife Philippa, Gracie Fields, Roger Moore, Tommy Cooper, Trevor Howard, Caroline Munro, Joan Greenwood, Edward Fox, Jimmy Edwards, Ingrid Bergman, Timothy West, Terence Rattigan, Robert Mitchum, Ian Rankin, Judi Dench, Michael Denison, Elspeth March, Rex Harrison, Jack and Felicia Lemmon, and many others, some candid snapshots of the signers affixed onto pages, red faux-leather, 4to; two signed Christmas cards for 1985 and 1989 from Elizabeth, The Queen Mother; a Christmas card from Bill and Hillary Clinton bearing printed signatures; a letter from John Gielgud, reading "So lovely seeing you- and so many dear friends too last night; a letter from director Tyrone Guthrie, saying "Saw your show last night and want to thank you for a grand performance, You all seemed to be engrossed in 'notes' when we came round, so it didn’t' t seem to be the most suitable moment to buzz around saying wonderful! But Judy and I had a real thrill", 9 September 1942; a letter from Vivien Leigh to John and Mary Mills, reading "How terribly sweet of you to send me those lovely flowers. Thank you very much. We did think you so wonderful Johnnie and missed seeing you [...]in spite of what the sodden Sunday press may say I am allowed visitors no matter how pissed, darlings I should love to see you but believe me I do know how busy you are and will of course understand perfectly if you can’t make it, n.d..; a card to John and his wife Mary written by Pattie Boyd on behalf of herself and George Harrison, saying "Weren't we lucky? Thank God our spirits weren't ready to leave us yet. Thank you for your card, it would be so nice to see you again, perhaps we can arrange tea or something when we are better" [the card refers to the car accident in which George and Pattie were involved in February 1972]; a thank you note from Richard Attenborough ("D."), 13 April 1984; a note from Noel Coward to Mary Mills, congratulating her on her latest book, which "is so well written", n.d.; one card from Laurence Olivier and Joan Plowright to John Mills, saying "Dearest boy, May these evergreens be ever brown before you leave what we pray will be the happiest situation for you", n.d.; four postcards from Laurence Olivier ("Larry"), one signed "J. & L.", two sent from Italy (mentioning the Olivier's whereabouts, an imminent meeting with De Filippo, one saying "I keep worrying about Bunny but don't like to write and ask how things are. My next film is ...Dracula"), one from Vienna ("Film goes well. Beautiful city, marvellous art galleries and Opera. Was very lucky to hear Lenny Bernstein conducting 'Fidelio' last night - heaven"), the last postcard saying "We can't wait to see you but I suppose the rest is doing us good and it will be better if we don't keep fainting all the time when we meet?"); a collection of 25 colour candid photographs from Sir John's photo autobiography 'Still Memories' (2000), each signed by Mills in blue ink, featuring the actor on movie sets, in private moments, sometimes with family members, mostly 10 x 8"; original movie posters of: 'Town on Trial (1957), 'The Truth About Spring' (1965), 'Chucka' (1967), folded up, some splitting, handling wear, v.s.; a black and white photograph from 'In Which We Serve' (1942), signed and inscribed to John Mills by Richard Attenborough ("Many thanks for your great kindness and all your help, love, Dickie, '43") and Ronald Neame ("My love and thanks for everything you did for us all, Ronnie 1943"), handling wear to mount, corners bent, 35 x 25.5cm; Gielgud (John) Distinguished Company, First Edition, signed and inscribed on front free endpaper "For Margaret and Johnnie, wish best love, John Gielgud, Feb 1973", Heineman, 1972; Niven (David) Bring On The Empty Horses, second impression, signed and inscribed to title page "Mary darling, with huge love to you both, just leave the bloody thing in the loo and someone in extremis may read it, David Niv, 24 September '75", Hamish Hamilton, 1975; Townshend (Pete) Horse's Neck, later print, signed and inscribed to half-title "To Mary, with kindest regards, Pete Townshend, June 1986", Faber & Faber, 1985; v.s. (quantity)

PROVENANCE: from the Sir John Mills estate