GEORGE BERNARD SHAW TO MAY MORRIS
AN ARCHIVE OF COLLABORATION REGARDING THE FABIAN SOCIETY, THE KELMSCOTT PRESS, AND WOMEN’S EMERGING ROLES
SHAW, GEORGE BERNARD. (1856-1950). Irish-born writer and dramatist. A superb archive of six pieces of correspondence from Shaw to May Morris. Mary “May” Morris (1862 – 1938) was an English artisan, embroidery designer, jeweler, socialist, and editor; she was the younger daughter of the Pre-Raphaelite artist and designer William Morris; and in 1907, she founded the Women’s Guild of Arts, in response to women not being admitted to the Art Workers Union. Various places and dates, mostly London, circa 1934-1936. Very fine condition throughout. The archive includes:
Octavo Postcard Photograph Signed, “G. Bernard Shaw”, under his image, and additionally inscribed on verso: “Agreed. Saturday the 20th. October at 15. G.B.S.” Ayot St. Lawrence, Welwyn, Herts., September 23, 1934. Addressed on verso to “Miss May Morris, Kelmscott Manor, Lechlade, Glos.”, with red, one-penny stamp and postal cancellation.
Typed Letter Signed, “G. Bernard Shaw”, on his name-imprinted stationery. One page, quarto. London, December 14, 1935. Shaw writes: “My dear May, Your own introductions are so well written, and harmonize so well with the gospel of Saint William of Kelmscott, that I am not sure that the intrusion of my blatant style will not be an artistic mistake…On the 22nd January I start on a voyage to the Pacific which will last until the 6th April. I have so many things to do before I sail that it is impossible for me to touch anything new until I am on board ship…Is this delay possible? If so, could you let me have a proof of your introduction, so that I may avoid covering the same ground? I notice that you say a short preface; but that is out of the question. A Shaw preface is a public institution, and I must give a substantial quantity to keep up the reputation of the trade mark. I will make it as short as I can. Always yours, G. Bernard Shaw”.
Typed Letter Signed, “G. Bernard Shaw”, on his name-imprinted stationery. One full page, quarto. London, April 19, 1936. Shaw writes: “My dear May, Bumpus the bookseller sent me a handbill the other day advertising the two volumes…the handbill…was all wrong. Apart from the outrage of describing me as GEORGE Bernard Shaw (I never use the George professionally or indeed at all) it announced a General Introduction by me. Now you have completely cut the ground from under my feet (bless you for it!) by doing the general introduction so magnificently yourself that there is no room left on the stage, nor any material, for anyone but yourself…your introduction is so extraordinarily fine both as literature and criticism that I consider some of the people you mention quite beneath it. It is kind to remember old comrades; but they have no business on the same shelf as Morris: they only look ridiculous there, and are tedious because nobody now cares a dump about them. I jibbed even at your choice of Bax’s idiotic reminiscences as an authority. That dull book was the oddest revelation of how a man clever enough to pass as a philosopher could live through the most interesting events among the most interesting people not only without any perception of their values but for the most part without perceiving them at all. I am afraid you must harden your heart and sternly omit the people who did not matter enough in their time compared to Morris, and do not matter at all now…As to the more personal part of my sketch you must revise it for publication. But there is one consideration present to my mind that will not be present to yours unless I press it on you. I have had many books written about me (damn them!) and I have learnt that if there is any incident of any delicacy in my life I must write its tale myself or it will be horribly worse done by somebody else, and that nothing can be kept secret, though everything can be misrepresented…G. Bernard Shaw. [The following three-line postscript is entirely in Shaw’s hand.] As to the printing of the titles you can keep the distinction between italic and roman; but don’t put the roman between quotation marks. It’s wrong. A name or title is not a quotation. I don’t address you as my dear ‘May’. Why then ‘Sigurd’? Of course you must use quotation marks when you are quoting; but that is quite another matter.”
Typed Letter with typed initials, “G.B.S.”, on his Ayot St. Lawrence stationery. One full page, oblong octavo. London, April 27, 1936. Shaw writes: “My dear May, There is nothing in the divorce point. I doubt whether there ever has been, or ever could be, a case in which the facts presented to the court in legal order reflect the order of nature. Anyhow, a decree is a decree, and nothing could not make it ‘illegal’. The King’s Proctor had six months to pick a hole in it if he could; and he must now be forever silent. Besides, I was careful not to say that the respondent was not technically guilty. The case could not be reopened even if anyone had any conceivable interest in reopening it. For the rest, you are a very remarkable woman to yeasay the revelation. I would not for the world have pressed you and wrote it really so that, the tale being told, we two might die happy. However, you are quite right; and all is well. Don’t bother about accepting my patches on technical points. When I am beaten by one myself I consult a specialist and incorporate his version without the slightest scuple [sic]. G.B.S.”
Autograph Note Signed, “G.B.S.”, on his With Bernard Shaw’s compliments notecard. One page, 32mo. Welwyn, Herts., May 7, 1936. Shaw writes: “I have made all your corrections and a few more—all trifles. I think it may go to press now. I shall miss the post if I say more. G.B.S.”
Typed Letter Signed, “G. Bernard Shaw”, on his name-imprinted stationery. One full page, quarto. London, November 11, 1936. Shaw writes: “My dear May, Have your two volumes been copyrighted in the United States? I secured interim copyright for my own contribution; and as the registering authority demanded a copy of the whole volume my interim copyright may cover its entire contents. But it will presently expire; and I must get my stuff printed and published in New York before the end of the year or it will fall into the public domain there and be at any man’s mercy. I have arranged for this; but the doubt arises whether Blackwell may not have succeeded in finding an American publisher for the two volumes. If so, I shall of course cancel my arrangements for separate publication. If not I must, with your goodwill, go ahead. Incidentally the copyrighting of my chapter will protect the whole volume from piracy…sempre a te, G. Bernard Shaw. [The following 12-line postscript is written entirely in Shaw’s hand.] P.S. Since writing the above I have received a letter from America from which it appears that the Library of Congress dropped the claim for the completed volumes and granted interim copyright on the copy I made up from the proofs, containing my stuff only. Consequently unless Blackwell took out interim copyright you are not protected…”
Just an outstanding archive that works on so many levels.
$8500.00