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91 ORCZY, Baroness. The League of The Scarlet Pimpernel. London: Cassell and Company, Ltd, [1919] An invitation to “a short stay in ‘the den of sin’ which is really an earthly paradise” First edition, first impression, presentation copy, inscribed by the author to Dennis Wheatley, “To Dennis Wheatley, kind thoughts from Emmuska Orczy, London 28.viii.35”, with Wheatley’s bookplate on the front pastedown. Accompanying the book is the autograph letter Orczy sent presenting the book, also dated 25 August 1935, following a meeting with Wheatley earlier in the month. In the single page letter Orczy thanks Wheatley for the receipt of some of his works, and invites him to visit her in Monte Carlo, for “a short stay in ‘the den of sin’ which is really an earthly paradise”. This collection of short stories is the sixth book in The Scarlet Pimpernel series. Inscribed copies of Baroness Orczy’s Scarlet Pimpernel series are uncommon. Octavo. Original red cloth, titles on spine in gilt and blocked in blind on front cover, bottom edge untrimmed. With dust jacket. Together with single sheet autograph letter (175 × 227 mm) on blue paper, hand written in black ink on one side only, folded twice, and integral blue paper envelope (120 × 95 mm), unstamped, addressed in manuscript in black ink. Slight rubbing to extremities, upper corners of covers a little speckled, light foxing to edges, a very good, bright, copy in the uncommon, judiciously restored, jacket with paper reinforcements to spine ends, folds, and head of front panel, light soiling to spine and rear panel, and minor creasing to edges. £4,500 [128848]
92 ORWELL, George. Typed letter signed to Anthony Powell. Cranham: 10 February 1949 to his closest literary friend during his final illness A letter sent while Orwell was being treated at Cotswold Sanatorium for the tuberculosis that would kill him a year later, a testament to an important literary and personal friendship between two of the leading English novelists of the 20th century. Orwell writes in reply to Powell’s letter suggesting a visit from himself and Malcolm Muggeridge. “It’s very tough of you to decide to walk (I suppose you know this place is 900 feet up) and I trust you’ll have decent weather”. Orwell specifies times, and that he’ll arrange a car to catch the 18:30 return train. “I’ve no doubt you could get dinner in the train going back, but perhaps it’s wise to carry food. In Scotland one gets into the habit of never going anywhere without a ‘piece’ as they call it, and often I’ve been glad of it. So looking forward to seeing you both”. Although only two years apart at Eton, Powell and Orwell did not meet until 1941, when they were introduced by mutual friend Cyril Connolly. Powell had read Down and Out in Paris and London and had been sufficiently impressed by Keep the Aspidistra Flying to write, on Connolly’s encouragement, a fan letter and to send a copy of his satirical Scottish poem, Caledonia . Orwell replied politely, but no further correspondence ensued until their meeting some five years later. Despite their radically differing outlooks and political views, Orwell’s friendship with Powell grew into one of the most substantial of his adult life. Powell and
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