MUSIC

1p., 4to. In good condition, lightly aged. He only met Finck on a few occasions, but offers his condolences 'as a Composer of Light Music, and as a former Director of Music at a West End Theatre (Daly's)'. In his view, Finck 'surely had no superior in the art of giving pleasure to others, not only by his personality, but also by his pen.

On his death Finck was described by the Daily Mirror as 'one of the world's greatest writers of light music'. His 'In the Shadows' was one of the last songs played on RMS Titanic before it went down. The collection is in good condition, lightly aged and worn. Items One and Two are in an envelope addressed to Mrs Finck at 122 Finchley Road, with note by her: 'Funeral Cards & names of people at Service'. ONE: Collection of 73 signatures of people attending Finck's funeral service. 5pp., folio. Mostly in pencil. With calling card of 'Mr. Stanley F. Galpin'.

2pp., 4to. In good condition, lightly aged. He knew that Finck was ill, but 'the news of his death broadcast on Friday night came as a shock to me. | He & I had known each other for many years, & specially during the last five or six years we had much to say to each other at the Savage, my admiration for him deepening the more I knew him.' Another member of the Savage Club, Philip Page, referred to Finck as 'the most genial man he ever knew', and this was 'endorsed by all his fellow Savages'.

2pp., 12mo. In fair condition, aged and worn, with a short closed tear along a fold line and small rust stain. He begins in conventional fashion, with a reference to 'Herman's countless friends', before continuing: 'As I write this there is in front of me part of a small collection of books I have each containing some personal inscription from its famous author. Among them is one from Herman. He had thought of me one evening, &, with his usual kindliness, he took a book from his collection, wrote in it, & brought it to me there & then. He spent most of that evening in my dressing room.

Aged and worn postcard. Written in pencil, and addressed to 'The Mac Finck | 21 Heatherfield Pk | Willesden Green | NW'. Reads 'All right Sunny | See you soon. So busy. No time to Finck of ennyfinck for a week | Yours | GRS'. The image of 'MR. GEORGE ROBERT SIMS' on the front of the card shows a seated Sims pondering what to write with pen in hand and finger on cheek, seated surrounded by curios in what is probably his study. Finck's 'In the Shadows' was one of the last songs played while RMS TItanic went down.

1p., 12mo. In good condition. He is writing 'as an old brother savage' (i.e. a member like Finck of the Savage Club), and asks her to accept his 'most sincere sympathy in the loss' of her husband, and his regret that he cannot be present at his funeral. Headed by Mrs Finck 'Answered'. Finck's 'In the Shadows' was one of the last songs played as RMS Titanic went down.

1p., 4to. In fair condition, on aged and worn paper. Offering him, following the unanimous decision of a committee meeting and on his recommendation, an honorary 'Diploma of Fellowship [...] limited to 100 members, of past-students and Professors'. Finck's song 'In the Shadows' was one of the last to be played as RMS Titanic went down.

1p., 8vo. On aged and worn paper. Reads: 'One of the extraordinary things in this world is heredity. I occasionally met on the golf links at Thurlestone, a very delightful well-favoured young lady, of whom I saw too little. She told me she was your daughter. Is it possible? and such charming manners too. Well! its a wonderful world.' Finck's song 'In the Shadows' was one of the last to be played as RMS Titanic went down.

Although Finck was an extremely popular and well-connected figure in British musical and theatre circles, the National Portrait Gallery holds no image of him. The nine black and white photographs range in size from 18.5 x 24.5 cm down to the carte-de-visite, which is 10.5 x 6.5 cm. The collection is in fair overall condition, with some creasing and wear, and the corner of the largest photograph repaired on the reverse with archival tape.

2pp., 12mo. In good condition, lightly aged. Reads 'Dear Mabel. | I cant tell you how deeply I sympathize with you in your great loss - words are so inadequate. Herman was a grand friend, & I shall always remember his many kindnesses, & the fun we all used to have together. I know you will miss him dreadfully, & so will all his many friends. | All my love & sympathy to you & Marjorie.' Finck's 'In the Shadows' was one of the last songs played as RMS Titanic went down.

1p., 4to. In fair condition, on aged and lightly-creased paper. Reads: 'Dear Mrs. Finck, | Mrs. Wood and I deeply regret to hear of the Passing of Herman. | Please accept our deepest Sympathy.' The word 'Ans'[wered]' is written at the head. Finck's 'In the Shadows' was one of the last tunes played as RMS Titanic went down.

Anthony Powell describes Audrey Lucas in his journals as 'Evelyn Waugh's on and off mistress for some years'. 2pp., 12mo. In fair condition, aged and lightly creased, with pinholes to one corner. One catches a hint of the clipped and brittle tones of the age: 'I have been away in the country and ignoring newspapers as a rest. It was only today that I heard of Herman's death. So, will you forgive me for not having written before to say how very much I grieve for you. I am so terribly sorry.

1p., 4to. In fair condition, on aged and lightly-creased paper. He and his wife send their 'sincerest sympathy' on her 'irreparable loss': 'Herman will be missed sadly by his many, many friends and his passing will leave a void which can never be filled.' The word 'Ans:' is written at the head. Finck's song 'In the Shadows' was one of the last to be played as RMS Titanic went down.

2pp., 16mo. In fair condition, lightly-aged. Headed 'Re. Dec 2': 'I have put my name down & hope nothing prevents my being present - tho' a "young" Savage I trust that you can fix me near you & Sir Edward - | Do what you can - what an evening it will be!!' Finck's song 'In the Shadows' was one of the last to be played as RMS Titanic went down.

1p., 8vo. In good condition, lightly aged. John Bennion Booth discusses Turner in his 'Old Pink 'un Days' (1925). 'My Wife and I want to express to you and your daughters our great and very real sympathy in your great loss. I sincerely mourn with you for I have lost a very old friend of many years.' He hopes that 'Time, the great healer' will help her in her sorrow. Finck's 'In the Shadows' was one of the last songs played as RMS Titanic went down.

1p., 4to. On aged and worn paper. Thirty-eight lines of text. Written with the forced Wodehousian bonhommie of a desperate man. He has had an operation at a nursing home, so the beginning of the letter needs to be taken metaphorically: 'My dear Finck, | This is a nice kettle of Fish and no mistake! | Came out of jail day before yesterday, but only on ticket-of-leave. Strict police supervision for two years - finger-prints - strawberry-marks - nothing kept secret! | However, they say they can make a job of it and my tail, such as it is, remains vertical.

Constant Lambert referred to 'In the Shadows' as 'that rightly renowned piece'.For the playing of the song as the Titanic sank, see Ian Whitcomb, 'The Titanic Songbook' (2011) and Steve Turner, 'The Band Played On' (2011). The three items of sheet music are from Finck's papers, and their condition bears testimony to their having been working copies. ONE: 'In the Shadows'. 8pp., 12mo. In poor condition, with outer leaves detached from one another. At head of first page: 'In the Shadows. | Dance. | Piano-Conductor. HERMAN FINCK.' Rest of page blank. Two sections deleted in blue pencil.

[1] + 6pp., folio.Two bifoliums with printed staves, stitched together. A working score, worn and aged, and with the outer leaves detached from one another. Ink blot on front page which only bears the title 'Duet | "Optimist & Pessimist" | Herman Finck'. The score is six pages long, signed at the head by Finck. Neatly written out, with a couple of notes by Finck in blue pencil. On the first page: '"You is a Pessimist" | 3 verses', and on the last: 'Encore Sym & Chorus only'. A new edition of the piece, with words by Adrian Ross, was published in London by Cavendish Music Co.

3pp., 12mo. Bifolium. In good condition, lightly aged. In envelope addressed by Forbes-Robertson at 79 Netherwood Road, Shepherd's Bush. He thanks him for letting him have his address, and requests a pass for his servant for the following evening's performance of the play 'Mice and Men'. He hopes the servant will return with 'the news I desire viz that you will consent to being pro tem - one of the Hon Secs of the Te Deum Committee.

1p., 12mo. In fair condition, lightly aged and worn. He expresses the 'deepest regret' at his 'dear friend's death [...] His passing will mean a great loss both to his friends & the world of music.' The word 'Answered' is written at the head. Percy made his in Australia in the productions of J. C. Williamson. He toured America before settling in England. Finck's 'In the Shadows' was one of the last pieces played by the orchestra on the Titanic.

2pp., 12mo. In good condition, lightly aged. She expresses 'heartfelt sympathy' at 'the loss of our darling old Herman. How we all loved him & what a dear & true friend he always was to me. I am terribly sorry at his going'. The word 'Answered' is written at the head. Violet Loraine's signature song was her duet with George Robey, 'If I were the only Girl in the World'. Finck's 'In the Shadows' was one of the last pieces played by the orchestra on the Titanic.

2pp., 12mo. In good condition, lightly aged. The letter is addressed to 'My poor dear', and he writes 'with deepest sympathy' with 'your terrible loss of dear Herman. I little thought that my last visit would be the last.' It is 'perhaps poor consolation' to her, but Finck's passing 'hits all his pals very hard indeed. For he was dearly loved by everybody.' He urges her to 'Be brave, my dear, & be sure we are all thinking of you in this awful time.' 'Ans:' (i.e. 'Answered') is written at the head. See Graves's entry in the Oxford DNB.

2pp., 4to. In fair condition, on lightly aged and worn paper. Collinson is named as Honorary Secretary of the Association on the letterhead. He begins by explaining that he has waited until after the previous day's meeting of the Association to write to her, so that he can convey 'the tributes to your late husband's memory which I felt sure would be shown at this gathering of his friends and colleagues'. 'Mr Frederick Austin as chairman referred to the great loss which we all felt in the passing of Herman Finck, and spoke of his great qualities both as a friend and as a musician.

1p., 4to. In fair condition, lightly aged and worn. 'Your dear husband was one of my oldest and most valued friends in my Savage Club circle; his place can never be filled as you, more than any of us, know and with deep sorrow.' Wareing joined Sir Frank Benson's company in 1900. In 1909 he founded the first Citizens' Theatre in an English-speaking country. On his death The Times (13 April 1942) referred to him as 'a repertory theatre pioneer'. The word 'Answered' is written at the head. Finck's 'In the Shadows' was one of the last pieces played by the orchestra on the Titanic.

Susan Euphemia Beckford, daughter of William Beckford of Fonthill, had married the 10th Duke of Hamilton in 1810. The recipient Charlotte Stuart (d.1867) was the daughter of Margaret, Lady Pulteney, by her first husband Andrew Stuart of Torrance. In 1830 she married Robert Harington, son of Sir John Edward Harington of Ridlington, 8th Baronet. The present item is two closely written pages, 4to. On bifolium of wove paper with watermark 'C WILMOT | 1822'. In good condition, lightly aged. Closely and neatly written over 63 lines.

3pp., 12mo. Bifolium. In fair condition, aged and creased. Begins: 'Dear Finch, | Tomorrow - I read - you will have "done time" for a quarter of a century in Cambridge Circus.' He recalls that it is 'just ten months longer - Feb 1892, that I first went into the Cambridge Circus doors to hear "Ivanhoe." I was then a blushing undergraduate at Oxford, and "Jimmy's" and the long bar at the Cri [i.e.

1p., 12mo. In fair condition, lightly aged and worn. Docketed at head 'Answered'. Reads: 'Dear Mrs Finck - | We were very grieved to hear of the passing of your dear husband & our old friend - will you please accept our deepest sympathy in your great sorrow - & our prayers that you & your daughters may be greatly comforted - | Very sincerely Yrs. | Ben Davies'. From the Finck papers.

Both items in fair condition, lightly aged and worn. ONE: Typed Poem followed by Autograph Note Signed. 24 December 1937. 2pp., 8vo. The poem consists of eleven four-line stanzas, with the title typed in red. An apparently unpublished humorous poem, quite charming and well worthy of publication. Begins: 'For months we've had electric road-drills | Right outside our door, | And two gentlemen who play them | Called in yesterday at four.

Script, titlepage plus 6pp., folio, folded, very good condition. Converstaional interchange between "Announcer" and Herman Finck with background (and foreground) of Finck's songs, starting with "In the Shadows" and with Finck giving the history of the song. Finck "asks" John Rorke to sing 'The Constant Lover@ and teslls a story about the revue, Then comes Rorke singing "Gilbert the Filbert" with Finck narrative, followed by anecdote about soldiers singing one of his songs. Betty Huntley-Wright then sings "To Make a Man of you".

Two pages, 8vo, fold mark, very good condition. " I feel I must write you & tell you how deeply I sympathise with you and your daughters in your very sad loss. Although I did not know your husband very well, I was a great admirer of his work and I knew him well enough to realise what a really vital and lovable personality he had. | I shall never forget his friendly and generous words when we first met some years ago.