AUTOGRAPH ALBUM - MANY NOTABLE SIGNATURES - PROVENANCE OF ROBIN DE BEAUMONT

Item Details

1950s - 1960s

AUTOGRAPH ALBUM / GUEST BOOK reportedly for CHEZ VICTOR RESTAURANT, 1950s-1960s.  Beautifully blind-stamped rexine (faux leather) covers, 9x7 inches oblong, 14 leaves.

Signatures Include: Oliver Lyttelton, Brian Johnston, Margot Fonteyn, Mai Zetterling, Edwina Mountbatten of Burma, Harold Wilson, Adam Clayton Powell Jr. (who wrote "U.S. Congress" by his signature), Alexander of Tunis, Marghanita Laski, Freddie Mills, Shirley Winters and Farley Granger (both wrote "Hollywood, USA" by their signatures), Trygve Lie, Richard Greene, Rowland Emett, Ann Todd; Dorothy Layton, and others.

Most notably is the following on the last leaf in the hand of Robin de Beaumont: "...and finally / Robin de Beaumont / who bought this for Old Time's Sake at Bloomsbury Book Auctions on Wednesday 15th June 2005". Below his signature and humorous inscription is a Bloomsbury description of lot 139, clipped from an auction catalogue, with estimates of 200-300 pounds and a handwritten hammer price of 261.80 pounds (approx $360).

Robin de Beaumont clearly treasured this album, it has been professionally rebacked and restored, it is NOW in NEAR FINE condition, solid and lovely, nothing loose, spine beautiful, pages tight. When de Beaumont originally bought the album it wasn't in as fine condition, Bloomsbury's 2005 description stated: "1f [1 leaf] loose, others working loose, original rexine, a few tears, spine defective c.1950s & 60s." The Bloomsbury description does not state a place but notes [Chez Victor Restaurant]. I'll leave it to you to try and figure out which of the many Chez Victor Restaurants Bloomsbury might be referring to. Whichever it was, it attracted an amazing clientele.

Attached are pictures of every page with autographs, maybe you can decipher those that seem undecipherable.

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