Ballet

Percy Anderson D'Oyly Carte stage designer. Four Autograph Letters Signed to theatrical wigmaker William Berry Clarkson praising the work he has done on his behalf in connection with several productions.

22247 — 12 March 1912 31 December 1912 and the other two without year; all on letterheads of 55 York Terrace Regent's Park N.W. Total of 7pp 12mo. All in good condition lightly aged and worn. Each folded once. All signed 'Percy Anderson'. ONE: 12 March 1912. Begins: 'Your properties are quite splendid.' He thanks Clarkson and his assistant for the trouble they have taken 'over the “Mâ€'. Ends: 'I thought everything as good as it cd be – I refer to yr work of course'. TWO: 31 December 1912. He thanks him for his 'delightful' card and for 'yr. good wishes & for the tickets you so kindly send me for The Miracle. It was most thoughtful of you.' He ends in the hope that 1913 will be a crowning success you for sic & that you will have a very happy time'. THREE: 19 January no year. He is seeing 'Mr. Simmons' at 11 am the following day and will 'look in' on Clarkson afterwards. He thanks him 'for all the good work' on 'The Country Girl' adding: 'I want you to put all yr “guts†please into the “Ulysses†wigs'. FOUR: 10 September no year. 'It is too kind of you to send me those lovely figs. There's nothing I like better & I am most grateful.' FOUR: 31 December 1912. The recipient William Clarkson was the owner of Clarkson's Wigs Wellington Street London. James Morton in his 'Gangland Soho' 2012 alleges that Clarkson who has a blue plaque to his name at 41-43 Wardour Street was not only a repeated insurance fraudster but a notorious homosexual blackmailer after whom the public lavatory in Dansey Place was named 'Clarkson's Cottage'. RE Anderson & G & S: "The artist and costume designer Percy Anderson 1851-1928 was based in London where he exhibited watercolours at the New Water Colour Society in 1886. He designed costumes for the original productions of the last four Gilbert and Sullivan operas at the Savoy Theatre - The Yeomen of the Guard 1888 The Gondoliers 1889 Utopia Limited 1893 and The Grand Duke 1896 and for several D’Oyly Carte revivals including that for Utopia Limited considered by Rupert D’Oyly Carte in 1926 and but never realised. Given Gilbert’s exacting attitude to his productions it is an accolade to Anderson that he worked with Gilbert on so many including Gilbert and Edward German’s Fallen Fairies 1909 when Gilbert said Anderson: ‘surpassed himself’". 12 March 1912, 31 December [1912], and the other two without year; all on letterheads of 55 York Terrace, Regent's Park, N.W. unknown