GEORGE BERNARD SHAW - AUTOGRAPH NOTE SIGNED 06/19/1931 - HFSID 15641

GEORGE BERNARD SHAW
George Bernard Shaw sends an autograph letter about a quote of his that is wanted to be used in a book.
Autograph Letter Signed: "G. Bernard Shaw", 1p, 3¼x3¾. 4 Whitehall Court, London, 1931 June 19. On imprinted stationery to Thurston Macauley, Jr., Chelsea. In full: "The passage seems to be within your statutory right of reasonable quotation, for which no authorization is needed. It must not, however, be announced as a contribution to the volume." Lightly soiled. Fine condition. Accompanied by original envelope (windowed on verso of display), 4½x3¼. 1-penny British stamp affixed, postmarked London, June 20, 1931. Addressed by Shaw to: "Thurston Macauley, 89 Church St, Chelsea, S.W. 3." Postmark touches 1 word of writing. Lightly soiled. 2-inch impression at blank left margin. In the year this letter was written, author and editor THURSTON MACAULEY published The Festive Board, a Literary Feast, likely the work in which Shaw's quote would have been published. The American version of the work was first published in 1932. Playwright GEORGE BERNARD SHAW (1856-1950) granted permission to quote him the year before his play, Too True To Be Good (1932), was performed on the stage. Shaw's pieces were characteristically instructional, often including a teacher character, such as the popular Pygmalion (1913) with teacher Henry Higgins. Shaw began writing plays in 1892; his first, Widowers' House, voiced his opinions on society and world reform. Throughout his 58 years as a playwright, he covered many topics, but Shaw let his humor speak for itself. He received the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1925. Shaw's other major works include You Never Can Tell (1895), Man and Superman (1902), Major Barbara (1905), The Doctor's Dilemma (1906) and Saint Joan (1923). Two items. Framed in the Gallery of History style: 27x16¾.