THEATRICAL INTEREST Theatrical: a Royal Presentation silver cheroot case to Bransby Williams, Be...

THEATRICAL INTEREST Theatrical: a Royal Presentation silver cheroot case to Bransby Williams, Bell & Willmott, London 1902 Rectangular with rounded edges, with all-over hammered finish, the flush-hinged cover applied with an enamelled cipher of King Edward VII, with separate vesta compartment and taper cord, length 9cm, together with a letter from Buckingham Palace making the presentation, a framed telegram commanding the actor's appearance at Sandringham before the King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra in December 1903, a programme for The Royal Performance, 27 May 1926, an autographed photograph depicting Williams in various character costumes, a further eight photographs of the actor in costume and a photograph of the actor, labelled on the back, BBC TV 1954, a copy of the programme for the Dedication of a plaque to Bransby Williams in 1962. Footnotes: Provenance: By descent to the current vendor. Bransby Williams (born Bransby William Pharez; 14 August 1870 – 3 December 1961) was a British actor, comedian and monologist. The text of the presentation letter: On Buckingham Palace headed paper Private December 20th/03 Dear Sir By command of the King and Queen I have the pleasure to send you the accompanying cigarette case, which the Majesties, believing you to be a smoker, hope you may find useful, and helpful perhaps at times in reminding you of the 4th of this month at Sandringham when you so much interested their Majesties and others who witnessed you clever imitations. Signed The lot also includes a telegram: Bransby Williams You are to appear before their Majesties at Sandringham tonight in impersonations and Dickens works Meet me St Pancras two o'clock for the 2.35 train, Ashton. The lot includes photos of Williams dressed and various characters from Charles Dickens, for which he was famous. He was known as 'The Hamlet of the Halls.' Williams recorded Dickens on Edison Phonograph Cylinders in 1907 and Columbia discs in 1909. He made several films and was one of the first artists on BBC Television from Alexandra Palace in 1936. In the 1950's, he continued to appear on Television and was on 'Desert Island Discs' in 1957 and 'This is your life' a year later. He is remembered in a plaque in St Paul's Covent Garden. Williams, appeared first in the U.S.A. in 1905 and 1907 also in Canada 1926 and Australia New Zealand and South Africa in 1924. He recorded cylinders for Edison 1907, the monologue, The Green Eye of the Yellow God, by Milton Hayes also many recitations of Dickens. From 1910 all above on Columbia Dark Blue label 78 rpm records and issued Worldwide. About 10 years ago on the BBC television Program ARENA Dickens on film compared by Sir Simon Gallow. For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com For further information about this lot please visit the lot listing