SITWELL, Edith. An archive of autograph letters and cards signed by Edith Sitwell, addressed to her close friend and treasured physiotherapist, Leonard Green. [Sitwell had lifelong joint problems now thought to be caused by Marfan syndrome]. Comprising: 1. Renishaw Hall, Derbyshire, 28 May 1941, apologising for not sending any chocolates from Charbonnel & Walker due to the wartime restrictions on amounts that can be purchased by one household, and explaining that her brother Osbert had already sent some to Queen Mary, and so she must wait. She also states that she misses visiting them, but will no doubt return as she's 'creaking like a door that is off its hinges', she thanks them for all their help and says, 'I am so grateful for what you & Mr. Green have done for me, I am really a different person, and am certainly, at the moment, on my hinges'. 2. Renishaw Hall, Derbyshire, 1 Jun 1949, conveying her deepest sympathy on the death of Mrs. Green's mother, 'In your grief, there is only one thing to say which can be of comfort, and that is, that nobody can ever have been a better daughter to her mother than you were - you were wonderful with her and to her, and must have made such an infinite difference to her during these last years after the loss of your father...My brother is in London, and so does not know. You will have his deep sympathy.' 3. Castello di Montegufoni, Florence, 18 Sep 1954, 'My hands are (D.V.) all right again, thank you so much. I should have written before, I had a most stupid accident, the light in the hotel where I was is very old-fashioned, and sometimes stops halfway between two floors. I was in a great hurry, because I could get no answer to a telephone, and I fell three feet into the lift, injuring my shoulder and two ribs! Have your ears burned lately? You should just hear what my brother says about the miracles Mr. Green worked with him.' 4. Durrants Hotel, London, 18 Aug 1954, 'My dear Mr. and Mrs. Green, Do please forgive me for bothering you. But only you understand the bones and nerves of hands. I am having sudden burning, shooting pains in my fingers (especially my thumbs and little fingers.) Oh, if only I were at Renishaw and could come for treatment to you. But alas, I am here, far away. Please, is there anything you can suggest for me to do? I should be so grateful...It isn't fair to waste your time, my dears. So I consider this as an appointment and enclose 10s.' 5. Durrants Hotel, undated, 'My dear Mr. and Mrs. Green, all my most grateful thanks to you. Mr. Berry telephoned to me this morning, and I am going to him for treatment tomorrow afternoon, - that is, if I haven't been drowned, and he hasn't been drowned before then - which is possible, if the rain goes on like this!! The cold is piercing. My love and gratitude to you both. Yours ever, Edith Sitwell', complete with envelope. 6. Castello di Montegufoni, 12 Dec 1958, on hearing of Mr. and Mrs. Green's retirement, 'We shall miss you most terribly. It has been a friendship of so many years, now, and so much valued by us. We looked forward, always, so much to seeing you both, to our talks, to your warm goodness & kindness. And of course, nothing could exceed our gratitude to you for what you did for our health,' she goes on to explain the delay in writing, 'as a result of having to sign my name literally 9,800 times (!!) when I arrived here (deprived of Mr. Green,) I could hardly write at all - certainly not legibly...the servants all started sneezing at each other, and went down like ninepins. As soon as they were up again, they sneezed again, and down they went again. In the midst of it all, I had to correct urgent proofs,' and shares news of an earthquake that lasted twenty minutes, 'The rooms heaved up and down and all the furniture flew about, I was terrified,' complete with envelope. 7. An engraved Renishaw Hall letterhead giving her best wishes, signed, undated, with envelope. 8. Two greetings cards bearing printed message from Edith Sitwell at Renishaw Hall, Osbert's name added by hand, Christmas 1948. 9. A calling card inscribed with compliments from Edith Sitwell. 10. Two Post Office Telegrams with season's greetings from Edith Sitwell, 1945 & 1948, and a newspaper cutting of Osbert Sitwell and John Piper at Graves Art Gallery, Sheffield. A unique insight into Sitwell's personal relationships and warmth towards valued friends, the whole housed in one envelope
Provenance: By descent of Leonard Green, Chesterfield - a physiotherapist and member of the Blind Masseurs
Realised Price: £200
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