[Somerset Maugham] Three Autograph Letters Signed "Willie", two with their envelopes, to "Mme Jan Boissevin" [Charlotte Boissevin, née Ives, sometime actress. See Wikipedia]. See Note below]}.

Letter One: [No envelope; undated] One page, 8vo, good condition. Text: "Forgive me for not having written before to thank you for your very kind letter, but I have had something like five hundred letters & telegrams of congratulation & they have been a job to deal with. It was very kind of you to write. I am just off to England to receive the insignia." [Maugham was made a Companion of Honour in 1954 if that indicates the date of the letter(?)]; Letter Two: Postmark 24 Oct. 1934 and dated "Oct. 34" (though the '3' looks like a '2'), Two pages, 8vo, good condition. Text: "Darling | I was so distressed to get Jan's letter this morning. You poor thing! You must have been so dreadfully worried, but what a comfort to think there wass nothing malignant there & you will soon be all right again. I cannot tell you how glad I am. Now you will be free of all anxiety & feel like a two year old. Now, Charlotte dear, I imagine that all this, the operation, the nursing home, has been a great & unexpected expence. I cannot bear the idea of your being worried so I am sending you a little presy [present]. I hope it will be useful. London is very nice. Everyone seems very gay & I am going to far more parties than I should at my advanced age. I have not seen Barbara yet as she has been lecturing (!) in Manchester on the art of make up. I cannot make out how she has ever found out anything about it. Bless you, my sweet, & my love to Jan."; LETTER THREE: One page, 4to. small close tear on fold mark, ow. good. Text: Charlotte my dear | How lovely of you! I am so grateful & so touched; but why should you mmake me [?] a lovely present,& me not getting married or anything. No excuse really except your generous & tender heart. Thank you, my pet. The etching is lovely & I'm going to put it up in my writing room. I am so glad to have it, though I don't deserve it." See Image of page 2 of Letter Two with envelope. Note: These letters derive from an archive purchased at auction, and also including letters to her from H.G. Wells, Rebecca West, and H.L. Mencken which are catalogued separately. There was a note attached to the archive: : "Letters from Rebecca West | H.G. Wells | Somerset Maugham | H.L. Mencken.| To Charlotte Boissevain. | Charlotte Boissevain gave these documents to Paul Gallico to 'keep safely'. [Signed] V.G. [Virginia Gallico presumably], of which a copy would be provided if requested. …