[Rarebooks] FS: Superb George Bernard Shaw Letter on his Automobile & Filing an Insurance Claim for an Accident, 1909
Charles Agvent
agvent at erols.com
Tue Mar 27 10:40:24 EDT 2007
One of a very many fine George Bernard Shaw items we list on our website
and viewable via the search engine located there:
http://www.erols.com/agvent
SHAW, George Bernard. AUTOGRAPH LETTER SIGNED (ALS): Detailed
Report on His Automobile and Filing an Insurance Claim for an
Accident in 1909. Shropshire: 4 January 1909. A superb five-page Shaw
letter on two sheets to O'Gorman SIGNED "G. Bernard Shaw" tipped to
quarto-sized pages and bound with a typed transcript in marbled
boards with a blue morocco spine. In part: "I have now formed a
strong opinion that Todd and Wright never made a motor body before,
and are under the impression that the function of the machinery is
purely ornamental." He gives a detailed list of five defects of the
car. Regarding filling the car with petrol: "Without luggage one man
can fill if he is a professional conjuror like Cinquevalli." On the
headlights: "the placing of the acetylenes is beyond profanity ...
though ... they are admirable for detecting policemen concealed in
trees, and for showing the mountains in the moon.... As there is no
precedent for this, it makes me doubt whether Todd can be sane or
Wright sober." Shaw concludes discussing an insurance claim: "there
have been about six accidents, several of them my fault.... By the
way, the Co has just informed me that if I make any claim they will
charge me 10% more next year. This they offer as a special favour. I
find that my own considerate driving obtains no public recognition,
whereas my driver's rush through crowded slums at 35 miles an hour
with his Gabriel horn shrieking madly is enormously popular. They
just love it; and he knows it." Shaw purchased a motorcar soon after
they were generally available. He crashed his new toy often, never
learning how to drive responsibly. This item came from the collection
of Harold Ackert. Near Fine in an attractive Very Good binding.
$4500.00
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