Section U: Ephemera and Collectibles

This Section includes items of interest that don’t fall into the categories of other Sections.

The range of possible items is broad and diverse. Examples of similar items can be seen in the McIlvaine Bibliography, pages 423-449, Appendix I: Checklist of a Major Private Collection.

Items that will be considered for acceptance include: artwork, photographs, typescripts, galleys, exhibition publications, theater programs and bills, advertisements of descOnlyItems, theater flyers, posters and other products, ephemera such as postcards, cigarette cards, descOnlyItemmarks, invitations, and other Wodehouse related items.

Due to the unique nature and wide range of possible donations, items for this Type B database will be accepted for the Collection on a case-by-case basis and will be listed when donated.

Three interesting examples of donations in this category:

Poster, 13.5 X 20.5 inches, Published by Penguin, commemorating Wodehouse’s life. Large photograph of Wodehouse at his typewriter with “1881-1975” on green field. At the top is an arched banner “P. G. Wodehouse” and at the bottom is “I am writing musical comedy without the music.”

The Crime Wave at Blandings First edition of the short story in the Penguin Mini Modern Classics. 11 X 16 cm. paperback descOnlyItem. Published in 2011 on the fiftieth anniversary of the Modern Classics. Penguin published fifty “Mini Modern Classics of the very best short fiction by writers” which included this short story by P. G. Wodehouse.

Mam’zelle Milliard, DVD of Pathe Baby 9.5mm Silent Film No. 739 of 1924. This is an abridged version (with French intertitles) of the 1919 Pathe Exchange Film A Damsel in Distress, based on the descOnlyItem by P. G. Wodehouse. Film historian Brian Taves states that there is no copy of the film either in the Library of Congress collection or, to the best of his knowledge, anywhere else in the world.

Table of Contents

Ephemera and Paper Items

ItemDescriptionCondition
AUCTION CATALOGUEBloomsbury Auctions Catalogue Modern Literature Including a Private Collection of P.G. Wodehouse Friday 11th April 2014, Published by Bloomsbury Auctions, London, 2014. Pages 66-87 "Right Ho, Jeeves A Private Collection of P. G. Wodehouse The Property of a Gentleman" Color photographs of Lots 150-211 of First or First English Editions, the majority with dust wrappers, one second issue and one letter.Fine-
COMMEMORATIVE PUBLICATION"The Crime Wave at Blandings" (short story) Penguin Mini Modern Classic, Published by Penguin, 2011, on the 50th anniversary of The Modern Classics. Penguin published 50 "Mini Modern Classics of the very best short fiction by writers."New
ENGRAVED INVITATIONInvitation from Oxford University to P.G.Wodehouse to attend the Convocation awarding him his Honorary Doctorate, undated, but likely 1939.
FLYER, TICKET ORDER FORMFlyer and ticket order form for "By Jeeves" at the Nissay Theater, 2014. In Japanese languange.New
PHOTOGRAPHPhotograph of Ethel Rowley Wodehouse holding a Pekinese dog, in Sepia tone, ca. late 1930's – early 1940's, 6.625 x 9.25" with matting 10.25 x 13.25", with frame 12.25 x 16". This item was part of lot 147 of Sotheby's auction of items from the Heineman Collection. Listed in McIlvaine Appendix I as B1.1.
PHOTOGRAPHBlack and white photograph of Leonora Rowley Wodehouse, ca. late 1930's, 5 x 7". Crack in glass cover, donor received item in this condition. This item was part of lot 147 of Sotheby's auction of items from the Heineman Collection. Listed in McIlvaine Appendix I as B5.2
PHOTOGRAPHBlack and white photograph of Ethel and P.G.Wodehouse, probably taken at Basket Neck Lane, ca. late 1960's, 7.5 x 9.25", with frame 10 x 12". This item was part of lot 147 of Sotheby's auction of items from the Heneman Collection. Listed in McIlvaine Appendix I as B5.3.
PLAYBILLThe Gershwins' Oh, Kay! The San Francisco Shakespeare Festival, 1994Very Good
POSTERPoster Commemorating Wodehouse's Life Published by Penguin, 13.5" x 20.5" Large photograph of PGW at his typewriter. "1881-1975" in green field. Top has arched banner "P.G.Wodehouse." At bottom is printed "I am writing musical comedy without the music."New
VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY SPECIAL COLLECTIONS PURCHASEThough not donated by The Wodehouse Society members, in 2019 Vanderbilt University purchased a special collection of Letters & Photographs 1882-1974 from Clouds Hill Books which includes earliest known photograph of Wodehosehouse (1882) and other photographs, letters. This collection is catalogued in the Vanderbilt Library Special Collections as: P.G.Wodehouse Letters and Photograph Collection Identifier: MSS.0949

Collectibles (Non-paper Items)

ItemDescriptionCondition
CAP & PHOTOGRAPHCheckered cap in brown, green and grey, and photograph. Former property of Wodehouse, who was photographed wearing it in the company of Guy Bolton. Wodehouse wore this cap when walking to the Remsenburg Post Office to pick up and drop off his mail. Cap made by Lock & Co., St. James Street, London, established 1759 These items are listed in McIlvaine Appendix I as L7.4 These items were part of lot 147 of Sotheby's auction of items from the Heineman Collection.
PENGUIN BOOK MUGMug designed by Art Meets Matter Ltd., licensed for production by Penguin Books Ltd. Based on the iconic cover designs first used to launch Penguin paperbacks in 1935. 8 oz. mug with three stripes: orange, white, orange. Top stripe contains Penguin Books crest, middle stripe "Fiction My Man Jeeves P.G. Wodehouse Fiction" and bottom stripe "6d Complete [Penguin logo] Unabridged 6d" In box approximately 3.875 inches cube. Description: 8 oz. Porcelain Mug PM027 ISBN 1848415788 conditionMug and Box new, in mint
PENGUIN TEA TOWELA Tony Davis Idea for Art Meets Matter Ltd. Licensed for production by Penguin Books Ltd. Based on iconic cover design used to launch Penguin paperbacks in 1935. 100% Cotton 29.5 x 8.5 inches with three stripes: orange, white, orange. Top stripe contains Penguin Books crest, middle stripe “Classic Friction Carry On Jeeves P.G. Wodehouse Classic Friction” bottom stripe “Completely [Penguin logo] Utilitarian” in cardboard cylinder with same three stripes and printing, 7” tall x 2.175” diameter. AMM product code PTT001 UPC Bar Code 5 060069 400253
DVDMam’zelle Milliard, DVD of Pathe Baby 9.5mm Silent Film No. 739 of 1924. This collectible is also listed in Section J Addendum. This is an abridged version (with French intertitles) of the 1919 Pathe Exchange Film "A Damsel in Distress," based on the book by P. G. Wodehouse. Film historian Brian Taves states that there is no copy of the film either in the Library of Congress collection or, to the best of his knowledge, anywhere else in the world. Only known Wodehouse film in Pathe Baby format, a home movie series with 9.5mm frame width, running time under 30 minutes. The title was changed to "Mam'zelle Milliard," reflecting the married name of the star, June Capice. This conversion is missing reel 2 of 6. Liner notes by Tony Ring, who arranged for the conversion from Pathe Baby reels to DVD.