Comedian Arthur Askey's Personal Library, Photos, and Scripts to Auction

The annotated scripts, photos, musical scores, and books of one of the UK's favorite 20th century comedians Arthur Askey go under the hammer in a 220-lot auction at Hansons tomorrow.

Among the showbiz memorabilia are many scripts from his popular pantomimes, plays, films, and radio appearances, as well as autograph letters from other comedians including Stan Laurel, the actor Sir Laurence Olivier, British prime ministers Margaret Thatcher and Ted Heath. Also featured is a telegram from fellow Liverpudlian Paul McCartney who, as a schoolboy, inherited Askey’s desk at the Liverpool Institute High School for Boys (estimate: £100-£200).

“It is difficult to overstate how big a comedian Arthur Askey was in his day and what a trailblazer he was for British comedy," said Hansons sale manager Victoria Sheppard. "He was one of the few entertainers to make the successful transition from the old music hall to the emerging broadcast era of radio and television. Along the way he was the also the first comedian to popularise the catchphrase and master ad lib. His warm, sometimes surreal style was a forerunner to later British comedians who mixed slapstick with smart wordplay.”

Other highlights include:

• both editions of 'The Big Red Book' presented to Askey after two appearances on the television programme This is Your Life, the first in 1959 and the second in 1974
• a programme from a variety concert at Buckingham Palace in June 1942 at which Askey appeared in front of George VI, Queen Elizabeth, and Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret
• a six volume collection of Brontë works comprising Jane Eyre, Wuthering Heights, The Tenant of Wildfell Hall, Villette, The Professor, and The Life of Charlotte Brontë (London, Smith, Elder & Co., c. 1880) with an estimate of £100 - £200
• the Askeys' Visitor Book with autographs dating from 1965 to 1970 including Peter Sellers, David Attenborough, Kingsley Amis, Tom Jones and HRH The Duke of Edinburgh (estimate: £200-£300)
• assorted books from Arthur Askey's library mainly hardbacks including autobiographies, television, radio, sport, theatre, and history

The collection has been consigned by Askey’s grandchildren Jane, William and Andy Stewart.