Garrick (David, actor and playwright, 1717-79) Autograph Letter signed to Dorothy Boyle, countess of Burlington, 3pp. & address panel, no place, 9th September 1749, relating an anecdote, "I was at London... I had some Business to do in ye Strand... I was walking along, I saw a number of People got together about a Bookseller's shop. My curiosity lead me to make one & I just came as a man was getting up a Ladder to hang on a Sign for the Shop, which was new and fitted up very handsomely. I jostled in amongst the Crowd to see whose head had the honour of being Exalted; when behold, I saw my own, & my name written about it, in Letters as Tall as Myself. You may imagine I was much disconcerted to be thus caught; however I slunk away as fast as I could...", good remains of red wax seal (cracked), small tear where opened, 3 small tears along folds, remains of tape at head and tail of letter, slightly browned.

⁂ Written shortly after Garrick's marriage to the Viennese dancer Eva Maria Veigel (Violette), to whom Lady Burlington had appointed herself as chaperone and had initially opposed their marriage.

Dorothy Boyle [née Savile], countess of Burlington (1699–1758), portrait painter and caricaturist.