William Butler Yeats Masquer Society 1903 membership flyer & letter Gordon Craig

Description

William Butler Yeats, mimeographed letter and printed prospectus for The Masquers Society, a literary theatre club organized and founded by Yeats, Edith Craig daughter of Ellen Terry and sister of actor, theatrical designer and playwright Gordon Craig, artist and illustrator Walter Crane, writer and playwright T Sturge Moore, classics professor Gilbert Murray, writer and poet Ethel Rolt Wheeler, writer publisher and occultist Pamela Colman Smith, Hugh Elliot and Lina Marston. The mimeographed letter reads:
March 17, 1903, Dear Sir or Madam, We, the undersigned, propose the formation of a society for the production of play masques, ballets ad ceremonies, which convey a sentiment of beauty. The meeting will be held at 13 Henrietta Street, Covent Garden, (top floor)on Saturday, March 28th, at 5 o'clock. W B Yeats, Arthur Symons, T Sturge Moore, Hugh Elliot, Edith Craig, Ethel Wheeler, Pamela Colman Smith, Lina Marston.
The prospectus announces "The Society will also give plays and masques by Gabriel D'Annunzio, W B Yeats, Gordon Craig, Dr Hyde, Laurence Irving, etc." Laid in, is a blank for nominating and seconding new members. A rare theatrical artifact of the London literary scene of the early 1900s. Genuine, original ephemera from the Masquers Society, guaranteed authentic and as described. Happy bidding!