Peter Cushing (1913-1994) and Peter Ustinov (1921-2004). A selection of eight original and three copy correspondence between the two actors-

The exchange of humorous correspondence by fictional characters they created in 1955, various sizes, the largest, 21.5 x 30cm, includes:

Peter Cushing, three Typed Letters Signed, each original handwritten in blue fountain pen on a single page, sent to Peter Ustinov’s character, Morris Grosvenor, the first dated Feb. 23 1955, pasted down on the reverse of a later page of script, ? possibly from the 1960 British drama film, Cone of Silence, also known as Trouble in the Sky, in which Peter Cushing plays the role of Captain George Gort, and the third letter dated ’24 of Feb 1955;

Peter Ustinov, two-page copy letter (undated) sent to Peter Cushing from ‘Morris Grosvenor’, Roof Flat, Regal Court, Alperton Viaduct’, with Ustinov’s amendments hand-written in blue ink to each page;

Peter Ustinov, Original telegram sent to Peter Cushing, postmarked Hammersmith, 6 March, 1955;

Peter Cushing, faux telegram reply to Peter Ustinov, hand-written in blue fountain pen, ‘Good Luck to You, Stop, Cuchin’;

Peter Ustinov, two-sided reply to Peter Cushing on a single ruled page, hand-written in blue ink, sent from ‘S.S. Belsinhausse, At Sea’;

Peter Ustinov, a small further hand-written reply to Peter Cushing, ‘via carrier pidgeon’;

Peter Ustinov, small hand-drawn illustrated faux poster, pasted down a=on a single sheet of paper, titled ‘Catford Swimming Baths. Boxing Every Saturday, Morris Grosvenor Presents A Classic Heavyweight Contest’;

Peter Ustinov, a copy faux invoice sent to Peter Cushing from ‘Amalgamated and General Electronics’.

The two Peters began their exchange of humorous correspondence in 1955 whilst Cushing was appearing in a BBC drama based upon a play written by Ustinov. Although their correspondence ended shortly after the play was broadcast, they remained great friends and occasionally reprised their characters’ correspondence in later years, usually with deliberate misspellings of names and events.

Provenance:
Ex- Peter Cushing Collection: Canterbury Auctions, 2023.