DAME EDITH LOUISA SITWELL D.B.E. (1887 - 1964). 'THIS IS YOUR LIFE', 1962A small group of 6 items. Edith Sitwell's Personal memorabilia presented to her by the BBC. television series. comprises. 'The Big Red Book', oblong folio., (260 x 32.5mm), red cloth, gilt lettering to front and spine, 'This is Your Life, Dame Edith Sitwell, D.B.E.', 85 thick grey card pages, including 6pp. of programme maker's credits, a 1pp. 'Thank you' to Francis Sitwell and Elizabeth Salter, 1pp. list of the guests, (including George Cukor, who could not attend and pre-recorded his tribute on film), 27 black and white photographs pasted down, depicting Edith receiving her guests during the broadcast, 20 x 15cm, with 3 black and white B.B.C. Television Service stills photographs loosely inserted, blue printed captions, numbered 31-33, and dated 6.11.62 to versos, 6 x 21cm; together with a framed pair of photographs, within white card mounts, depicting Edith Sitwell with her friends and relatives on the set of 'This is Your Life', by John S. Sherman for the BBC., the top image from left to right, Sir Cecil Beaton, Baroness Bosmelet, Anthony Bernard, Tom Driberg, Sacheverell Sitwell, Osbert Sitwell (seated), Marjorie Proops, Georgia Sitwell, Veronica Gilliat, Francis Sitwell, Velma LeRoy, John Robbins, Edith Sitwell (seated), and Reresby Sitwell, the lower image, depicting Dame Edith with her family and Eamonn Andrews, the host of the show, both images 14.5 x 20cm, N.P.G. blue and white printed label to verso of frame, framed and glazed; with a loosely inserted typed letter, dated 28 May, 1994, from the National Portrait Gallery to Francis Sitwell, asking for his assistance in identifying some of the guests who had appeared on the programme; National Portrait Gallery Exhibition, The Sitwells: 14/10/94 - 22/1/95, Catalogue Nos. d76 / 4.51a and d75 / 4.51b; with a framed artwork of a Programme cover, designed for a concert held in celebration of Dame Edith Sitwell's 75th Birthday, Royal Festival Hall, 9 October, 1962', 23.5 x 17.5cm, framed and glazed.Edith Sitwell featured on the 200th programme in the series 'This is Your Life', broadcast 6 November, 1962, one of many events arranged to mark her 75th birthday. The usual format of surprising the subject was waived owing to Edith's state of health. Edith Sitwell submitted to the ordeal only when she heard that her elderly maid, Velma Leroy, was making the journey from California for the occasion. Provenance: Dame Edith Sitwell DBE (1887-1964). Condition Report 1. . 'The Big Red Book' - red cloth binding worn and scuffed, title page with water stain and a few holes to top and the l.h. side of the page, a few minor marks to some of the grey card pages, the photographs clean and bright.2. Framed photographs of Edith Sitwell with her friends and relatives on the set of 'This is Your Life', by John S. Sherman for the BBC - 48 x 38cm overall in a modern black frame, a few marks to the frame, the photographs and mount clean and bright.3. 4. 5. Three loose black and white B.B.B. Service stills photographs - clean and bright.6. National Portrait Gallery letter - clean.7.. Dame Edith Sitwell 75th Birthday artwork - 33 x 17cm overall within a modern black frame, the printed stamp of Bicket & Fitzroy, Northampton, to verso of frame. the artwork clean and bright.