Sale Description:
The Jacqueline du Pré Collection Part II
The description for letter lots state the number of pages of writing, we have illustrated the opening page only. Lots including a collection of photographs may only have a sample photograph as the illustration here online.
Some photographs and recordings have copyright attached to the material (as stated in descriptions), we are selling under 'First Sale Doctrine' and 'Exhaustion of Rights'; these are sold without copyright therefore any reproduction, issues of copies to the public, rental, or any form of adaptation is an infringement of the related and stated copyright.
Any spelling errors are as Jacqueline had written in the letters therefore described sic. thus as originally written in the text.
The Jacqueline du Pré Collection at Gardiner Houlgate is a remarkable archive of personal ephemera, offering an intimate insight into the life and development of one of the twentieth century's most celebrated cellists. By instruction from Jacqueline's brother, Piers du Pré and sister Hilary Finzi.
The sale features a wealth of photographs, handwritten letters, correspondence and postcards chronicling Jacqueline du Pré's childhood, her earliest musical interests, and her formative studies with some of the most influential cello teachers of the era, including William Pleeth, Paul Tortelier and Mstislav Rostropovich.
Through letters and postcards written in her own hand to family and loved ones, Jacqueline tells her story in her own distinctive voice. They reveal the happiness of her childhood, her experiences as a gifted young musician studying away from home, and her determination to pursue the extraordinary career that would establish her as one of the world's greatest ‘cellists.
Together with both amateur and professional photographs, these deeply personal documents create a unique and compelling portrait of Jacqueline during her formative years, offering collectors, musicians and admirers an unprecedented glimpse into the private life behind the public legend.
This September auction serves as the 2nd instalment of this exceptional collection, ahead of a third auction on Friday 4th December. The December auction will focus on Jacqueline's distinguished performing and recording career, her high-profile marriage, her illness, and the many posthumous tributes to her legacy. It will also include correspondence relating to the memoir A Genius in the Family, written by her brother Piers du Pré and sister Hilary Finzi, which later inspired the acclaimed 1998 film Hilary & Jackie.
Jacqueline du Pré’s brother Piers, and sister Hilary, are the only two people alive who knew Jacqueline from birth to her marriage and beyond.
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"The family was close", say Piers and Hilary, "almost enclosed, and had their own language which others could not understand."
"Music was always in the house, whether from Iris teaching or Jacqueline and Hilary playing. Through music they communicated their emotions and feelings.
‘We decided to sell our vast collection when my eldest son asked what would happen to it when we passed away. That made us realise there’s no one who knows exactly what each item is, its story and relevance, let alone the history behind it,’ says Piers.
The decision was made to catalogue everything in detail, and to sell the collection.
Most items were in boxes, having been stored for many decades; a room full. Unboxing and unwrapping everything brought memories flooding back, together with many tears. ‘Mum and Dad had kept everything. We had, too,’ Hilary added.
‘It was shock to the family when Jackie was taken over by the world after her Wigmore, and an even greater shock for Jackie.
Jackie is recognised as the finest and most accomplished ‘cellist ever to have lived. No one has managed to reach her capabilities. She is the only ‘cellist to have been tutored by Casals, Tortelier and Rostropovich. Her letters talk of each of them, in detail.
‘Jackie lived to play and perform. It was so natural to her; it just flowed. Many times she’d arrive at a concert hall and have to ask what she was to play,’ said Hilary. ‘What she didn’t like was the travelling.’
Jacqueline’s letters from abroad show how she was missing the family, how lonely and desperate she was to come home, to see the countryside and the English Spring. She hated the travelling.
Some interesting specifics in her letters include Rostropovich saying to her ‘that I am his successor’, and from Tortelier where he says, ‘…we were rivals in the concert world...’ and how he would love to conduct me in a concert…’
There are well over two hundred letters, mostly from Jackie, describing her times with Casals in Zermatt (1960 and 1961), Tortelier in Paris (1963), and Rostropovich in Moscow (1966 & 1967). Music festivals in Sermoneta (1963 & 1964) and Spoleto (1966). You can track her concert tours through the letters.
Included are letters in which Jacqueline informs her parents, and separately to Hilary, that she had decided to become a ‘cellist.
Jackie writes in the same way as she plays. Flowing, full of description, emotion, many extremely funny, all honest and open.
The many hundreds of family photographs taken from Jackie just a few days old, family holidays, Jackie playing the ‘cello from 5 years old, through to the last family photograph when Jackie was in a wheelchair, Iris was dying of cancer and Derek was almost immobilised with Parkinsons.
Sebastian her teddy bear, Birth certificate, the story of her Christening, school reports, certificates, paintings, recordings (some of which have not been publicly released); the list goes on and on."
‘Her life’s record’, says Piers.
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Glossary of names and places
Mum, Mobs Iris Maud du Pré (née Greep). Mother of Hilary, Jacqueline, Piers.
Dad, Dobs, Dobz Derek du Pré. Husband of Iris, father of Hilary, Jacqueline, Piers.
Hilary, Hil Hilary Anne du Pré. Elder daughter of Iris and Derek.
Kiffer, Kif Christopher Finzi. Son of Gerald Finzi. Husband of Hilary.
Gerald Gerald Finzi. English composer. Husband of Joy Finzi.
Jackie Jacqueline Mary du Pré. Daughter of Iris and Derek.
Mary Meadows. Mary (middle name). du Pré is French for ‘of the Meadow’.
Me, J, JM, Jackie, Jack, Jacks, Jax, Jacky, N’Jackie, Jacko, Jtatlabluls, Jlatsees, Jeet, Jeets, Jeety, Jeeety, Jeeeeeeeeety, Jeeeeeeeety, Jeeeeeetzy, Jeckey, Dzeetie, DZSZeet, Jzeeeet, Jacquie, Topsy-Turvey, Jacqlinchka, your dutiful child Grace, H.I. Murkiness M.B.3, Mama Mia, Jaatty, JA(Tx2)Y, etc., plus her name in Russian…
Piers, Bar, Barzi, Bardi Piers Derek du Pré. Son of Mum and Dad.
Lin, Linny Lindsay Gail du Pré (née Dickson). Wife of Piers.
Nigel Nigel Finzi, Christopher Finzi’s younger brother
Sourley An extension of the family word Zooley, a term of endearment, meaning a bit silly. Zooly, Zoolier, Zourley,
Fart Face Jackie’s term of endearment!
Pondles James Wilfred du Pré. Father of Derek du Pré.
Uncle Haro Harold du Pré. Brother of Wilfred du Pré.
Gareth Gareth du Pré. Son of Harold du Pré.
Sheila Sheila du Pré. Wife of Gareth du Pré.
Michael Michael du Pré. Son of Gareth du Pré.
Ian Ian du Pré. Son of Gareth du Pré.
David David du Pré. Son of Gareth.
William William Henry Greep. Father of Iris.
Granny, Gran Maud Victoria Greep, Mother of Iris. Gran.
Uncle Bill William Greep. Brother of Granny.
Auntie Emm Emma Louise Fairchild. Sister of Granny.
Uncle Percy Percy Mitchel. Son of Uncle Bill.
Debbie Debbie Mitchel. Daughter of Uncle Percy.
Uncle Val de Vaumorel du Pré. Dad’s brother.
Betty Uncle Val’s wife.
Peter Peter Thomas. Friend of the family. Violinist.
Judith Judith Thomas. Peter Thomas’s sister.
Uncle Arthur, Lalla Dr Arthur Ernest Mourant, FRS. Great school friend of Dad.
Leslie Leslie Mourant. Sister of Uncle Arthur.
Danny Daniel Barenboim. Husband of Jacqueline du Pré.
Theresa, Tess Theresa Finzi, eldest daughter of Hilary and Kiffer.
Clare Daughter of Hilary and Kiffer.
Nicolette, Nico Daughter of Hilary and Kiffer.
Orlando Son of Hilary and Kiffer.
Ismena, IH Ismena Holland. Jackie’s Godmother. Benefactor of her two Strads.
Theodore Theodore Samual Holland. Husband of Ismena. Professor of Composition at the Royal Academy of Music.
Laurie Laurence Whistler. Glass engraver.
Eleanor Eleanor Herrin. Family friend of Mum.
Judith Judith Herrin. Daughter of Eleanor.
Pinky Pinchas Zuckerman. Violinist, conductor.
Madeleine, Madelaine Madeleine Dinkel. Jackie’s dress maker.
Zakopane, Poland Where Mum and Dad met.
Pine Lodge Our house in The Bridle Road Purley when we were all small children.
Portland Place Where we all lived in London from circa 1958.
Gerrards Cross ‘Na Hali’ - Where Mum, Dad and Piers lived from 1964.
Birch House Curridge, Newbury. Mum and Dad retired here.
Pre-Bidding/Autobids - Once bids are placed, they cannot be removed, but can be reduced, if above the current highest bid. When using the Pre-Bidding system the current highest bid will be displayed up to the point of sale. If you do not wish your bid to be displayed then the alternative bidding methods would be to bid live, or leave an Absentee Bid with the Auctioneer to bid on your behalf.
Sale Dates:
Fri 4th September 2026
from
12pm
a remarkable archive of personal letters, photographs and related ephemera
- (Lots 1 to 137)
Viewing Dates:
Tue 1st September 2026 -
9:30am
to 5pm
Wed 2nd September 2026 -
9:30am
to 5pm
Thu 3rd September 2026 -
9:30am
to 5pm
Fri 4th September 2026 -
9:30am
to 12pm
Fees apply to the hammer price:
Room and Absentee Bids:
26.4% inc VAT*
Online and Autobid:
26.4% inc VAT*
*These fees include buyers premiums and internet surcharges. Other fees may apply.
Please see the Terms & Conditions for more information
CONDITIONS OF SALE
The Auctioneer acts only as agent for the Seller (unless otherwise specifically declared). Lots sold are likely to have been subject to wear and tear caused by user or the effects of age and may therefore have faults and imperfections. Buyers are given ample opportunity at viewing times to examine lots to be sold and will be assumed to have done so. They must rely solely on their own skill or judgement as to whether lots are fit for any particular purpose.
1. Bids
All bids made shall be treated as offers made upon these Conditions of Sale and all persons present and approved to bid are admitted to a sale on the basis that they have notice of these Conditions.
1A. Internet Bidding
There are no additional surcharges when bidding via our own bidding platform 'GH Live'
‘Pre-Bidding Autobids’
'Pre-Bidding' is a new feature to our own platform and allows bidders to bid against each other prior to the start of a live auction. During the live auction the bidding will start at the current bid reached during the 'Pre-Bidding' and continues until your maximum bid is reached. All bids are anonymous, and your maximum bids are confidential.
If you have been outbid, during the ‘Pre-Bidding’ then you will receive an email notifying you that you are no longer the leading bidder, however once the sale is live you will not receive any further notifications.
Once bids are placed, they cannot be removed, but can be reduced, if above the current bid.
2. Ascertainment of the Buyer
The Buyer shall be the person making the highest bid which is acceptable to the Auctioneer as signified by the fall of the hammer. No bid may be retracted. In the case of a dispute the Auctioneer may either declare the purchaser or put the lot up again.
3. Auctioneer’s discretion
The Auctioneer has sole discretion, (a) to refuse any bid, (b) to advance the bidding as he may decide, (c) to withdraw or divide any lot or combine one lot with another or others, (d) to exclude any person from the auction rooms, and (e) to require pre-payment in full.
4. Reserves and Seller’s right to bid
Lots put up for sale are subject, (a) to any reserve price imposed by the Seller, (b) the right of the Auctioneer to bid on behalf of the Seller, and (c) where no reserve has been imposed (but in no other case) for the Seller to bid personally or through any one agent. It is the responsibility of the Seller to ensure any reserves are received by the Auctioneer.
5. Buyer’s Duties
The Buyer shall forthwith or as soon as possible after the sale, (a) supply his name and address, (b) supply, if so required, bank or other suitable references, (c) pay the full purchase price in a way acceptable to the Auctioneer, notwithstanding any prior arrangement for advance payment required by the Auctioneer, and (d) on proof of payment clear the lots purchased by the times specified. Lots may not be cleared during the sale except by permission of the Auctioneer.
6. Payments
ALL LOTS ARE TO BE PAID & CLEARED WITHIN 7 DAYS OF THE AUCTION
Methods of payment include direct bank transfer, debit card, credit card, cash to a maximum of £8,500, Cheque payments are no longer accepted.
For fraud protection we no longer accept payments by credit or debit cards for ‘Customer not Present’ transactions. Card payments at the saleroom will be accepted but must be supported by Chip and PIN.
Card payments for live internet bidding will only be accepted if they have been AVS and 3D Secure authorised via our online platform with a maximum transaction limit of £1000 for Watch & Jewellery auctions; £2000 limit for all other auctions unless previous authorisation has been agreed.
Deposit payments made direct at the bank or via telephone banking will need to be confirmed as 'cleared funds' before any goods are released.
6A. Anti-Money Laundering Policy
New clients spending over £5000 on an individual transaction must be verified, by supplying a current form of ID confirming their name and address to match the invoice. This must be supplied to complete the transaction before the release of goods
7. Liability of the Auctioneer and Sellers
Subject to Condition 8: (a) faults and imperfections (if any) are not stated in the catalogue and neither the Seller nor the Auctioneer is responsible for any defects whatsoever, (b) no warranty is given or authorised to be given by the Seller or the Auctioneer with regard to any lot other than the Seller’s right to sell it, (c) any express or implied conditions or warranties relating to description or quality, are hereby excluded.
8. Catalogue Descriptions
Descriptive statements contained in the advertisements or catalogues or made up by the Auctioneer or any member of his staff should be taken as matters of opinion only and shall not be taken as statement of fact.
i) Items in the catalogue are sold as seen. Where possible significant damage is mentioned, but this does not include all faults and imperfections. The absence of such reference does not imply that the lot is in good condition or free from restoration or repair. Condition reports are available upon request
ii) ’Inscribed’ or ‘Signed’ does not imply that the lot is wholly or partly by that maker
9. Forgeries
Notwithstanding Conditions 6 and 7, if the Auctioneer receives notice in writing from the Buyer WITHIN 7 DAYS OF THE SALE that in their opinion a lot is a forgery (as defined in Condition 12) and on giving such notification the lot in question is returned to the Auctioneer at his working premises in the same condition as when bought, then if on considering such evidence as the Buyer supplies to prove his assertion, the Auctioneer decides that the lot is a forgery the sale of the lot will be rescinded and the purchase price repaid to the Buyer.
10. Property in lots and risk
The Buyer shall not become the owner of any lot, and the Auctioneer shall have a lien thereon, until the Buyer has discharged the purchase price in full together with any other charges due, but after the fall of the hammer the risk of damage or loss shall nevertheless be the Buyer’s.
11. The Premium
The Buyer shall pay to the Auctioneer a premium of 22% of the hammer price together with VAT. (26.4% inclusive of VAT)
12. Default by Buyer
If the Buyer fails to make payment in a way acceptable to the Auctioneer or to remove any lot or lots bought by him within 7 days of the auction or in any other material respect fail to comply with these conditions, the Auctioneer shall have the right, (a) to resell the lot or lots by public auction or otherwise without notice to the Buyer, and if any deficiency arises on such resale, after deducting the Auctioneer’s full costs and expenses, the Buyer shall be responsible to the Auctioneer therefore (but any net surplus to be the Seller’s) or, alternatively, (b) to store the lot at the Auctioneer’s premises or elsewhere and to release the lot to the Buyer only after payment in full of the purchase price together with any other charges due. The Auctioneer reserves the right to charge storage of 50p per lot per day on any lot or lots uncleared by the time specified together with any removal expenses. In addition, interest will be charged at 2.5% per month or part thereof (34.4% APR) on any accounts that remain unpaid in part or full 1 week after the sale. Interest and storage will be charged from the date of sale. In addition, the Buyer shall be liable for all legal and court costs incurred by the Auctioneers in pursuit of payment from the Buyer. The Auctioneer reserves the right to refuse any cheques and will not release lots purchased until evidence has been received that any cheque accepted has been cleared.
13. Release of Goods
Payment and clearance should be made within seven days after the sale. Goods will not be released until full payment has been cleared and a paid invoice produced. For clients arranging courier or third-party collection: written instruction must be received by the purchaser; identification will be requested from the courier and their vehicle’s registration number taken. For security purposes our premises are monitored by 24-hour CCTV
14. Definitions and interpretation
In these conditions: (a) Reference to the ‘the Auctioneer’ shall be taken to mean the firm of Gardiner Houlgate or any director, partner or employee thereof at the time of sale; (b) Buyers shall be deemed to be the principals unless to the prior knowledge of the Auctioneer they are acting as agent on behalf of a named principal; (c) ‘Forgery’ means a lot (i) which is so constituted as deliberately to deceive when considered in the light of its catalogue description, and (ii) whose value as such is materially less that if it had complied with the catalogue description; (d) The Interpretation Act 1978 shall apply to the general construction of terms and expressions used in these Conditions as if contained in a statute.
15. Law and Jurisdiction
These Conditions of sale are subject to English law, which shall apply to their construction as well as their effect. The Seller and Buyer agree to submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the English courts.
16. What is Temporary Importation?
Temporary Importation is a system that applies to lots which have been imported for sale from outside the EU. It allows the point of importation to be delayed until after the sale at auction.
These lots are indicated in catalogues by the use of the following symbol *
Only the Hammer Price will be treated as the import price and the Buyer’s Premium will be subject to UK domestic VAT at 20%. So whilst the Hammer Price will continue to be charged with Import VAT at 5% or 20” as appropriate, the Buyer’s Premium will always be charged with domestic VAT at 20%
Lots subject to Temporary Importation will be offered under the Auctioneer’s Margin Scheme and will be subject to import VAT of either 5% or 20% on the buyer’s Premium. Anyone who wishes to buy outside the Margin Scheme should notify us immediately. An invoice under the normal VAT rules and charging VAT at 20% on both Hammer and Premium will then be issued
Temporary Importation should affect only private individual buyers who are resident within the EU. Anyone who is registered for VAT in the EU should be able to recover the VAT on the Buyer’s Premium either on their VAT returns or through the 8th Directive Refund Scheme. Any non-EU buyer who exports the lots from the EU will be able to have the VAT refunded provided the appropriate export regulations are complied with
17. Property sold with a * Symbol
These items have been imported from outside the EU to be sold at auction under temporary importation. When Gardiner Houlgate releases such property to buyers in the UK, the buyer will become the importer and must pay Gardiner Houlgate import VAT at 5% on the Hammer Price
These lots will be invoiced under the Auctioneer’s Margin Scheme. Gardiner Houlgate must bear VAT on the Buyer’s Premium and hence charge an amount in lieu of VAT at 20% on this Premium. This amount will form part of the Buyer’s Premium on our invoice and will not be separately identified
VAT registered buyers from the EU should note that the import VAT charged on property released in the UK cannot be cancelled or refunded by Gardiner Houlgate
VAT registered buyers from the UK should note that the invoice issued by Gardiner Houlgate for these items is not suitable evidence in respect of import VAT
VAT registered buyers from the EU countries may be able to seek repayment of the import VAT paid by applying to HM Revenue and Customs. On request, immediately after the sale, the office can either ask HM Revenue and Customs to generate a C79 certificate (for UK buyers), or obtain a copy of the import C88 (for other EU VAT registered buyers), which may be used to claim recovery of the VAT. Otherwise Gardiner Houlgate may re-invoice the lot and charge VAT at 20% on both the Hammer Price and the Premium and provide a tax invoice to the buyer
18. CITES Restrictions
Any lots containing any amount of Brazilian rosewood and endangered species may be subject to restrictions when exporting outside of the EU. It will be the buyer’s responsibility to make sure that the relevant paperwork is in place before shipping.
Some lots are sold with CITES article 10 certificates, allowing the commercial use of an item containing an endangered species. Lots subject to this are marked in the catalogue
Import/Export
It is the buyer’s responsibility to obtain the correct import/export licenses and CITES licenses for items which they have purchased. Gardiner Houlgate take no responsibility for the export of goods.
19. Gemstones
Many gemstones have been treated in various ways to enhance their appearance. For example, sapphires and rubies are routinely heat treated and emerald treated with oils and resins. Some stones may require re-treating or oiling periodically. Enhancement affects market value, and all Gardiner Houlgate estimates assume that gemstones may have been enhanced.
20. Artists Resale Rights (or Droit de Suite)
On certain lots marked in the catalogues and which are sold for a hammer price of £1000 or greater (converted into the currency of the sale using The Design and Artists Copyright Society threshold calculator on the date of the Sale) the Additional Premium will be the percentage of the amount of the Hammer Price calculated as follows:
£0-£50,000 4%
£50,000.01 to £200,000 3%
£200,000.01 to £350,000 1%
£350,000.01 to £500,000 0.5%
Exceeding £500,000 0.25%
* Gardiner Houlgate is a trading name of Bath Auction Rooms Limited, registered in England and Wales No. 5228635.
PLEASE ENSURE YOU ARE AWARE OF THE POTENTIAL P&P COSTS PRIOR TO BIDDING ON AN ITEM
We offer a packing service for smaller non-fragile items to all UK postal addresses, such as jewellery, watches and non-breakable small collectables. (Minimum fee £16 plus VAT). All parcels are sent insured via Royal Mail Special Delivery subject to the parcel dimensions, or via another ‘signed for’ service.
Insurance cover for higher values items in excess of £2500 can be arranged at approximately 1% of the value.
Please contact us for a personal quote.
Under no circumstances will items such as watches, jewellery and precious metals be posted to an alternative address.
*All prices subject to VAT, maximum insurance cover up to £2500 apply.
Larger and fragile items including all International deliveries can only be sent through professional couriers. Gardiner Houlgate recommend the following companies and advise you to obtain several quotations. Once you have instructed a courier, please kindly inform us as to whom will be collecting on your behalf, failure to do so may result in an item not being released.
Part & Parcel
www.partandparceluk.co.uk
Tel: 01252 545611
Lenspeed Logistics
UK Mainland only. Door to door service.
Tel: 07834 320015
www.lenspeedlogistics.com
Bid & Box
sales@bidandbox.com
01747 356 306
Alban Shipping
www.albanshipping.co.uk
Tel: 01582 493099
MBE Mailboxes (Chippenham)
Tel: 01249 446141
info@mbechippenham.co.uk
Pack Send
0117 2331013
bristolwest@packsend.co.uk
