Comedian Eric Morecambe's Joke Books, Writing Desk, and Letters to Auction (2024)

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News | November 19, 2024

Hansons

The letter from Ernie Wise to Morecambe (left) and from comedian Ronnie Barker (right)

The sale of the contents of the much-loved British comedian Eric Morecambe's home will come to auction early in 2025 including his joke sketch ideas, writing desk, and correspondence, as well as his trademark pipe and spectacles.

The Eric Morecambe Collection at Hansons Auctioneers will commemorate the life of the man who formed the groundbreaking comedy duoMorecambe and Wise with his close friend Ernie.

The entire contentsofBrachefield in Harpenden, Hertfordshire - the Morecambe family home for decades which he shared until his death in 1984 with his wife Joan who died in March this year - will go on sale January 10-11. Highlights include Morecambe's writing desk, a 19th century inlaid mahogany slope front desk with interior pigeon holes (estimate: £1,000 - £1,500) and a letter from Ernie Wise early in their careers in which he suggested they break up the act (estimate: £300 - £500) and correspondence between Morecambe and King Charles III, then Prince of Wales, and former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher as well as other leading comedians of the day such as Ronnie Barker and Tommy Cooper.

Among the 700 lots will also be posters, thousands of photos, and scrapbooks of cuttings documenting his rise to fame from childhood.

According to Hansons: “Every handwritten note offers new insight into his character. Though he made comedy look effortless and was arguably the most naturally funny man Britain has ever known, he never stopped working on new material. Take, for instance, an instruction manual for a stereo – it’ll be covered in jotted ideas for gags. Eric kept absolutely every scrap of paper. He was constantly honing his craft, even when he and comedy partner Ernie Wise were the most successful performers in the country attracting millions of viewers. Eric was a national treasure and yet remained humble and hungry, constantly working on his talents. There are dozens of joke books, each one underlined, altered, annotated, where he’s re-working gags."

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