Dawsons' Auctions Results: "Entertainment & Memorabilia, including Vintage Posters" - Morrissey / The Smiths historical documents (March 12, 2025)

To include a Godin electro-acoustic guitar signed and stage-used by Leonard Cohen, an original Harry Potter (Daniel Radcliffe) production made cast resin (plastic) wand, signed Beatles memorabilia, a Walt Disney autographed reproduction of an original Cinderella colour animation cel drawing, a scarce Original Production made Wallace & Gromit puppet, rare memorabilia from 'The Smiths', original film props as screen-used in 'Tomb Raider', ‘Phantom of the Opera’ ‘Angels and Demons’, Marvel Studios’ ‘Thor’, a signed Bob Dylan album, a Mick Jagger inscribed book, Vivienne Westwood T-shirts, and much more.

A rather mammoth amount of historical documents and ephemera via Mike Hinc's family and estate.
Several pages of information and images.
Regards,
FWD.

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Lot 3.

The Smiths: A collection of five postcards, two written by Morrissey to Mike Hinc, the first undated but believed to be September 1984, the front featuring a black and white photograph of The Marvelettes, reading 'Dear Michael, Thoughts on Cardiff: No toilets (except public one)!! Dressing room 300 degrees below freezing point!! Stage laughably small, heavies mid-barrier were ultra heavy with happy fan. Crowd were great. ART WORK (given to Outlaw by ATB) was 3 records old!!!! - Will accept your decision on Belfast & Dublin venues - tickets aren't too expensive, I presume - thanks to Martin for coming to Gloucester. Please compile Feb-Mar venues. Love, your pets, The Smiths'.

The second card, featuring a picture of Morrissey himself, and dated April 28th 1985, reads 'Mike, Can we tie in an Italian date with the Spanish jaunt? Yet still to England on planned date? Can we ditch Barcelona and do Rome? Or one important Spanish date and two Italian? Any idea how London Records found my address? Love, M'.

The remaining cards feature bass guitarist Andy Rourke apparently practising his signature (on the reverse of a Smiths promotional postcard), a further card with the same image, with a typed message (probably by Morrissey, to Mike Hinc), reading 'These four beautiful boys would like to do SOME GIGS (but NOT the Upper Volta). We feel a grand passion for Ireland. Nine gigs? But we don't want to LOSE MONEY. Nine gigs? Our future support must be JAMES from FACTORY (please contact them when necessary)...Nine gigs (three rows of three). Remember, we are Rough Trade Artists.' There is blur crayon across the card, similar to that used to sign other letters written to Mike Hinc from Morrissey, as featured elsewhere in this sale.

The final card, featuring a black and white portrait of Morrissey, is from an unknown sender, to 'Hilary', who worked with Mike Hinc at All Trade Booking, and reads 'Hilary, I need a copy of US tour inv (359?). Are Ross Bennet Smith having this paid from US? Can your travel agent get me info on QE2 to US. And sea routes to Japan?? (P'haps from US). Please call me, [?]', the card with a postmark dated 13th September 1985.

Provenance:

From the personal collection of the late Mike Hinc, former booking agent at Rough Trade for Morrissey, The Smiths and others. The lot forms part of an extensive archive of related items on this sale, consigned by the family of Mike Hinc.


Sold for £2,400

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Related item:

• Dawson's Auctions: Mike Hinc Morrissey Letters from 1984 (February 13, 2025)

 

[Famous when dead]

Lot 4.

The Smiths: the original live booking contract for the band's performance at Leeds University, on 'Wednesday 29th February 1984', signed by Morrissey, confirming the agreement between All Trade Booking, The Smiths and the venue, dated 23rd January 1984. The contract includes financial details, such as the fee for 'one performance at a salary of £1,000 plus 70% of the nett advance and door takings after £3,565 in admissions at a ticket price of £3.00 in advance and £3.00 on the door. Nett takings being gross takings less agreed and itemised expenses of £2,565. The Management guarantees a minimum salary of £1,000 plus VAT @ 15%'. There are also 'Special Stipulations' such as 'The artist shall receive top billing...', 'The management shall supply Hospitality as per the rider: Agreed support 'The Red Guitars' at £100 & 24 lagers, 4 litres orange juice, sandwiches for 8 people, and 'Attached rider must be adhered to in detail'.

Sold for £450

 

[Famous when dead]

Lot 5.

The Smiths: A collection of early-career live performance ephemera, comprising seven invoices to the band from All Trade Booking, for 'Agency commission charged at 15% of concert fee for concerts by The Smiths', the first dated 18th April 1983, and the last 14th February 1984, to include their first London performance at The Rock Garden (Covent Garden), [noted on the invoice here as 17th March, when the concert itself took place on 23rd March], as well other notable gigs across the country in 1983 such as The Hacienda (Manchester) and Brixton Academy. The final invoice records concerts in Dublin as well as 'USA' in December 1983-January 1984. Also included with this lot is a copy of the agreement between the band and All Trade Booking (ATB), outlining the terms of their working partnership, with ATB acting as 'their sole and exclusive Agent...' for live bookings, dated 27th December 1983, the final page featuring the facsimile signatures of the band (Steven Morrissey, Mike Joyce, Andy Rourke and Johnny Marr), together with those of Mike Hinc (Director of ATB), and two witnesses, together with another similar (with annotated amendments), and a fold-out map of Trafford Metropolitan Borough, detailing a street plan of the band's locale - Altrincham, Hale and Bowdon.

A record of the Smiths' first London concert: https://www.thisisdig.com/feature/the-smiths-debut-london-gig/

Sold for £580

 

[Famous when dead]

Lot 6.

The Smiths: the original live booking contract for the band's performance at The Tower Ballroom (Birmingham), on 'Thursday 9th February 1984', signed by Morrissey, confirming the agreement between All Trade Booking, The Smiths and the venue, dated 9th January 1984. The contract includes financial details, such as the fee for 'one performance at a salary of £1,000 plus 80% of the nett advance and door takings after £2,550 in admissions at a ticket price of £3.00 in advance and £3.25 on the door. Nett takings being gross takings less agreed and itemised expenses of £1,350. The Management guarantees a minimum salary of £1,000 plus VAT @ 15%'. There are also 'Special Stipulations' such as 'The artist shall receive top billing...', 'The management shall supply Hospitality as per rider: agreed support 'Red Guitars' @ £100 & 24 lagers, 4 litres of orange juice, good quality brown bread meat and salad sandwiches for 8 people', and 'The attached rider forms an integral part of this agreement. Any deviation from either contract or rider will result in cancellation of performance and payment of the artist in full'.

NB: This particular concert was postponed from February 9th, and actually took place on 20th March 1984.

Sold for £550

 

[Famous when dead]

Lot 7.

The Smiths: the original live booking contract for the band's performance at Glasgow University Queen Margaret Union, on 'Friday 2nd March 1984', signed by Morrissey, confirming the agreement between All Trade Booking, The Smiths and the venue, dated 3rd February 1984. The contract includes financial details, such as the fee for 'one performance at a salary of £1,500 plus 70% of the nett advance and door takings after £2,410 in admissions at a ticket price of £3.00 in advance and £3.00 on the door. Nett takings being gross takings less agreed and itemised expenses of £910. The Management guarantees a minimum salary of £1,500 (+ VAT @15%)'. There are also 'Special Stipulations' such as 'The artist shall receive top billing...', 'The management shall supply Hospitality as per attached rider: Support 'The Red Guitars' @ £150 & 24 lagers, 4 litres of orange juice, good quality sandwiches for 8 people'.

Provenance:

From the personal collection of the late Mike Hinc, former booking agent at Rough Trade for Morrissey, The Smiths and others. The lot forms part of an extensive archive of related items on this sale, consigned by the family of Mike Hinc.

Sold for £380

 

[Famous when dead]

Lot 19.

The Smiths: a handwritten and signed two-page letter from Morrissey, to Mike Hinc, live booking agent at All Trade Booking, for both the Smiths and Morrissey, undated, but believed to be late 1984, discussing planned UK tour dates in early 1985.

It reads 'Dear Mike, I appreciate the letter and list of dates. As usual, the bickering over various dates enhances my reputation for stubbornness. In your letter you remark on my need to play Manchester on the 17th. All that was ever important to me was that Manchester be the third tour date, and when that exactly fell was immaterial. The very first request I made to you at our meeting was that Manchester be the third date. Naturally, it emerges as the 21st date...

I agree that Preston is a great venue, but we must stop SOMEWHERE. £5000 from UEA [University of East Anglia] is exciting, but WE MUST STOP SOMEWHERE.
I beg you to consider all group and crew needs on this tour, as faith in ATB from all quarters is not high. I hope this tour will quash peoples doubts and that team spirit wins through. Lack of drum rostrum will mean no gig. Lack of space for John F's creativity will mean no gig.
Our requirements are laughably humble. I acknowledge Scott as the Smiths representative, but on critically serious matters, I do not need a spokesperson. Let's meet in Jan, before which I hope you will send me financial details (address on envelope, I abscond from Kensington tomorrow.) Very best, Morrissey.'

Sold for £3,000

 

[Famous when dead]

Lot 20.

The Smiths: the original live booking contract for the band's performance at 'Warwick University Arts Centre Hall' (Coventry), on 'Thursday 2nd February 1984', signed by Morrissey, confirming the agreement between All Trade Booking, The Smiths and the venue, dated 9th January 1984. The contract includes financial details, such as the fee for 'one performance at a salary of £750 plus 90% of the nett advance and door takings after £1,650 in admissions at a ticket price of £3.00 in advance and £3.00 on the door. Nett takings being gross takings less agreed and itemised expenses of £850. The Management guarantees a minimum salary of £750 (+ VAT @ 15%)'. There are also 'Special Stipulations' such as 'The artist shall receive top billing...', 'The management shall supply Hospitality as per rider: agreed support 'The Telephone Boxes' @ £100 & 24 lagers, 4 litres of orange juice, sandwiches for 6 people', and 'The attached rider forms an integral part of this contract. Any deviation from either contract or rider will result in cancellation of performance and payment of the artist in full'.

Sold for £500

 

[Famous when dead]

Lot 21.

The Smiths: the original live booking contract for the band's performance at Sheffield University Students Union, on 'Tuesday January 31st 1984', [the first night of their 1984 UK tour], signed by Morrissey, confirming the agreement between All Trade Booking, The Smiths and the venue, dated 9th January 1984. The contract includes financial details, such as the fee for 'one performance at a salary of £650 plus 80% of the nett advance and door takings after £1,500 in admissions at a ticket price of £3.00 in advance and £3.25 on the door. Nett takings being gross takings less agreed and itemised expenses of £800. The Management guarantees a minimum salary of £650 (+ VAT @ 15%)'. There are also 'Special Stipulations' such as 'The artist shall receive top billing...', 'The management shall supply Hospitality as per rider: support 'The Telephone Boxes' @ £100 & 24 lagers, 4 litres of orange juice, sandwiches for 6 people,' and 'The attached rider forms an integral part of this contract. Any deviation from either contract or rider will result in cancellation of performance and payment of the artist in full'.

Sold for £500

 

[Famous when dead]

Lot 22.

The Smiths: the original live booking contract for the band's performance at Coasters (Edinburgh), on 'Monday 5th March 1984', signed by Morrissey, confirming the agreement between All Trade Booking, The Smiths and the venue, dated 3rd February 1984. The contract includes financial details, such as the fee for 'one performance at a salary of £1,250 plus 75% of the nett advance and door takings after £3,275 in admissions at a ticket price of £4.00 in advance and £4.00 on the door. Nett takings being gross takings less agreed and itemised expenses of £1,945. The Management guarantees a minimum salary of £1,250 plus VAT @ 15%', + 5% on advance tickets being sold'. There are also 'Special Stipulations' such as 'The artist shall receive top billing...', 'The management shall supply Hospitality as per rider: 'The Red Guitars' as agreed support: £100 (cash) & 24 lagers, 1 bottle white wine, sandwiches and fresh fruit for 8 people, 4 litres orange'.

Sold for £550

 

[Famous when dead]

Lot 23.

The Smiths: the original live booking contract for the band's performance at Swansea Mayfair, on 'Wednesday 26th September 1984', signed by Morrissey, confirming the agreement between All Trade Booking, The Smiths and the venue, dated 24th August 1984. The contract includes financial details, such as the fee for 'one performance at a salary of £3,000 plus 90% of the nett advance and door takings after £8,270 in admissions at a ticket price of £4.00 in advance and £4.00 on the door. Nett takings being gross takings less agreed and itemised expenses of £5,270. The Management guarantees a minimum salary of £3,000 (+ VAT @15%). There are also 'Special Stipulations' such as 'The artist shall receive top billing...', 'The management shall supply Hospitality as per attached rider: Agreed sole support 'The Woodentops' @ £100 plus basic hospitality', and 'It is agreed and understood that the concert is open to persons under the age of 18. Any deviation from either contract or rider on the part of the management will result in cancellation of performance and payment of the artist in full.'

Sold for £600

 

[Famous when dead]

Lot 29.

The Smiths: A typed letter, hand-signed by Morrissey in blue crayon, written to Mike Hinc of All Trade Booking, dated September 19th [1984], regarding plans for forthcoming live show bookings, reading 'Dear Mike, Thank you for sending the rider. You understand that I no longer have any physical need for gladioli or small greenary [sic] (passe, man), but instead, an insatiable biological need for a small tree. Please include this paltry request on Irish rider (indeed all future riders). The tree itself should be imminently swingable, at least four feet in length, minus thorns or anything likely to maime [sic] a delicate artistic hand.

Please send me a detailed list of the finalised Irish dates. It had always been group policy never to return to any given venue, so this is why we frown at the Ulster Hall. I wish something could be done. Is it too late? We have no real passion to visit Londonderry. Can you let me know the finalised ticket prices for all Irish dates?

We feel that the February-March tour should be mammoth. The crew need details of venues as soon as possible. We plan to accommodate a huge screen onstage (this was roughly planned for the three upcoming gigs, but stage area was deemed too small). So although we'd like all venues (practically) to be stand up's, there must be stage space for a vast screen. Sergeant Featherstone can explain further.

The main purpose of the Feb-March tour will be to promote the 2nd LP ['Meat is Murder']. If LP is not released by mid-February, we are in deep trouble. I want to avoid antics of Feb-March tour '84 where LP was released mid-tour.

Instead of playing two (or more!) nights at a London venue, can we not play a London date early in the tour and London date at latter half, playing two separate venues? Also, for Manchester, can we wheedle in a concert hall date and a club date?

Please think about these two points.

RT [Rough Trade] release a compilation LP mid-November of radio sessions, but otherwise a record release before the end of this year is unlikely.

As a matter of total trivia, although waves splash abound, The Smiths as a unit have never been so unified and determined. Plus, we still get heaps of fan mail (especially me). Love (I expect), Morrissey.'

A second typed letter, (facsimile text and signature), dated May 21st 1985, reads: 'Dear Mike, The final Spanish date was the worst 24 hours of our career. As a direct result, please discard any notions of the Smith ever doing any European hikes. Enough is enough.

We will never work with Stuart James again. Please produce a choice of three tour managers for America. We can quite easily conduct swift interviews in Manchester and finally brand the luckless candidate.

We will never take a flight on a gig day; our ears are precious. We rely on them. Please apply this to the US jaunt.

It was good to see you in Madrid, but clearly Scott left the country without altering his notions of US Tour Presidency. I rely on you fully to clean this issue up and get it out of the way.

To re-tell the San Sebastian incident is to re-live it. Naturally, our Spanish promoters turned into our worst enemies. We were inches away from imprisonment. Everybody in the entourage deserted the group.

We do not want a caterer for the US tour. If the promoters don't provide ample basic food, we're going home to our Mothers.

I think that demanding there be no barriers and very modest 'heavies' at US gigs is a wholly reasonable request. The absolute purpose of this tour is to incite stage invasions.

Please let me know the situation with James. Has a second 'major' group been added to Dublin? Please confirm with Scott that Jim Connelly is available for America. After all, we need at least one person to be on our side.

Finally, our strongest thanks to Hilary for all her brainpower throughout the Spanish hotel siege. Too sincerely, Morrissey.'

Sold for £2,000

 

[Famous when dead]

Lot 30.

The Smiths: the original live booking contract for the band's performance at Brighton Polytechnic on 'Saturday 25th February 1984', signed by Morrissey, confirming the agreement between All Trade Booking, The Smiths and the venue, dated 9th January 1984. The contract includes financial details, such as the fee for 'one performance at a salary of £1,500 plus 70% of the nett advance and door takings after £2,320 in admissions at a ticket price of £3.00 in advance and £3.00 on the door. Nett takings being gross takings less agreed and itemised expenses of £720. The Management guarantees a minimum salary of £1500 (+ VAT @ 15%)'. There are also 'Special Stipulations' such as 'The artist shall receive top billing...', 'The management shall supply Hospitality as per attached rider: agreed support 'The Telephone Boxes' @ £100 & 24 lagers, 4 litres of fresh orange juice, sandwiches for 8 people', and 'The attached rider forms an integral part of this agreement. Any deviation from either contract or rider will result in cancellation of performance and payment of the artist in full'.

Sold for £650

 

[Famous when dead]

Lot 31.

The Smiths: the original live booking contract for the band's performance at Rock City, Nottingham, on 'Wednesday 15th February 1984', signed by Morrissey, confirming the agreement between All Trade Booking, The Smiths and the venue, dated 9th January 1984. The contract includes financial details, such as the fee for 'one performance at a salary of £1,000 plus 70% of the nett advance and door takings after £2,462 in admissions at a ticket price of £3.00 in advance and £3.50 on the door. Nett takings being gross takings less agreed and itemised expenses of £1462 + box office commission at between 5 and 10%. The Management guarantees a minimum salary of £1,000 (+ VAT @ 15%)'. There are also 'Special Stipulations' such as 'The artist shall receive top billing...', 'The management shall supply Hospitality as per attached rider: agreed support 'The Red Guitars' @ £100 & 24 lagers, 4 litres of fresh orange juice, sandwiches for 8 people', and 'The attached rider forms an integral part of this agreement. Any deviation from either contract or rider will result in cancellation of performance and payment of the artist in full'.

Sold for £600

 

[Famous when dead]

Lot 32.

The Smiths: an original contract for the band's live performance at Breekend Festival, Bree (Belgium), on Sunday 22nd April 1984, signed by Morrissey, confirming the agreement between All Trade Booking, The Smiths and the promoter, dated 2nd April 1984. The extensive agreement includes financial arrangements, such as 'The Performer shall receive a guaranteed fee of £1000 + PA + Lights, + Rider + Hotel Costs for one night. The above fee to be net of all deductions, taxes etc, unless otherwise previously agreed in writing; the fee is to be paid in cash before the Performer goes onstage', 'From the total fee £500 shall be paid by telex in advance to our bank account', and 'The Promoter shall book and pay for in addition to the fee the following hotel rooms in a 4 Star class hotel: 5 singles, 2 twins (Total 9 persons)'. It goes on to outline the requirements for stage dimensions and layout, the dressing room arrangements, stage crew needs and PA details. The band's Rider includes: 'Tea, sandwiches, 2 litres of our orange juice, and 2 litres of cold, fresh milk on the arrival of the PA crew at the venue, tea on arrival of the band at the venue, good quality hot meals for 10 people (2 vegetarian). NO FAST FOOD OR JUNK FOOD. 3 x 75cl bottles of Soave D.O.C., 3 x 75cl bottles of Beaujolais A.C., 18 large cans of German Pilsner lager, 4 x litres of pure orange juice, 2 x litres of Perrier mineral water, 40 Silk Cut (or any mild brand, NOT USA) cigarettes, A good and varied selection of fresh fruit. A selection of flowers to the approximate value of £50 sterling, including gladioli, (no roses or flowers with thorns please)'. As well as a diagram of the requested stage layout, there is a list of names given for hotel room bookings, comprising the four band members, tour manager Phil Cowie and various crew. Morrisey's distinctive signature is at the foot of the first page, together with that of the promoter.

Sold for £650

 

[Famous when dead]

Lot 33.

The Smiths: the original live booking contract for the band's performance at Lanchester Polytechnic Student Union (Coventry), on Saturday 10th March 1984, signed by Morrissey, confirming the agreement between All Trade Booking, The Smiths and the venue, dated 3rd February 1984. The contract includes financial details, such as the fee for 'one performance at a salary of £1,300 plus 70% of the nett advance and door takings after £1,900 in admissions at a ticket price of £3.00 in advance and £3.00 on the door. Nett takings being gross takings less agreed and itemised expenses of £600. The Management guarantees a minimum salary of £1,300 plus VAT @ 15%'. There are also 'Special Stipulations' such as 'The artist shall receive top billing...', and 'The management shall supply agreed support 'Red Guitars' @ £100 & 24 lagers, 4 litres of orange juice, sandwiches for 8 people'.

Sold for £800

 

[Famous when dead]

Lot 48.

Morrissey / The Smiths: a folder containing an extensive collection of ephemera relating to Morrissey's solo career, dating from circa 2000 onwards, featuring fax correspondence between Morrissey and Mike Hinc, his booking agent. Their exchanges are typically humorous in tone, with both sometimes using pseudonyms, (eg. 'Morpheus', 'Mosh-pit', 'Brook Side', Emma Dale' etc) in their faxes, some of which are written in their own hands. A few of Morrissey's faxes have a printed header name of 'Elizabeth Dwyer', his mother. The bulk of their correspondence is around discussions of musicians (for Morrissey's band, and his formers Smiths bandmates), tour plans for the UK and overseas, as well as whether Morrissey wanted to accept an Ivor Novello award, his life in LA, a request for him to write a 'tribute' following the death of Anthony Newley, issues around his billing on festival line-ups, offers of £75,000 and £50,000 per show, respectively at 'Rock City in the Park' (Nottingham) and Reading / Leeds Festivals, and others. Given the breadth of paperwork here, viewing is recommended.

Sold for £850

 

[Famous when dead]

Lot 48 continued...

 

[Famous when dead]

Lot 49.

The Smiths: the original live booking contract for the band's performance at The Lyceum Ballroom (London), on Sunday 12th February 1984, signed by Morrissey, confirming the agreement between All Trade Booking, The Smiths and the venue, dated 9th January 1984. The contract includes financial details, such as the fee for 'one performance at a salary of £1,500 plus 70% of the nett advance and door takings after £2,025 in admissions at a ticket price of £3.50 in advance and £3.50 on the door. Nett takings being gross takings less agreed and itemised expenses of £5,865 including artistes fee - to be receipted on night. The Management guarantees a minimum salary of £1,500 plus VAT @ 15%'. There are also 'Special Stipulations' such as 'The artist shall receive top billing...', 'The management shall supply Hospitality as per rider: agreed support 'Billy Bragg' @ £150, Redskins @ £250, Telephone Boxes @ £75 + Hospitality' and 'The attached rider forms an integral part of this agreement. Any deviation from either contract or rider will result in cancellation of performance and payment of the artist in full'.

Sold for £480

 

[Famous when dead]

Lot 50.

Morrissey / The Smiths: a collection of original printed and bound tour itineraries, as used by the band and crew, for Morrissey's 'Kill Uncle' World Tour of 1991, comprising Europe (April/May), UK (three copies of the July dates, and one September/October), Japan & Australia (August/September) and USA (one copy each for the full tour, and another for just the October/November dates. Also here is an itinerary for the 1995 UK Morrissey tour (November/December). Each gives a full schedule of dates, travel and rest days, hotel information, and band, promoter and crew details.

Sold for £850

 

[Famous when dead]

Lot 51.

The Smiths: the original live booking contract for the band's performance at Middlesborough Town Hall, on 'March 8th 1984', signed by Morrissey, confirming the agreement between All Trade Booking, The Smiths and the venue, dated 20th February 1984. The contract includes financial details, such as the fee for 'one performance at a salary of £1,000 plus 70% of the nett advance and door takings after £3,591 in admissions at a ticket price of £3.50 in advance and £3.50 on the door. The Management guarantees a minimum salary of £1,000. There are also 'Special Stipulations' such as 'The artist shall receive 1st billing...', 'The management shall supply Hospitality as per rider: support 'The Red Guitars' @ £100 & 24 lagers, 4 litres of orange juice, food for 8 people'.

Sold for £480