LITERATURE

[William Gorman Wills, Irish dramatist, novelist and painter.] Autograph Letter Signed ('W G Wills') to 'Chepmell' [i.e. the society homeopathist Edward Charles Chepmell], expressing thanks for 'the cure you accomplished'.

Author: 
W. G. Wills [William Gorman Wills], Irish dramatist, novelist and painter [Edward Charles Chepmell (1820-1885), society homeopathist]
Publication details: 
On letterhead of the Garrick Club [London]. No date.
£56.00

1p., 12mo. In fair condition. He has 'from week to week been purposing a visit to you to express my gratitude & sincere thanks for your kindness to me & the cure you accomplished'. He can only write his thanks, having been overwhelmed by 'the arrears of work that followed my illness', and leaving for Paris the following day.

[ R.W. Chapman, scholar ] Autograph Note Signed to "Harmsworth" [Cecil Harmsworth, 1st Baron Harmsworth, a Johnsonian], about Mrs Piozzi's Love Letters.

Author: 
R.W. Chapman, scholar, book collector and editor of the works of Samuel Johnson and Jane Austen
Publication details: 
[Printed heading] 9 Park Town, Oxford, 31 Jan. 1930.
£35.00

One page, 12mo, sl rumpled, mainly good, written in haste. "I find I have a second copy of [Percival] Merritt's Piozzi Love Letters which you may care to have. See p.42. My accidental discovery of 'Exalt thy love - dejected heart in Parnell's poem clinched the matter."

[Lady Margaret Sackville, poet and lover of Ramsay MacDonald.] 'The Double House and other poems'.

Author: 
Margaret Sackville [Lady Margaret Sackville (1881-1963), poet and children's author, first President of the Poetry Society, lover of Labour prime minister Ramsay MacDonald]
Publication details: 
1935. Williams & Norgate Ltd, London. [The Whitefriars Press Ltd, London and Tonbridge.]
£80.00

32pp., 12mo. In blue-green card wraps with light blue-green printed label on front cover. In very good condition. Twenty-four poems in the Georgian idiom, some of which had previously appeared in Country Life, Chamber's Journal, Observer, Harper's Bazaar abd the Glasgow Herald.. Now uncommon. Six copies on COPAC.

[Lady Margaret Sackville, poet and lover of Ramsay MacDonald; book] Presentation inscription on copy of her 'The Double House and other poems'.

Author: 
Margaret Sackville [Lady Margaret Sackville (1881-1963), poet and children's author, first President of the Poetry Society, lover of Labour prime minister Ramsay MacDonald]
Publication details: 
1935. Williams & Norgate Ltd, London. [The Whitefriars Press Ltd, London and Tonbridge.]
£180.00

32pp., 12mo. In blue-green card wraps with light blue-green printed label on front cover. In good condition, lightly aged. Florid ownership inscription in thick black ink at front: 'Margaret (Sackville) | to | Henrietta | with love | 1936.' A question mark has been deleted in one poem, presumably by Sackville. Twenty-four poems in the Georgian idiom, some of which had previously appeared in Country Life, Chamber's Journal, Observer, Harper's Bazaar abd the Glasgow Herald. Now uncommon. Six copies on COPAC.

[Lady Margaret Sackville, poet and lover of Ramsay MacDonald; book] Tree Music.

Author: 
Margaret Sackville [Lady Margaret Sackville (1881-1963), poet and children's author, first President of the Poetry Society, lover of Labour prime minister Ramsay MacDonald]
Publication details: 
1947. Williams & Norgate Ltd, Great Russell Street, London. [The Whitefriars Press Ltd, London and Tonbridge.]
£120.00

28pp., 12mo. In printed blue-green card wraps. Shaken and aged, in worn wraps. Eleven poems in the Georgian idiom, eight of which, according to a note by the author, had previously been published by 'Messrs. Lewis' in 'The Lyrical Woodland'. From Sackville's own papers, and including some pencil markings, presumably by her, including the emendation of 'blank' for 'dank' and 'the' for 'that'. Now uncommon. Six copies on COPAC.

[E. V. Lucas, author, editor and poet.] Holograph (signed 'E. V. L.') of apparently-unpublished poem titled 'Herefordshire'.

Author: 
E. V. Lucas [Edward Verrall Lucas] (1868-1938), author, editor and poet, Chairman of Methuen & Co, London publishers
Publication details: 
Without place or date.
£100.00

1p., 8vo. Signed at bottom right: 'E. V. L.' Sixteen lines of verse, divided into two eight-line stanzas, beginning: 'As I went down to Hertfordshire | To visit Hatfield Oak, | I met the prettiest girl, to whom | Courageously I spoke.' The conceit of the poem is that the girl is the 'Queen of Hearts', and the author is trumped in his suit of her by the king, the last two lines reading: 'The King strode in, the Queen to win, | And I – I lacked the Ace.' Charles Lamb, whom Lucas greatly admired and whose works he edited, had particular links with the county of Hertfordshire.

[George du Maurier, Punch artist and cartoonist.] Autograph Signature ('Yours faithfully | George du Maurier') in response to a request for an autograph.

Author: 
George du Maurier [George Louis Palmella Busson du Maurie] (1834-1896), Punch cartoonist and novelist
Publication details: 
Without date or place.
£23.00

On 5 x 10 cm slip of paper. In good condition, lightly aged. Reads: 'Yours faithfully | George du Maurier'. The first line lightly inked, the signature itself bold and strong. Nothing else on the card, except for the number '92' in a contemporary hand at top left above the signature.

[Nina Bawden, novelist and children's writer.] Autograph Signed Inscription on card.

Author: 
Nina Bawden (1925-2012), English novelist and children's writer
Publication details: 
Card with her letterhead, 22 Noel Road, London N1 8HA. No date.
£50.00

On one side of 10.5 x 14.5 cm grey-blue card. In very good condition. Inscription in blue ink, beneath the letterhead (which includes email address and phone number): 'This is for the Autograph Auction next March. | Good luck, | Nina Bawden'.

[Hall Caine, novelist: studio portrait and signed autograph inscription.] Signed Autograph Inscription ('Hall Caine') to Lady Campbell Clarke, with print of studio portrait photograph.

Author: 
Hall Caine [Sir Thomas Henry Hall Caine] (1853-1931), popular Isle of Man author [Lady Campbell Clarke]
Publication details: 
No place. 9 November 1905.
£220.00

An attractive item, in good condition, lightly aged and spotted. On one side of a piece of 17.5 x 25 cm landscape paper, with the autograph writing on the right-hand side and the 15 x 10 cm print of a studio portrait laid down on the left-hand side. Caine was a striking and instantly-recognisable individual, and the photograph shows him in characteristic style, bare-headed in his usual dress of long double-breasted coat with white cravat, staring intently at the camera, with a book in his right hand, and his right hand draped across his left thigh, his left leg being elevated on a chair.

[Lady Margaret Sackville, poet and children's author, mistress of Ramsay MacDonald.] Typescript of juvenile novel 'Sylvia Thistledown', with autograph emendations, regarding the advetures in Fairy-land of Amelia Egerton and the fairy of the title.

Author: 
Lady Margaret Sackville (1881-1963), English poet and children’s author, who had an affair with Labour Prime Minister Ramsay MacDonald, daughter of Earl De La Warr, cousin of Vita Sackville-West
Publication details: 
On front cover: 'Margaret Sackville | 22. Lansdowne Terrace | Cheltenham'. Undated, but date stamped 30 November 1945.
£950.00

According to the Daily Telegraph, 2 November 2006 (see the end of this description), Lady Margaret Sackville was 'a poet who mixed with writers such as W B Yeats and Wilfred Scawen Blunt, was a friend of Lady Ottoline Morrell, a leading member of the Bloomsbury Set'. 167pp., 4to. Each page on the recto of a separate leaf, the whole bound with green thread through punch holes in margins. The first page worn and with label (of literary agent?) removed from head, otherwise in good condition, lightly aged and worn.

[John Drinkwater, poet and dramatist, allows his play to be copied into Braille.] Typed Note Signed to Miss A. Mangens, giving her permission to copy his play 'Cromwell' into Braille.

Author: 
John Drinkwater (1882-1937), poet and dramatist
Publication details: 
On letterhead of 4 Ashburn Gardens, London, S.W.7.
£45.00

1p., landscape 12mo. In good condition, lightly aged and worn. The letter reads: 'Dear Madam, | As far as I am concerned I shall be very glad for you to copy Cromwell into Braille, but I think you ought to get the formal permission of my publishers, Messers Sidgwick and Jackson, which I am sure that they will give you.'

[Arthur Locker, novelist and journalist, as editor of the Graphic.] Autograph Note Signed ('Arthur Locker | (Ed. Graphic)') to Henry Walker of Worcester, declining an article.

Author: 
Arthur Locker (1828-1893), novelist and journalist, editor of The Graphic
Publication details: 
On letterhead of The Graphic ('An Illustrated Weekly Newspaper, Price Sixpence.'), 109 Strand, W.C. [London]
£30.00

1p., 12mo. On grey paper. Aged and with light discoloration and chipping along one edge. A somewhat barbed missive, reading: 'Sir, | I thank you for your offer, but I have so many subjects on hand just now that I fear I could not find room for your article even if I approved of it.' The Graphic was first published on 4 December 1869 by William Luson Thomas's company Illustrated Newspapers Limited, with Henry Sutherland Edwards (1828-1906) as editor. Locker had taken over the editorship only a few days before the writing of this note, on 1 May 1870.

[Martin Farquhar Tupper critiques three poems by Walter Chalmers Smith.] Three Autograph Letters Signed (all 'Martin F. Tupper'), one to Smith and two to his publisher MacLehose, on 'Olrig Grange', 'Borland Hall' and 'Hilda Among the Broken Gods'.

Author: 
Martin Farquhar Tupper (1810-1889), poet and author, best known for his 'Proverbial Philosophy' [Walter Chalmers Smith (1824-1908), Scottish poet; James MacLehose & Sons, Glasgow publishers]
Publication details: 
Two on letterheads of Albury House, near Guildford, Surrey. 4 and 12 December 1874. The third from Western Villa, North Park, Croydon. 23 June 1878,
£150.00

Three 12mo letters in good condition, lightly aged and worn. An interesting batch of letters, in which one minor Victorian poet critiques the work of another, both to the author himself and to his publisher. The three books by Smith which are the subjects of Tupper's letters are 'Olrig Grange' (1872), 'Borland Hall' (1874) and 'Hilda Among the Broken Gods' (1878), all of which were published by the Glasgow publishers James MacLehose and Sons. ONE: Addressed 'To the unnamed Author of Olrig Grange'. 4 December 1874. On letterhead of Albury House, near Guildford. 4pp., 12mo.

[James Payn, Victorian novelist and journalist.] Autograph Signature ('James Payn') in response to request for autograph.

Author: 
James Payn (1830-1898), Victorian novelist and journalist, editor of Chambers's Journal in Edinburgh and the Cornhill Magazine in London
Publication details: 
28 March 1887.
£20.00

1p., 12mo. In fair condition, lightly aged. Strip of glue from tape at head of page. Written in response to a request for an autograph. Centred in the page, and reading: 'Yours truly | James Payn | March 28th 1887.'

[ Algernon Charles Swinburne, poet who scandalised Victorian England. ] Signed Autograph presentation inscription to his sister Isabel, on fly-leaf of William Clarke Russell's book 'Nelson's Words and Deeds'.

Author: 
Algernon Charles Swinburne (1837-1909), English poet who scandalised the Victorians with his decadent verse [ William Clarke Russell; Isabel Swinburne ]
Algernon Charles Swinburne
Publication details: 
Dated in autograph 'November 1890'.
£350.00
Algernon Charles Swinburne

On a single 8vo half-title leaf removed from the William Clarke Russell's 'Nelson's Words and Deeds: A Selection from the Dispatches and Correspondence of Horatio Nelson' (London: Sampson Low, 1890). In fair condition, lightly aged and with a central horizontal crease. Printed at the centre of the page are the words 'NELSON'S WORDS AND DEEDS', and at the head Swinburne writes: 'Isabel Swinburne | from her affectionate brother | Algernon Charles Swinburne | November 1890'.

[ Mary Cowden Clarke, author and Shakespearian scholar. ] Signed Autograph Presentation Inscription on half-title of book.

Author: 
Mary Cowden Clarke [ Mary Victoria Cowden Clarke, née Novello ] (1809-1898), author and Shakespearian scholar, wife of Charles Cowden Clarke
Publication details: 
Dated in autograph 'July 1881.'
£25.00

On a single 8vo half-title leaf removed from the front of her 1881 verse collection 'Honey from the Weed'. In good condition, lightly aged, with minor loss to one corner. Printed at the centre are the words 'HONEY FROM THE WEED'. At the head of the page is the presentation inscription, in a pleasing hand: 'George Frederick Martin Esqre. | with kind regards & good wishes from | Mary Cowden Clarke | July 1881.'

[ Nineteenth-century Boston children's book with hand-coloured illustrations by Chandler and Duran. ] The Delectable Historie of the Cat and the Rabbits.

Author: 
'G. W. Cottrell, Publisher, Bookseller, Stationer, and Valentine Dealer, No. 36 Cornhill, Boston' [ Chandler and Duran, Massachussetts ]
Publication details: 
Boston: G. W. Cottrell, Publisher. ('Entered according to the Act of Congress, in the year 1859, by CHANDLER & DURAN, in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of Massachussetts.')
£220.00

29pp., small 4to. Stitched into card covers. Internally in fair condition, in aged and worn covers repaired along the spine with brown tape. There are eleven hand-coloured engravings: one on the cover, a frontispiece, two vignettes (at the beginning and end of the poem) and seven full-page illustrations in the body of the poem (six of them with blank reverses). The cover illustration, frontispiece, and all but two of the full-page engravings are attributed to Chandler and Duran.

[ Margaret Lane, English novelist and biographer: 'it really was a thrilling adventure'. ] Typed Letter Signed ('Margaret Lane') to 'Miss Cond' [ Eileen M. Cond ], on the writing of 'A Calabash of Diamonds'.

Author: 
Margaret Lane [ Margaret Winifred Hastings, Countess of Huntingdon ] (1907-1994), British novelist, journalist and biographer
Publication details: 
On letterhead of Westmead House, Roehampton, SW15 [ London ].11 July 1961.
£25.00

1p., 12mo. On grey paper. In fair condition, lightly aged. She is returning Cond's bookplate, which she has signed with great pleasure, and is very glad Cond has enjoyed 'A Calabash of Diamonds', which 'really was a thrilling adventure and I don't suppose we shall ever experience anything quite so exciting again'. The book was subtitled 'An African Treasure Hunt', and involved the search for a Zulu chief's burial place. Apparently 'Eileen Cond was a book collector who sent out her bookplate to her favorite authors, many of whom signed and returned them to her.'

[ Victorian Welsh Christmas carols ] Y Cantor, Yn Cynwys Detholion Barddonol, Sef Carolau Ac Emynau Newyddion, Englynion Coffadwriaethol Am Amrai Anwyllion Ymadawedig, Can Ar Ostegiad Y Dymhestl Ar Y Mor, Yn Nghyda Chyfieithiadau O Linellau Saesonig,

Author: 
Evan Breece. (Ieuan Cadfan.) [ Evan Breece (1798-1855), also Evan Brees, Evan Breeze ]
Publication details: 
Llanidloes: Argraffwyd Gan J. Jones, Albion-Wasg, Dros Yr Awdwr. [ 1846 ]
£50.00

A collection of carols for 'Plygain' services at Christmas, plus memorial 'Englynion' by Breece, who was also a local preacher with the Wesleyans. 36pp., 12mo. Disbound pamphlet without wraps. In fair condition, lightly aged and worn. Beneath the 'Rhagymadrodd' in Welsh by 'E. B. | Llangadfan, | Hydref 28ain, 1846.' is the following note in English: 'The author of this little book of Welsh POEMS begs to return his sincere thanks to his esteemed Friends, who afforded him their kind assistance to publish his humble Compositions.' Two-page table of contents at rear.

[ Cholera outbreak in Victorian Wales: a poetry pamphlet in Welsh. ] Pryddest Ar Paul Yn Athen, Act. XVII; At Ba Un Yr Ychwanegwyd, Awdl Ar Ymweliad Y Geri Marwol A Chymru Yn 1849. Gan J. Rhys Morgan, (Lleurwg,) Aberafon.

Author: 
J. Rhys Morgan, (Lleurwg,) Aberafon [ Cholera epidemic in Wales ]
Publication details: 
Caerfyrddin [ Carmarthen ]: Argraffwyd Gan William Thomas, Yn Heol-Y-Bont. 1852.
£100.00

64pp., 12mo. Disbound pamphlet without wraps. In good condition, lightly aged and worn. Two poems, the first on a biblical topic and the second on an outbreak of cholera. Three copies on COPAC: at the National Library of Wales, Cardiff, and the British Library. Now extremely scarce.

[ Professor Charles de Flandre of Edinburgh University. ] Lithographed Circular in form of a facsimile of an Autograph Letter Signed, requesting subscriptions to his translation of 'Professor Petit's unpublished History of Mary, Queen of Scots'.

Author: 
Charles de Flandre, Professor of French Language and Literature at Edinburgh University
Publication details: 
On his monogrammed letterhead, 15 Dundas Street, Edinburgh. 24 February 1873.
£100.00

1p., 12mo. Aged and grubby. A convincing facsimile, sent with 'a copy of the title page, the authors preface, a few explanatory remarks and a list of chief subscribers', in the hope that the recipient 'may be induced to become a subscriber' and mention the work 'to any one likely to take an interest in the subject'. No other copy traced.

[ J. Edward Jenkins, novelist and Liberal Party politician. ] Autograph Letter Signed ('Edward Jenkins') to Wilhelmina Maria Green, wife of the geologist Alexander Henry Green, explaining why he cannot undertake any more work at present.

Author: 
Edward Jenkins [ John Edward Jenkins; J. Edward Jenkins ] (1838-1910), novelist, satirist, and Liberal Party politician, and Agent-General of Canada
Publication details: 
On lettehead of the House of Commons Library. 19 June 1898.
£30.00

From the papers of the family of the second wife of the geologist Alexander Henry Green (1832-1896), previously Miss Wilhelmina Maria Armstrong of Clifton. 1p., 12mo. In fair condition, lightly aged. Addressed at bottom left to 'Mrs Wilhelmina Armstrong'. The letter opens: 'Dear Madam | I heartily wish I could see my way – but the clouds of work are growing so thick I cannot see each of them - & my elasticity is failing.' He does not dare undertake anything at the present time, but feels 'grateful & flattered by the invitation'.

[ Edward Carpenter, gay Socialist poet and philosopher. ] Autograph Card Signed ('Edwd. Carpenter') to the wife of the geologist A. H. Green, suggesting locations in Wales for her to visit while recuperating.

Author: 
Edward Carpenter (1844-1929), Socialist poet and freethinker, proponent of the rights of homosexuals
Publication details: 
Paris. 20 July [ 1889 ].
£45.00

A plain 'Carte Postale', with the address, with three postmarks, on one side (coloured lilac), reading 'Mrs. A. H. Green | Rosa House, Church Walks | Llandudno | N. Wales | Angleterre'. In fair condition, lightly aged and worn, with central horizontal crease. He is sorry to hear of her 'continuing illness', and hopes 'the air of Wales' will do her good. 'Dolgam is a farm-house about 2 or 3 miles below Capel Curig towards Bettws[sic]-y-Coed. I can quite recommend it. Mrs. Jones is (or was) the landlady. The air is probably not so bracing as some places as it lies in a sheltered hollow.

[ Weeden Butler, cleric, author and schoolmaster. ] Autograph Letter Signed ('Weeden Butler') to Messrs Nichols and Son, printers and publishers of the Gentleman's Magazine, asking whether they intend to publish a review he has sent them.

Author: 
Weeden Butler the younger (1773-1831), English cleric, author and schoolmaster in Chelsea who taught Isambard Kingdom Brunel
Publication details: 
Chelsea, 26 July 1821.
£180.00

1p., 8vo. Bifolium addressed on reverse of second leaf to 'Messrs: Nichols & son, | No. 26, | Parliament Street, | Westminster.' (Delivered by hand, with word 'Wait.' at bottom left of address.) In fair condition, lightly aged. Written in a bold hand, the letter reads: 'Gentlemen, | I lately sent you by post a careful review of Baron D'Ordre's “Exiles of Parga,” & offered to correct a proof for you. Have you any intention to print the same?

[ Taylor Caldwell, Anglo-American novelist. ] Typed Letter Signed ('Taylor Caldwell') to 'Eileen M. Cond' [ i.e. Eileen M. Cond ],

Author: 
Taylor Caldwell [ Janet Miriam Holland Taylor Caldwell ] (1900-1985), Anglo-American novelist
Publication details: 
On her letterhead, 34 Audley End, Buffalo 26, New York. 16 April 1962.
£30.00

1p., 4to. In good condition, lightly aged. She apologises for the late reply to her 'nice letter', and has 'autographed the bookplate as you requested'. She ends with the question: 'Have you read my latest book, "A Prologue to Love"?' Note: Eileen Cond was an autograph collector who used to send her bookplate for sigining to significant contemporaries.

[ Mona Caird, Scottish novelist and suffragist: 'my power of immediate help was nil'. ] Autograph Signature to last two pages of a letter explaining her inability to help the recipient, due to her 'financial matters' being 'black'.

Author: 
Mona Caird [ Alice Mona Caird; née Alice Mona Alison; married name Alice Mona Henryson-Caird] (1854-1932), Scottish novelistt, proponent of women's suffrage, and theosophis
Publication details: 
Without place or date.
£35.00

2pp., 12mo. The final two pages of an autograph letter by Caird, signed along a margin on the penultimate page: 'Yours sincerely | Mona Caird'. In fair condition, lightly aged and worn. The letter reads: '[…] I received your letter I knew too that my power of immediate help was nil. My expenses at the time were swelling out of all expected proportion & financial matters looking black all round in consequence of the state of things in Australia | You cannot imagine too what an infinite number of appeals I receive for help. For some time I shall be utterly unable to give any substantial aid.

[ J. W. Hales, Professor of English literature at King's College London. ] Two Autograph Cards Signed (both 'John W. Hales') to 'Plarr' [ Victor Gustave Plarr ], on his leaving King's College for other employment, and an application to Lincoln's Inn.

Author: 
J. W. Hales [ John Wesley Hales ] (1836-1914), Professor of English Literature at King's College London [ Victor Gustave Plarr (1863-1929), poet and editor of 'Men and Women of the Time' ]
Publication details: 
One: 1 Oppidans Road, N.W. [ London ] 6 August [ no year ]. Two: 'O R'. 11 October [ no year ].
£40.00

Both cards around 9 x 12 cm. The first written on one side and the second on both sides. In fair condition, lightly aged. ONE: Begins: 'My dear Plarr, | We were delighted – for your sake – to see the announcement in the Times of your election to the <?> district, which we hope is well worth your acceptance'. He sure that 'we shall all be very sorry to lose you at King's. However I trust we shall sometimes see you.' Postscript: 'We are off to the Borders & the Roman Wall next week.

[ Julia Kavanagh, Irish Victorian novelist. ] Autograph Signature on part of letter to London publisher Henry Blackett, regarding the sending of 'early copies' of a book to the United States ('that distracted country') and proofs to Baron Tauchnitz.

Author: 
Julia Kavanagh (1824-1877), Irish Victorian novelist, a devout Catholic most of whose work was set in France [ Henry Blackett (1825-1871), English publisher, partner in London firm Hurst & Blackett ]
Publication details: 
Without place or date.
£130.00

On both sides of a piece of thin laid paper, roughly 10 x 12.5 cm, torn from a letter. Aged and worn, with chipping to extremities. The recto reads: '[…] work is to be published? I sh also be much obliged to you i you will give me any informat about America. Is anything done with that distracted countr in the way of early copies? I dare say it is time to sen Baron Tauchnitz the proofs through Williams & Norgate. I trust you will kindly see to that for m We shall be g to the coun […]'.

] Captain Frederick Marryat, novelist and friend of Charles Dickens. ] Autograph Signature ('F Marryat') to conclusion of letter to his mother and family.

Author: 
Captain Frederick Marryat (1792-1848), Royal Navy officer, novelist, friend of Charles Dickens, inventor of Marryat's Code of signalling
Publication details: 
Without place or date.
£30.00

On one side of a slip of paper cut from a letter. In good condition, lightly aged. The conclusion of a letter, reading: '[...] also to get another Servant, so I shall put it off till my return & I have every thing in order. | My kind love to all of you & you my dear Mother ever truly | F Marryat'.

[ Catherine Gaskin, Irish-Australian author of romantic fiction. ] Typed Letter Signed ('Catherine Gaskin Cornberg') to 'Miss Cord [sic]' [ i.e. Eileen M. Cond ], discussing her former publisher William Hope Collins and his family.

Author: 
Catherine Gaskin [ Catherine Gaskin Cornberg ] (1929-2009), best-selling Irish-Australian novelist in the field of romantic fiction [ William Hope Collins (1903-1967), Glasgow publisher ]
Publication details: 
On her letterhead, Ballymacahara, Wicklow, County Wicklow, Ireland. 14 June 1970.
£80.00

1p., 4to. In good condition, lightly aged. She begins by agreeing to inscribe Cond's bookplate, before continuing: 'Ye, I did know Hope Collins – not particularly well, since he was based in Glasgow, and I lived in New York and the West Indies from 1955 to 1967 and so our visits to London rarely co-incided.' She remembers Collins as 'a most kindly and courteous man', and he is 'greatly missed.

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