[Randolph Churchill [Major Randolph Spencer-Churchill], only son of Winston Churchill.] Typed Letter Signed to V. H. Collins, invoking his father’s name in support of his use of the word ‘EGALITARIAN’.

See his entry in the Oxford DNB. 1p, 4to. In good condition, lightly aged. Signed ‘Randoph S. Churchill. The recipient Vere Henry Collins (1872-1966), was an author and grammatical stickler. After apologising for the delayed response he administers an effective put-down: ‘I do not pretend to be an expert in these mattes, but I have never heard the word EQUALITARIAN used in ordinary talk. EGALITARIAN, on the other hand, I have heard used by a wide variety of people who speak good English, including Sir Winston Churchill. I note that you say that EQALITARIAN [sic] is an affectation of journalese. According to the O.E.D. the word was introduced into the English language from the French by Lord Tennyson. It is news to me that he was a journalist.’ He concludes: ‘Thank you so much for writing. I am ordering a copy of your book.’ (Collins’s ‘The Choice of Words’ had been published in the previous year.]