Two Typed Letters Signed (both 'Brooke') from Brooke Crutchley to John Carter ('Jake'), the second discussing in detail the publication of 'the S.M. [Stanley Morison] handlist'.

Both letters are addressed to 'Dear Jake'. Both are in good condition, on aged and lightly-worn paper. Letter One: 1p., 8vo. Addressed to Carter at 26 Carlyle Square. Explaining the complications of a planned joint visit to the Hague. Letter Two: 1p., 8vo. Addressed to Carter at Sotheby's, New Bond Street, with Percy Muir copied in. On returning 'the draft note on the S.M. Handlist' (not present) he makes three long comments (totalling 32 lines of text). The first comment deals with two versions of the publication, 'varying in the dedication. As I recall, you gave the copy for the briefer one to John Dreyfus with instructions to insert it without my knowledge. However, I happened to see a proof and expressed the view that it was, though charming, somewhat esoteric, and you agreed to the alteration to the longer and, as I now see, stuffier version. This you subsequently regretted and asked for at least a few copies with the original dedication and this was done, though I cannot now remember whether the change was made during the run or whether there was a cancel.' The second comment concerns the publication details, including the statement that 'a handful of copies was rushed through to put before guests at a luncheon in Trinity Hall on 8 June when Morison took his degree. (He was not at the lunch himself, being feted by the Vice-Chancellor, and I would be hard put to it now to remember who was there, but it sticks in my memory that the number was thirteen.)' The last comment concerns the edition, including: 'I was under the impression later, and told you, that some stock was kept in sheets, but this proved to be an error. 50 copies were sold to Elkin Mathews in 1958, another 12 in 1965. This leaves us with 50, less a few distributed to you and S.M. How many of the 50 sent to Percy in 1958 had one dedication and how many the other, I cannot say. I do not think we noticed.'