Typed Letter Signed by Fletcher to Flower; the Typed and Signed ('Desmond Flower') reply; Two Typescript drafts and an offprint of the paper 'The Literature of Splendid Occasions in English History'; typescript of another paper on splendid occasions.

The collection is in very good condition. Fletcher's letter (12mo, 2 pp) contains several autograph corrections, and its presence with Flower's reply suggests that, although signed, it may be a draft. Fletcher was pleased to see Flower at the Bib. Soc. meeting. 'Since then I have been turning over in my mind a project which may interest you.' His paper is 'based on material I have gathered for a bibliography of English splendid occasions', which is 'nearly ready and I hope to issue it, by private subscription, later this year'. The subject is 'attractive to many people besides the specialists and students who will use the bibliography', and Fletcher suggests 'an attractively illustrated book', to be produced in collaboration with 'Miss Janet Seligman, who has assisted me in my researches'. 'Although the subject does not rest on topicality, it seems that the fairly elaborate celebrations of Princess Elizabeth's coming of age will attract further notice in the direction of Royal festivities'. In his reply (12mo, 1 p, 5 lines) Flower says that he is 'off to France for a little while', but that he would 'like to know more about the book and the proposed illustrations'. He suggests a meeting. The first typescript of the first talk (on 20 A4 pages) has numerous manuscript corrections. It lacks the text on the last four pages of the second, later draft of the first talk (23 A4 pp), which also carries somes autograph emendations. The typescript of the second talk (15 A4 pp), entitled 'Bath: The Octagon: April 14th 1953', is heavily corrected. The offprint (8vo, 13 pp, stitched, in original grey printed wraps). Fletcher's 'Splendid Occasions in English History, 1520-1947' was published by Cassell in 1951, without Seligman's name on the title page.