HUTCHINSON

On one side of a piece of vellum (roughly 32 x 43 cm). In fair condition, aged and worn, with the remains of the seal sewn up in a cloth bag. With monogram signature in customary place on gutter tab. Ruled with red lines, and with ornate initial capital and decorative margin at head. Docketed on reverse. In Latin. Scan on application.

Both items in good condition, on lightly aged and creased paper. Item One: Original Typed Letter Signed from Churchill to Mrs. Webb, c/o Messrs. Hutchinson & Co., Hutchinson House, Stratford Place, Oxford Street, London, W1. 11 November 1953. 1p., 8vo. Lightly scored through by recipient. He apologises for stating in the 'Recorder' of 27 October that 'Mrss Ursula Bloom's current series in the Sunday Dispatch, "Hitler's Eva," has been curtailed'. He has since learnt that, 'on the contrary, the series is to be extended by another six instalments'.

The letterhead includes a facsimile of Sims's signature. Six lines, on one side of the card. Addressed at foot to 'Thos Hutchinson Esq.' Fair, on aged paper, with strip of gummed paper from mount at head of blank reverse. He sends 'a thousand thanks' for Hutchinson's 'kind letter on Sep 2', which he would have answered earlier, had he not been 'away at Liverpool'. He concludes: 'Your good wishes lay upon my table to welcome me home.'

2pp., 12mo. On aged paper, with two ring-binder holes at the head of each leaf. Date stamp in purple ink. He asks for back numbers and future issues of 'The Marvels of the Age or Universe [sic]' to be sent 'to Master David Beatty Hanover Lodge Regents Park'. A postscript concerns 'the engraved Portraits'.

A total of 8 pp, 4to, all on Palace Court letterheads. Dent's notes both signed 'Jock Dent.', and the copies both signed 'James Agate'. Two important, energetic and vivid letters by Agate, totalling 6 pp, 4to, defending Coward's play and his position on 'the intellectual and the popular', against the 'pseudo-intelligentsia' of the barristers Shearman and 'Jack' St John Hutchinson (1884-1942).

All four items 12mo bifoliums; the first of three pages and the other three of four. Text of all four clear and complete. Good on aged and lightly-creased paper. Minor water staining at head of first leaf of first item. Letter One (28 lines): Discussing the delivery of 'the alterations & additions' of the two lives, and the correction of the proofs by Routledge's reader. 'I shall of course require some payment for my revision of the two books, & you have not said anything on this head.