MABEL

146 Autograph Letters Signed and 4 Typed Letters Signed, 1 Autograph Note Signed, 1917-1928, with 3 Autograph Cards Signed and one Post Office Telegram. Totalling in excess of 500pp. The collection is in good condition, with light aging and wear. All letters in their envelopes. Sims addresses Arthur as 'Bert' (and on one occasion as 'Mon cher cousin'), and the envelopes are mostly addressed to him at his home, 59 Howard Road, New Malden, Surrey, or at his place of work with the Inland Revenue, York House B3, Kingsway, London.

[1] + 10pp., 4to. Printed on rectos only, and stapled into blue printed card wraps. Very good, on lightly-aged paper, in creased and stained wraps with rust to staples.

4to, 5 pp. Text clear and complete. Good, on aged and folded paper. An highly interesting and significant letter, responding thoughtfully and in detail to questions posed by Gilbert (author, according to Allan, of the 'special study, "Children and Reading"'). Begins by responding to the question 'Why do I write for children?' Considers that children's books 'are at least a minor form of art [...] I am a professional author. I have published more than eighty books, all but one for young people. But every book I have written has been written because I wanted to write it, for myself.

Letter: 12mo, 4 pp. Bifolium. Text clear and entire, but with the outer pages grubby. He has 'no wish to annoy other members of the Court family', so it will 'go no further'. 'It is cool of Miss Court to talk thhe confidence of her own home, when she made the statement to Mrs Bulkeley in her own drawing-room.' Suggests that Draper send 'the Postmistress' a 'reminder'. 'She is so accustomed to threatening letters from her creditors' lawyers that she possibly may disregard this.' Asks him to 'make her understand that withholding an apology may have sharp consequences'.

12mo, two pages. Printed on one side of a piece of paper roughly nine inches by seven, folded one to make a bifolium. Lists the Orchestra's officers (conductor; committee - the Hon. Mrs. Noel Farrer, Miss Olive Macleod and Miss Stack (Hon. Librarian); and hon. treasurer Hon. Noel M. Farrer) before setting out its rules over fifty lines, beginning 'The object of this Orchestra is to meet weekly or fortnightly to play good music well and efficiently.' A websearch for the Orchestra (which was perhaps exclusively for women) and for members of the Farrer family yields no results.