[E. V. Lucas writes to E. H. Shepard regarding the illustrating of a poem for 'Punch'.] Typed Letter Signed ('E. V.') to 'Ernest', regarding the illustrating of a poem ('Monmouthshire'?) for 'Punch'.

E. V. Lucas [Edward Verrall Lucas] (1868-1938), author and Chairman of Methuen & Co, London publishers [E. H. Shepard [Ernest Howard Shepard] (1879-1976), artist and illustrator; Punch magazine]

Published by On letterhead of Methuen & Co Publishers London. 17 May, 1928

About this Item

1p., 4to. In good condition, lightly aged. Addressed in type to 'My dear Shepard,' but with the last word corrected in autograph to 'Ernest'. He has now 'made sufficient progress with Monmouthshire' to be able to give Shephard 'a line': 'The first two verses bear upon the Wye valley and the Usk valley, of which Tintern is the best symbol. The last verse states that should King Arthur return to set up his table once more, he would be able to make a rapid fortune by providing tea, | With Guinevere and Lancelot | Alert to keep the water hot.' He suggests that 'the lower part of the page shows King Arthur and his knights waiting on a crowd of trippers, and in the upper part you have Tintern, and perhaps a winding road crowded with cars and chars-à-banc, with a background of wooded mountain scenery.' He concludes by stating that he has 'asked Mr. Ashley Cooper, the cricket collector', to let Shepard 'have the three Graces', with the assurance that he will return them 'safely and quickly'. The poem appeared in Punch in the same year.

Seller Inventory # 21003

Bibliographic Details

• Title: [E. V. Lucas writes to E. H. Shepard regarding the illustrating of a poem for 'Punch'.] Typed Letter Signed ('E. V.') to 'Ernest', regarding the illustrating of a poem ('Monmouthshire'?) for 'Punch'.
• Publisher: On letterhead of Methuen & Co Publishers London. 17 May
• Publication Date: 1928