A SPLENDID ARCHIVE OF A DOZEN FINE SIGNED LETTERS [11 TLS +1 ANS][The Merlin Chronicles]

Published by 5 October 1964 to 22 May 1970, Edinburgh, 1964

  • First Edition
  • Signed
  • Used
See all details
Heritage seller

Seller: TBCL The Book Collector's Library, Montreal, QC, CanadaTBCL The Book Collector's Library

5-star seller

AbeBooks seller since November 11, 1996

Association member: IOBA

Condition: Used

£ 2,217.74

£ 33.70 shipping 
Ships from Canada to U.S.A.

Quantity: 1 available

Add to basket
Free 30-day returns

Item description from seller

First Edition. Signed by Author. Stewart, Mary (b. Florence Elinor Rainbow, 1916- ). Scottish fiction, fantasy, and mystery writer best known for her Arthurian "Crystal Cave" series now referred to as The Merlin Chronicles which brilliantly blended historical fiction and fantasy. 79 Morningside Park, Edinburgh. 5 October 1964 to 22 May 1970 to James Keddie of Wellesley Hills, Massachusetts (Scottish born American editor & publisher, 1907- 1983, known as "Cheetah" by The Speckled Band Of Boston, the Sherlockian society of which he was a lifetime member). FINE COLLECTION OF ELEVEN LETTERS AND ONE INSCRIBED EASTER GREETINGS CARD (12 TLS, 1 TNS], most of which are aerogrammes). The friendship between fellow Scots Stewart and Keddie is revealed in this warm and enthusiastic correspondence (variously signed "Yours Ever" at first, then "Love" and "Affectionately") later on, with letters that contain a good mix of literary content and personal revelation, some discussions of Stewart's emotional states as publication dates approach, her books, her domestic challenges, their shared colleagues, writers she admires. Among her works discussed is WILDFIRE AT MIDNIGHT (1956), MADAM WILL YOU TALK? (1954, her first book), AIRS ABOVE THE GROUND (1965), THE GABRIEL HOUNDS (1967), ending with her plans to meet him as she's just about to embark on her American book tour to promote her 1970 masterpiece THE CRYSTAL CAVE ("And thanks for your good wishes for THE CRYSTAL CAVE. I hope you love it."). Other excerpts include: "This is publication day over here, and I combat my sinking, nervous feeling which gets worse instead of better each time I place my bet with the public and put myself at its mercy." "The reviewers are sharpening their claws for anything that breathes of success and popularity as this MUST mean, they think, that it's BAD." She discusses Rex Stout's "writing, style, and plot," and shares her grief "I was very sorry indeed about Margery Allingham." And she is particularly teasing as she discusses THE CRYSTAL CAVE as a work-in-progress: "This is a historical novel which I have been wanting to do for a very long time [and I'll] tell you a bit more about [it] but at the moment I feel it would kill it to talk about it." The letters have a few minor blemishes, light folds and their like, but generally are in NEAR FINE condition. Substantial content, an excellent archive.…

Seller Inventory # 32088

Bibliographic details

Title
A SPLENDID ARCHIVE OF A DOZEN FINE SIGNED LETTERS [11 TLS +1 ANS][The Merlin Chronicles]
Author
Stewart, Mary
Publisher
5 October 1964 to 22 May 1970, Edinburgh
Publication year
1964
Signed
Signed by Author
Edition
First Edition.
Seller catalogs
Autograph Gallery, Electronic List TBCL, Gallery Highlights

TBCL The Book Collector's Library

Montreal, QC, Canada

5-star seller

AbeBooks seller since November 11, 1996

Association member:

Shipping rates from Canada to U.S.A.

Item30 to 45 business days15 to 30 business days
First item£ 33.70£ 44.94
Delivery times are set by sellers and vary by carrier and location. Orders passing through Customs may face delays and buyers are responsible for any associated duties or fees. Sellers may contact you regarding additional charges to cover any increased costs to ship your items.

Payment methods

  • Visa
  • Mastercard
  • American Express
  • Apple Pay
  • Google Pay
  • Bank Draft
  • Bank Wire Transfer
  • Money Order
  • Paypal

Store description

TBCL aspires to offer the rapidly expanding and better connected modern book collecting world a focus on exemplary copies of important books. Every effort is made to obtain 'special' copies with a focus on unique examples - signed material and noteworthy inscribed presentation and association copies. Our areas of interest are very broad based extending from the origins of the printed word through to the moderns.

Specialty

Mystery & Speculative Fiction, Canadian Literature & Poetry, Livres d'Artiste, Travel Literature, Natural History, Modern First Editions, Autograph Literary Material, Virginia Woolf & Bloomsbury

Association member

  • Independent Online Booksellers Association
Members of these associations are committed to maintaining the highest standards. They vouch for the authenticity of all items offered for sale. They provide expert and detailed descriptions, disclose all significant defects and/or restorations, provide clear and accurate pricing, and operate with fairness and honesty during the purchase experience.

Seller's business information

The Book Collection Library TBCL Inc.

5500 Wesminster
Montreal, QC Canada H4W 2J1