Exquisite ALS signed “C. L. Dodgson,” four pages on two adjoining sheets, 4.5 x 7, April 8, 1892. Letter to Thomas Gibson Bowles, founder and editor of British magazines The Lady and Vanity Fair. In part: “I quite see that you are not in a position to furnish me with the political fire-works I was in search of. May I suggest that the ‘Lady’ would do well (if the funds will stand it) to lay in a rather larger stock of capital italics? The proofs sent me are often thickly interspersed with :, instead of a capital letter, & I suppose the article has to wait, until some other portion of the paper has been worked off, that it may then borrow the types necessary. Also (a rather bolder suggestion, I fear) would you look at p. 457 (Ap. 7), at the three pieces of ‘poetry’ there published, and consider whether such publication is likely to raise the literary reputation of the paper? I say nothing of the ‘poetry’: that is a matter of opinion: but surely the ‘Lady’ risks her credit, in publishing verses containing bad English, & mere nonsense, & praising it as ‘very beautiful’ poetry? In the following quotations I put [B] for ‘bad English,’ & [N] for ‘nonsense’…line 5 from end—‘when thou wast lain in death’ [B]…line 2 from end—‘we raise a monument o’er whom neglect alone did follow’ [B]…What do you think of these specimens of modern poetry?…It cannot, I think, be good for the writers, to see themselves in type, before they can write their own language correctly.” In fine condition, with a few pencil notations (presumably added by the recipient). A remarkable letter demonstrating Dodgson’s keen literary sense and mastery of his craft. Pre-certified John Reznikoff/PSA/DNA and RR Auction COA.
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