Milne (Alan Alexander), a handwritten letter to"Vi" , dated ...

Hammer

£300

Milne (Alan Alexander), a handwritten letter to"Vi" , dated 20.vi.47 , on headed "Cotchford Farm, Hartfield, Sussex" cream paper, it reads:-

"Dear Vi,
July I - sorry, I can't go on composing expensive poetry so revert to pros. I should very much like to dine with you on the First, but we'll catch the 9:20 home if you leave. If by then you have both read Elizabeth is missing, I will (a) completely expose, crush and tear to ribbons the authors 'any solution of the mystery'; and (b) fire for the one authentic, perfect, waterproof, and genuine original solution in a sealed tin.
Yours ever Ludovic ? Holmes-Thorndyke, Conte De Poriot Chevalier De Fortune (French) HM Inspector of Schools"

Comes with an envelope inscribed Vincent Seligman 18 Hyde Park Terrace, London W2 with postmark for Heartfield Tunbridge Wells

This letter comes from the direct descendants of Vincent Seligman's family, Vincent Julian Seligman was a descendant of a German Jewish mercantile family that emigrated to the USA and London in the 19th century. Vincent’s father ran the London bank Seligman Brothers; his mother came from an artistic and musical family (and had an affair with Puccini).

Vincent Seligman and Milne became lifelong friends although it is uncertain how and where they first met, and along with Vincent's wife Barbara, became close. In 1923 Seligman dedicated his book, Oxford Oddities, to A.A. Milne and, soon after the publication of the Pooh books, Milne gave prototypes of Pooh and Piglet soft toys to Barbara.