Landmark Books in All Fields
ItemID: #109323
Cost: $950.00

Children of the Mist

Eden Phillpotts

"THIS BOOK-MAN, GREATLY DARING, IS PREPARING A BIBLIOGRAPHY OF MY WORKS"

PHILLPOTTS, Eden. Children of the Mist. WITH: 2-page Autograph letter signed by Phillpotts, dated September 14, 1929, tipped in to front endpaper. London: A.D. Innes, 1898. Octavo, original blue cloth with gilt-stamped spine and front board, custom chemise and half dark green morocco slipcase . $950.

1898 first edition of Children of the Mist, the first novel in Phillpotts' Dartmoor cycle, with a two-page 1929 autograph letter.

As Phillpotts life (1862-1960) spanned nearly a century, his more than 250 published works spanned genres, from his most ambitious and successful Dartmoor Cycle, to mysteries, detective novels, science fiction, plays, essays and poetry collections. Phillpotts was an early mentor and lifelong friend to Agatha Christie and his work gained the admiration of well-known figures including Arthur Conan Doyle, Jorge Luis Borges, and Jacques Barzun.

Tipped in is a Phillpotts autograph letter signed, addressed to English bookseller "Mr. Arthur Rogers" and dated "Torquay 14 Sep 1929." It reads: "My dear Sir / Let me refer you to Mr. Percival Hinton / 16 Richmond Rd. / Handsworth / Birmingham / This book-man, greatly daring, is preparing a bibliography of my works. I cordially wished him a more fruitful task, but he is determined & I suspect you might find him a useful & congenial spirit. I am sending his your letter to you him (sic). I only remember as a youth being sent for by old Hogg to a den in Paternoster Row & being commissioned by him to write him an eight or ten thousand word tale for £8. Needless to say I returned home feeling the world of letters was at my feet. / Sincerely yours / Eden Phillpotts / I've sent Hinton your letter." Hinton published his Phillpotts bibliography in 1931. First impression with photographic frontispiece and 8-page publisher's catalogue at rear. Bookplate of George Staehle.

Book near-fine with light scattered foxing and a spot of rubbing to front board; autograph letter near-fine with a bit of offsetting from bookplate.

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