CHRISTIE AGATHA: (1890-1976) English Crime Novelist. An interesting T.L.S., Agatha Christie Mallowan

CHRISTIE AGATHA: (1890-1976) English Crime Novelist. An interesting T.L.S., Agatha Christie Mallowan

'Collecting things is a great bond, isn't it?!'

CHRISTIE AGATHA: (1890-1976) English Crime Novelist. An interesting T.L.S., Agatha Christie Mallowan, (the latter part of her signature repeated, seemingly in the interests of clarity as the initial Mallowan became somewhat cramped and illegible owing to available space on the page), two pages, 8vo, Churston Ferrers, South Devon, 18th September 1967, to Mrs. Benjamin Franklin in Kansas. Christie states 'I am much flattered that I am the only mystery writer you will read!', and continues, 'I am amused to hear that you bought a copy of ''They came to Baghdad'' in Baghdad, as I rather imagined it was the only place they did not stock it, because of references to beggars and someone spitting in the street!', further discussing their mutual interest in collecting Stevengraphs, 'I don't collect the book-markers, but am particularly interested in the sports and historical ones. I think they have only become popular in the last 10 or 12 years. I too am keeping a sharp lookout for 'Leda' which is very hard to find. The other ones I am very keen to get are :- The First Innings (Baseball game). The Home Stretch (Trotting race). Columbus leaving Spain. Landing of Columbus. Signing of the Declaration of Independence. These are the American ones which are difficult to obtain in this country. If you ever come across any of these (which I expect you already have in your own collection) do let me know. One or two of the English racing ones I have duplicates of, and they quite frequently come on the market here', adding 'I was in the United States last Autumn when my husband was giving a lecture tour, but we never seemed to have time anywhere to go hunting for Stevengraphs, though I did find two in a shop in New Orleans, but unfortunately they were racing ones which I already had' and concluding her letter 'Collecting things is a great bond, isn't it?!'. A letter of fine content. VG Stevengraphs are pictures woven from silk, often mounted on cardboard, and were originally created in the 19th century by Thomas Stevens. They became popular collector's items, particularly with ladies, in the 1930s and again became popular during the revival of interest in Victoriana in the 1960s and 1970s.