One Autograph Letter Signed, Four Typed Letters Signed, and one Autograph Postcard Signed to Frank Marcham, Antiquarian Bookseller. With unsigned copy of one typed letter Marcham to Muir.

Total 5pp., 8vo, some chipping but texts clear and complete, signed variously, P, Percy Muir, Percy, PCM. (1939) Your letter cheered me up no end. It was just like being in the office & listening to you laying down the law in your usual style. | We hardly know there's a war on down here, except for black-outs & an unusual number of children in the village. We even manage to sell a few books from time to time - about one a week so far - made 3/- profit on a sale this morning. Well, I hope to live to see you commander in chief. (June 1941) He expalins why he can only offer ?4 for a Shadwell (Zaehnsdorf binding costs etc). Prices high at Sotheby's that week - he avoided colour plate botanical books because too high, buying herbals just to be in the fashion. (July 1941) He runs over some books offered by Marcham, asking to see some (scrapbook on Stowe, etc). He's at a country house sale picking upsome lots, including stevengraphs. (July 1941) He says what he is keeping from the package Marcham sent, not rating the Stowe scrapbook. He asks for other books offered. (Dec. 1942). He hasn't seen anything of Marcham lately but he's not in town much. He asks if Marcham has some titles. Marcham has added titles and prices in his own hand. (Date obscured - July 1941?) He reports that the Spoor copy of Luxborough did indeed sell for $145. I am trying to find out why and to increase the price to you if I can sell at anything like that. He has just bought a large quantity of tradesman's bills with engraved headings and lovely auction catalogues of leasehold and freehold premises in London from about 1750. He wants Marcham's help in pricing. Marcham's copy letter is dated 10 July 1941, 2pp., 4to, is the response to the postcard. He discusses the Spoor catalogue and discusses a collaboration at that auction between parties |(named) which meant that Texas University was able to spend three years income on the never never . . . He gives some background information on sales of Trade Cards and auction catalogues, adding I had the sale particulars of Shakepeare's house at Stratford but it was a job to get 30s for it . . . Note: printed headings on Muir's letters include directors, Ian Fleming, Greville Worthington, one including (line through) the Earl of Cranbrook, R. Gathorne Hardy and H.V. Marrot from the earlier period, to which Muir, Fleming and Worthington added or not crossed out (the last a purple stamp).