[John Calder, London avant-garde publisher.] Three Autograph Cards Signed and a Typed Letter Signed to Philip Dosse, publisher of ‘Books and Bookmen’, regarding reviews he is writing because of ‘financial troubles tempting enough to do a Stonehouse'.

See his entry in the Oxford DNB. The recipient Philip Dosse was proprietor of Hansom Books, publisher of a stable of seven arts magazines including Books and Bookmen and Plays and Players. See ‘Death of a Bookman’ by the novelist Sally Emerson (editor of ‘Books and Bookmen’ at the time of Dosse’s suicide), in Standpoint magazine, October 2018. The typed letter is in fair condition, aged and worn; the three cards are in very good condition. The signature on the four items is little more than a squiggle. Of the three cards, only Item Four below is addressed. ONE: TLS, 17 July 1974, on Calder and Boyars Ltd letterhead (‘Directors: John Calder . Marion Boyars . Michael Hayes . Chris Davidson’). 1p, 4to. Addressed to ‘Dear Philip’. Suggests a meeting, offering to send a new photo, thanking him for generosity regarding an ‘Ad.’ Ends: ‘Hope to get the Kafka review to you by this week.’ TWO: ACS, undated (but following on from Item One). ‘Hope this will do! Review of Kafka next week.’ The following two sentences are not entirely legible. THREE: ACS, 15 January 1975. ‘Dear Philip / A year ago I asked if I could do some reviews, because the collapse of Better Books left me with guarantees to pay off at a time of other financial troubles tempting enough to do a Stonehouse. I have done at least five reviews, but never seen a cheque and the [?] is worse. Could you jog your accountant please.’ The reference is to the Labour MP John Stonehouse, whose plan to faked his own death to avoid his creditors had just been reported. FOUR: ACS, undated (but following on from Item Three). In green ink. He thanks him for ‘the cheque and kind words’, stating that he knows ‘how difficult things are for you too’. He would be ‘happy to do more reviews although the price is, as you know, low’.