International Autograph Auctions Ltd.
Lot 311
SEARLE RONALD: (1920-2011) British Artist and Satirical Cartoonist. A.L.S., Ronald, two pages, 4to, Paris, 21st June 1975, to Nicolas Bentley ('Dear Nick'). Searle states that he was delighted to hear from his friend and remarks 'I don't know a thing about the OMNIBUS film & haven't seen it....So it was marvellous to have a spontaneous reaction like that from you & to know that you didn't consider it a waste of time to have chatted out once and for all some of those thoughts that go round in the head - but are usually kept out of sight. I must confess I hesitated over the idea for a long time because I much prefer to remain a private person. People call it 'secretive'. But it is not. I'm all for cutting out the inessentials & getting some peace & quiet.' Searle continues to refer to his wife's illness and further adds 'By the way - she is a great detective fiction buff. A couple of weeks ago she tracked down a first edition of Trent's Last Case through a second hand bookseller & she asked me to tell you how much she enjoyed Floating Dutchman. Now she is chasing your others as it made her thirst to read more. She combs almost every second hand bookseller's catalogue in GB. Her form of regular treasure hunting.', also commenting on his own work, 'I get tired too easily now. I work more tranquilly now - & the work may be better for it. But noise drives me mad & I am obviously showing signs of wear.' In concluding Searle reflects 'And why didn't they knight you instead of the amateur Lancaster? Shaming I thought, that the only signs of recognition to the profession - apart from Low on his deathbed - in the last 20 years, should be Giles & Osbert. Or do they only read the Daily Express? Pathetic.' A letter of interesting content. Some very slight creasing and a few minor, small tears to the edges, not affecting the text or signature, otherwise VG
Nicolas Bentley (1907-1978) British Author and Illustrator, best known for his humorous cartoon drawings in books and magazines of the 1930s and 1940s. His father, Edmund Clerihew Bentley (1875-1956) was the author of the detective novel Trent's Last Case (1913).
