ALS signed “C. L. Dodgson,” four pages on two adjoining sheets, 3.5 x 5.5, July 16, 1891. Letter addressed to “My dear Collins.” In full: “If (as the newspapers seem to indicate) the Duchess is now staying at Eastbourne, would you kindly call her attention to the fact that my little friend Maggie Bowman is now playing ‘Bootles’ Baby’ there, & will be till the end of this week. Last year I ventured to ask H.R.H., when the ‘Bootles’ baby’ company were near Esher, if she could confer on them the distinction of playing ‘by command’ before her – She wrote very kindly about it, but was unable to do it at that time. Were I at Eastbourne now (I have been paying for my lodgings there for a week, but cannot get away from here yet) I would venture to ask leave to bring Maggie & present her to the Duchess. If you could get hold of the little maiden and do it, it would be a life-long joy to the child! She has now 2 little sisters with her, Nellie (who has played Editha in ‘Editha’s Burglar, &c &c), and Empsie (who was ‘Dormouse’ in the last ‘Alice’ play). Do, if you can manage it, present the trio to the Duchess. They are sweet children, & it would delight them more than words can say.”
Originally acquired from Christie’s Auction House as a part of the William E. Self Library. In fine, clean condition, with a central horizontal mailing fold passing through the signature.
There have been numerous stage adaptations of the Lewis Carroll novel, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland; here the author directly references one such performance that featured a young friend. The recipient of this letter, Sir Robert H. Collins, was comptroller of the household of Princess Helena of Waldeck and Pyrmont—Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Albany. Carroll had seen Bowman’s performance in Bootle’s Baby and took a liking to the young actress, and during a visit wrote for her the poem “Maggie’s Visit to Oxford.” Great association featuring a reference not only to Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland but also a hefty focus on the muse that inspired one of his poems Pre-certified John Reznikoff/PSA/DNA and RRAuction COA.
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