TWO AUTOGRAPH LETTERS, one from Neville Chamberlain, signed, and one from Sir Horace Wilson, signed, both to Sir John Anderson:
The first letter, from Neville Chamberlain as Prime Minister, dated June 15, 1939, on 10 Downing Street letterhead concerns the Civil Defence Bill: 'Now that the Civil Defence Bill has passed its third reading I should like to express my thanks to you and also my congratulations on the way you have piloted this immense Bill through the House . . . you have shown inexhaustible patience . . . which has I think been appreciated even by our opponents, and your sound judgement has discriminated admirably between the less and the more important points . . . The Bill may not even now be perfect but it provides a solid foundation for Civil Defence of which you may well be proud . . .' Two single sheets, (19 cm. x 12 cm.), written on three sides, with vertical crease at centre, and pin pricks, lightly rusted, at top left hand corners, together with original envelope (lacking the flap), addressed and marked 'Personal' in Chamberlain's hand. The second letter is from Horace Wilson, written one day after the death of Neville Chamberlain, dated 10th Nov 1940, on Treasury Chambers, Whitehall letterhead: 'My dear John, When I saw Neville Chamberlain a fortnight ago today he spoke of his concern at the present and perhaps future state of the country's affairs and said that, in replying to a note he had had from you, he intended to refer to his anxiety and to say that he relied upon you to play a prominent part in putting things right. Yesterday I saw him again for a little while, at his request, shortly before he died. He was very exhausted & speech was difficult; he referred to you and said "I was never well enough to write to John Anderson as I intended to: will you tell him for me that I rely on him" . . .' Single sheet (19.2 cm. x 12.2. cm.), written on one side, with horizontal crease at centre), together with the original envelope, marked 'Personal'. *Arthur Neville Chamberlain (1869-1940), British politician, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from May 1937 to May 1940, Leader of the Conservative Party from May 1937 to October 1940. Sir Horace John Wilson, GCB, GCMG, CBE (1882\endash 1972), senior British government official who had a key role, as Head of the Home Civil Service, with the government of Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain . John Anderson, 1st Viscount Waverley, GCB, OM, GCSI, GCIE, PC, PC (Ire), FRS (1882-1958), Scottish civil servant and politician, best known for his service in the War Cabinet during the Second World War, for which he was nicknamed the "Home Front Prime Minister" Item #180082
Price: $3,500.00