ALS. 2p. 25 Cadogan Gardens, S.W. Tuesday [no month or year]. The addressee is given in the form of a cipher, monogram or cryptogram which appears to incorporate the initials P and G and two small circles (pearls?).  Possibly the recipient was Pearl Faithfull (Lady Dilke), from whose album the letter is taken.

 

"Tomorrow I shall be acting on a jury and likely to be kept till late. I am sorry to miss seeing you.  I did think you were to be of Collins' party at the Carlton or else I should not have turned up.  I was sorry to find you so situated that I could not join you for a talk.  I longed for a talk. From (...?), Mortimer Menpes."

 

8vo bifolium.  18 x 11 cms (7.25 x 4.5 inches).  Browning from old glue stains, the second leaf somewhat faded. Mounting residue to the verso.  Good.

 

An intriguing letter.  It can be conjectured that Mortimer Menpes is here writing to a lady regarding an assignation, hence they cryptic salutation.

 

 Provenance:  From an album compiled by Florence Pearl Faithfull (known as "Pearl"), later Lady Dilke.  Pearl Faithfull was the daughter of H.M Faithfull, solicitor of Sydney, New South Wales and the grand-daughter of the Australian pioneer and politician William Pitt Faithfull.  In 1915 she married Sir Charles Wentworth Dilke but following his insanity and subsequent death in 1918 she returned to Australia.  Many of the autographs in Pearl Faithfull's collection have an Australian connection