Bruce Bairnsfather – Hand Written & Signed Letter
£300.00
216×175 mm
A fine letter in black ink to grey paper, with central vertical and horizontal folds, some toning to the upper edge, with associated contemporary envelope stamped and postmarked ‘West Kens W14 8.15pm 2 Feb 18’, addressed to ET Reed, 39 Kensington Park Gardens, London W11, with open tears to upper edge of front and back.
In full: ‘My dear Reed, I am really sorry to say that I cannot manage to do what you ask. Would, if I could, but whilst in England life is one long Jig Saw puzzle ask how to get my work done and (between you and me its all official stuff and has to be played under war office rules). I would have done what I could, if I could! but I doubt whether I should have given much assistance by appearing in the flesh. I’m a bit of a dud at this Lion business. By same day as your letter I was asked to address 1000 Cadets at Aldershot (but I knows a better… than that, thanks). But really – I would have done my best but time and work are an ‘ell of a nuisance these days to me. Yours Bruce Bairnsfather.’
Bruce Bairnsfather (1887–1959) was a British cartoonist and officer in World War I, best known for creating the character “Old Bill.” His trench cartoons, especially in Fragments from France, captured the humour, hardship and resilience of frontline soldiers. Widely published during and after the war, his work became iconic of British wartime morale. Bairnsfather later worked in advertising, theatre and film, but remains most celebrated for his influential wartime illustrations.
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- Description
Description
216×175 mm
A fine letter in black ink to grey paper, with central vertical and horizontal folds, some toning to the upper edge, with associated contemporary envelope stamped and postmarked ‘West Kens W14 8.15pm 2 Feb 18’, addressed to ET Reed, 39 Kensington Park Gardens, London W11, with open tears to upper edge of front and back.
In full: ‘My dear Reed, I am really sorry to say that I cannot manage to do what you ask. Would, if I could, but whilst in England life is one long Jig Saw puzzle ask how to get my work done and (between you and me its all official stuff and has to be played under war office rules). I would have done what I could, if I could! but I doubt whether I should have given much assistance by appearing in the flesh. I’m a bit of a dud at this Lion business. By same day as your letter I was asked to address 1000 Cadets at Aldershot (but I knows a better… than that, thanks). But really – I would have done my best but time and work are an ‘ell of a nuisance these days to me. Yours Bruce Bairnsfather.’
Bruce Bairnsfather (1887–1959) was a British cartoonist and officer in World War I, best known for creating the character “Old Bill.” His trench cartoons, especially in Fragments from France, captured the humour, hardship and resilience of frontline soldiers. Widely published during and after the war, his work became iconic of British wartime morale. Bairnsfather later worked in advertising, theatre and film, but remains most celebrated for his influential wartime illustrations.
