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Part of Personal Papers
Correspondence from others to Ian Stewart, organised alphabetically by correspondent.
Stewart, Bernard Harold Ian Halley
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Part of Personal Papers
Correspondence from others to Ian Stewart, organised alphabetically by correspondent.
Stewart, Bernard Harold Ian Halley
Part of Personal Papers
One letter from Christopher Blunt to Ian Stewart and six letters from Ian Stewart to Christopher Blunt:
(a) letter from Ian Stewart to Christopher Blunt, manuscript, two small folios (recto & verso), dated from Muswell Hill, [London] N10, on 3 January [1954], thanking CEB for the return of his paper, promising to send the corrected version to Mr [Horace Herbert] King and agreeing with CEB's suggestions. He asks for some obtaining [coin] casts that he needs for his book, which he says "is now definitively under way, with the text at the printers". He says that he is grateful for information about offprints and will ask Mr [Edgar] Winstanley about a Henry VI paper – he has already given him the Henry VIII paper – when he sees him and Mr [Michael] Dolley in connection with the Bootham Treasure Trove. He thanks CEB for his willingness to help him obtain offprints that he may want. He mentions some of his recent coin acquisitions and notes that he has written a short note on four unpublished Norman pennies in his collection in the event that it may be worth including in a future BNJ
(b) letter from Ian Stewart to Christopher Blunt, manuscript, three pages on two small folios, dated from Muswell Hill, [London] N10, on 15 January [1954], thanking CEB for sending him offprints and agreeing with him "about the sun-and-rose being Edward IV, and that [CEB's] penny and the BM's half-groat are in fact Edw. V". He also thanks CEB for the casts and says that he will soon mbe making the plates for his book. He says that he would like a copy of Crump & Johnson's bullion tables and promises to send CEB a copy of his note on the Norman pennies that he mentioned and describes the coins as a William I type V with uncertain mint, two unpublished moneyers of Henry I in types XIV and XV, and a Hereford penny of Stephen. He finishes by recounting his latest coin acquisitions.
(c) letter from Ian Stewart to Christopher Blunt, manuscript, one folio folded in booklet style, dated from Haileybury on 31 January 1954, thanking CEB for sending Crump and Johnson's paper and inviting him to Ramsbury over the Easter holidays but explaining that he is much constrained by other commitments. He also mentions the James I groat that he recently acquired and notes that CEB also seems to have made several interesting acquisitions, especially the Baldred, before briefly describing a few other recent acquisitions of his own. He says that he seems to recall reading that CEB regarded the St Edmund memorial pennies as not necessarily East Anglian and suggests that many might have been issued in Lincoln and possibly York on stylistic grounds. He notes that Mr [Michael] Dolley showed him "the notes on Anglo-Saxon dies" and observes that they must have differed from the Medieval ones to account for the frequent obverse/obverse and reverse/reverse mules that run through the Northumbrian series.
(d) letter from Ian Stewart to Christopher Blunt, manuscript, one folio folded in booklet style, dated from Elysium, Haileybury, on 2 February [1954], expressing relief that he will be able to come to Ramsbury over the next holidays and explaining that he has just spent a few days at home to arrange the casts for his plates. While preparing his Berwick plate, he noticed that the cast of the class VII penny that CEB supplied was in fact a cast of VII/VI mule, which he is unable to use, but he says that he would like to publish the coin together with IIIa/IV mule in his collection and other new Scottish coins.
(e) letter from Ian Stewart to Christopher Blunt, manuscript, two small folios (recto & verso), dated from Muswell Hill, [London] N10, on 2 April [1954], mostly about complications surrounding his plans to visit Mr Blunt at his home in Ramsbury later in the month, after a family holiday in Guernsey.
(f) letter from Christopher Blunt to Ian Stewart, manuscript, one folio (recto & verso), dated from Ramsbury on 3 April 1954, stating that IS's plans for his visit will suit him well. He expresses his pleasure that IS is looking at the Anglo-Saxon material, because "it is so full of problems", and then he goes on to mention several of them.
(g) letter from Ian Stewart to Christopher Blunt, manuscript, one folio folded in booklet style, dated from Elysium, Haileybury, but lacking the actual date; there is an approximate date of "June 1954" added in pencil. IS explains that he was unable to attend the Congress on account of cricket. He describes some of his recent coin acquisitions and says that work on his book is moving ahead slowly but surely.
Blunt, Christopher Evelyn
Four letters of Ian Stewart to Christopher Blunt
Part of Personal Papers
Five letters from Ian Stewart to Christopher Blunt:
(a) manuscript, three pages on two folios, dated from 22 Finch Lane, EC3, on 19 March [1960], noting that "the two English coins in the Glenluce hoard [...] have been deliberately chipped down to the weights of the James III groat and half-groat", which in effect makes them Scottish currency, according to [R.B.K.] Stevenson, but he has asked for a cast of the Henry IV groat for CEB. He asks about the presence of Lombardic Rs on London halfpence of the second coinage of Edward III. He notes that he has two with different readings and asks whether CEB would be interested in taking them, "plus perhaps and Anglo-Saxon coin or two, in exchange for the John Baliol half-penny". He is sending the Edward III halfpence in the event that CEB is interested so that he may see them and expresses an interest in learning about their significance.
(b) manuscript, one folio (recto & verso), dated from Camlet House, Hadley Wood, Hertfordshire, on 5 June [1960], explaining his late reply to CEB's letter and his intention to make a cast from his "indifferent Robert III half-groat during a forthcoming visit to the British Museum. He notes that his holiday is subject to factors outside of his control and may preclude his acceptance of CEB's invitation to spend a weekend at Ramsbury in August, but he will let him know. He refers to an "exciting single bear's head half-penny in apparently an Edward II context" and asks whether, in mentioning the new evidence of the single bear's head coin in his paper on Scottish pence of 1280-1357, he may also mention CEB's discovery of the first mint entry for Edward III, which excludes the pence from 1333-1335.
(c) manuscript, one folio (recto & verso), dated from Camlet House, Hadley Wood, Hertfordshire, on 19 June [1960], noting that his "holiday dates are now fixed for late August", which should enable him to take up CEB's invitation for the weekend of 6 August. He expresses regret that he was unable to attend the general meeting of the Royal Numismatic Society, which caused him the miss CEB's address [i.e. the first part of his President's Address for the 1959-1960 session on Ecclesiastical coinage in England, delivered on 15 June 1960, which dates this and the preceding letter]. The last paragraph deals with "the bear's head half-penny hoard" and the efforts of IS to trace its source.
(d) manuscript, one folio (recto & verso), dated from 22 Finch Lane, EC3, on 8 August [1960], thanking CEB "for another most happy & rewarding weekend at Ramsbury, but also especially for the John Baliol ½d." and expressing his gratitude to the ladies of the house for breakfast and for ensuring that he caught his train in Hungerford. The weekend at Ramsbury and the reference to the John Baliol half-penny, in the context of the other letters, make it possible to date the latter to 1960.
(e) manuscript, one folio (recto & verso), dated from 40 Longridge Road, SW5, on 12 October [c. 1960?], thanking Mr Blunt for the opportunity "to attend the Essay Club dinner last evening". He promises to get in touch with CSSL [i.e. Stewart Lyon].
Stewart, Bernard Harold Ian Halley
Four letters from Ian Stewart to Christopher Blunt
Part of Personal Papers
Four letters from Ian Stewart to Christopher Blunt:
(a) letter from Ian Stewart to Christopher Blunt, one folio folded into a booklet (recto & verso), dated from Haileybury on 24 June 1953, thanking CEB for returning his manuscript on Scottish coinage, noting that he also received useful comments from Dr [Humphrey] Sutherland. He discusses various options for publishing it and mentions the need for analogous works on the Irish and Anglo-Gallic series. He says that he knows little of the latter but finds it very attractive; if he were to take it on, he says, it would have to be well into the future. For the Irish coins, he says that Carolyn-Britton would be the one to carry out such an undertaking. In his Scottosh book, IS says that he wants to include an appendix on the English coins of Berwick because they are closely related to the Scottish issues and CEB's article on the subject is not well enough known, though it provides the only accurate classification of the coins. He says that he has prepared a digest of the paper and asks if CEB would agree to its inclusion with an acknowledgement. If so, he will send a copy of the digest for comment.
(b) letter from Ian Stewart to Christopher Blunt, one folio folded into a booklet (recto & verso), dated from Haileybury on 8 July 1953, thanking CEB for sending the Berwick material and stating that he is most interested in the bear's head penny. If it is not 1333-1335, he says, it must be later, with 1344 being the most plausible suggestion, and he pursues the matter at some length, emphasising the importance of Berwick and just how prolific was its mint.
(c) letter from Ian Stewart to Christopher Blunt, one folio folded into a booklet (recto & verso), dated from Haileybury on 1 September [1953], sending a spare copy of his appendix on Berwick in the event that it may be of some use, noting that it is mainly a digest of CEB's own work with a few more recent discoveries added. He asks the weight of CEB's Berwick VII/VI mule, which he is publishing in the next Numismatic Chronicle. He mentions his training for national service and imminent call-up, which will leave him "virtually lost for two years". He describes some of his recent coin acquisitions and comments that his book is now at the proof stage. He asks about the deadline for submissions for the next BNJ and mentions some of his possible contributions.
(d) letter from Ian Stewart to Christopher Blunt, one folio folded into a booklet (recto & verso), dated from Elysium, Haileybury, on 29 November [1953], thanking CEB for sending a copy of his "Anglo-Saxon notes" and sending a copy of his paper in return. He says that he sure about "Heaberht" being right and comments on the distinctiveness of the early [Anglo-Saxon] pennies. He asks for the return of his paper on James III and IV if CEB has any interest in publishing it, as he would like to make a small addition. Having now read Whitton [on Henry VIII], he wonders about the significance of Mr [Herbert] Schneider's crown mule and asks about the possibility of obtaining copies of Whitton on Henry VI or back issues of the Journal.
Stewart, Bernard Harold Ian Halley
Part of Personal Papers
One letter from Christopher Blunt to Ian Stewart and four letters from Ian Stewart to Christopher Blunt:
(a) letter from Ian Stewart to Christopher Blunt, manuscript, one folio (recto & verso) dated from Muswell Hill, London N10, on 3 October [1954], enclosing a potential contribution for the next BNJ and discussing possible illustrations. He notes that he leaves for Portsmouth the next day and says that his book has reached the point where it is now out of his control.
(b) letter from Ian Stewart to Christopher Blunt, manuscript, two folios (recto & verso), dated from Victoria Barracks, Portsmouth, on 22 October [1954], thanking CEB for his letter, which was forwarded to him, and expressing the hope that his paper is of interest but also understanding in the event that there isn't room for it. He says that Mr [Herbert] Schneider has told him of M[rs] Lockett's death and the complications arising from it but noting that "the sale should be of outstanding interest" but doubting that he will be able to afford very much from it. He would like to have a complete record of the Scottish coins before the collection is dispersed. He wonders whom he should approach to ask for permission to do the job, which he suspects would only take a few days. He says that he has been doing some work on the short-cross coinage and expects to produce new material "before [Michael] Dolley starts arranging the BM coins for his catalogue. He describes the series as the only one in which the coins cannot be dated with any accuracy. He says that "Dolley's Swedish discoveries sound interesting" and notes that he has been taking greater interest in the Anglo-Saxon coinage, especially the Northumbrian series. He briefly describes his naval career, suggests that any correspondence be sent to his home.
(c) letter from Ian Stewart to Christopher Blunt, manuscript, one folio (recto & verso), dated from Victoria Barracks, Portsmouth, on 31 October [1954], thanking CEB for his letter and informing him that he is now leaving for Gibraltar and expects to return for Christmas. He notes that his comments in his last letter about the short-cross coinage being the only outstanding undatable series was in reference to post-conquest coinage. He also notes the relative lack, apart from Brooke and CEB himself, of any serious work on the early Anglo-Saxon pennies. He expresses an interest in meeting Robin Porteous and thanks CEB for information about Lockett's coins.
(d) letter from Christopher Blunt to Ian Stewart, manuscript, dated from Ramsbury on 28 November 1954, in reference to Ian Stewart's recent contribution the SCMB [no. 439, Dec. 1954, pp. 507-510] on Sun and Rose. CEB suggests that IS keep an eye out for Byzantine coins if travelling to Constantinople or elsewhere in the Mediterranean, since they can be acquired there much more economically than in London. He mentions the BNS annual meeting and talks about have some photography of the Lockett coins, with sixty-two plates of the entire series from Athelred II to Stephen.
(e) letter from Ian Stewart to Christopher Blunt, manuscript, one folio (recto & verso), dated from H.M.S. Theseus, c/o G.P.O. London,, on 11 December [1954], recounting some of his experiences over the last several weeks. He explains that he sent his Sun and Rose article to Seaby [rather than the BNJ] because of time constraints. He also refers to the recent annual meeting of the BNS and his excitement about the Lockett material. He notes that he may be going to some French ports after Christmas and then to Malta.
Blunt, Christopher Evelyn
Letter from Ian Stewart to Christopher Blunt
Part of Personal Papers
Letter from Ian Stewart to Christopher Blunt, manuscript, three pages on two small folios, dated from Jesus College, Cambridge, on 10 May 1957, noting that he "gathered from Albert B. [i.e. Baldwin] that Fred [Baldwin?] had the idea of publishing the Brussels Scots coins before the Lockett sale" but abandoned the plan once he realised it was impossible. He suggests that the BM would be the best repository for the manuscript. He says that his part in Lockett is now finished, having "pointed out a great number of possible corrections to Fred Baldwin's manuscript", though "not all of them have been incorporated", according to Albert. He mentions his hopes for the upcoming Lockett sale but notes that he is working very and his numismatic interests are in the background. Even so, he wonders whether Alfred's coins with cross on steps may have any connection with him ruling in Northumbria after the death of Guthred, noting that "Siefred's coins of this type are perhaps the earliest of all the Viking coins in Cuerdale".
Stewart, Bernard Harold Ian Halley
Part of Personal Papers
Two letters from Christopher Blunt to Ian Stewart and one letter from Ian Stewart to Christopher Blunt:
(a) letter from Ian Stewart to Christopher Blunt, manuscript, one folio (recto & verso), dated from Hadley Wood, Hertfordshire, on 6 August [1961], informing CEB that he has "been doing some more work on Edw[ardian] pennies [with George Tatler]. He further notes that, on the basis of the inventory of JDAT, five major hoards – Borscar, Lochmaben, Blackhills, Mellendcan, Carsphairn – were discovered around the time that the Foxes were developing their classification, which raises the possibility that their notes may throw some light of the composition of the hoards. He also asks whether the Foxes ever made any unpublished revisions of their scheme, particularly with respect to further subdivisions of the classes. He speaks of his intention to ask CEB's elder children Judith and Simon to a dinner party at short notice and asks of the best way of getting in touch with them directly. He finishes by saying that he intends to remain at Brown Shipley after deciding to give up discounting [?], emphasising however that "this is not yet public knowledge". In a postscript, he says that he has learned a lot from CEB's 'The Anglo-Saxon Coinage and the Historian', which appeared in Medieval Archaeology, vol. 1 (1960), pp. 1-15.
(b) letter from Christopher Blunt to Ian Stewart, manuscript, three pages on two folios, dated from Ramsbury on 11 August 1961, explaining that he has nothing to offer IS from the papers of Earlie Fox, pointing out that he has only a series of notebooks covering the Plantagenet, Lancastrian and Yorkist period. He says that Earle Fox was unwell for some time before he died and did little or no work during that time. Most of his papers must have gone to his brother, he says, and he recount some of the family history, so even though he has the Fox coins, he has virtually no papers. He explains how to get in touch with his elder children and notes that Simon is now working at IBM in the City. He is interested to hear about IS's decision to remain with Brown Shipley, which he describes as a fine merchant-banking firm.
(c) letter from Christopher Blunt to Ian Stewart, manuscript, one folio (recto & verso), dated from Ramsbury on 1 September 1961, saying that he glad to know that IS acquired the Bald[red] fragment and adding that "the moneyer is of course Dunun". He believes that the coin is the second one in Grantley 889 but notes that the bust on his differs from other examples.
Stewart, Bernard Harold Ian Halley
One letter from Christopher Blunt to Ian Stewart with one letter from IS to CEB:
Part of Personal Papers
One letter from Christopher Blunt to Ian Stewart with one letter from IS to CEB:
(a) letter from Christopher Blunt to Ian Stewart, manuscript, four pages on two folios (recto & verso), dated 7 April 1962, expressing appreciation to IS for writing "so fully with [his] views on Pendred" [i.e. a name represented on a small number of coins from the time of Offa (757-796). The consensus of opinion accepts that the piece with the name Pendred was a product of Offa's moneyer Paendraed but there are doubt about the purpose of the object. RHMD [i.e. Michael Dolley] believes that the piece was struck, which would favour an interpretation as coinage, but CEB says that he is keeping an open mind, because if cast the object would be less plausibly a coin. The letter continues at some length to discuss questions about the piece. In a postscript, CEB asks "who has the Copenhagen material", noting the Galster has just sent his historical introduction.
(b) letter from Ian Stewart to Christopher Blunt, manuscript, four pages on one folio folded into a booklet (recto & verso), dated 29 May [1962], which is datable to 1962 on basis of the reference to David Sellwood's presentation at the BNS May meeting (see below; see also the brief note about Sellwood's presentation in British Numismatic Journal, vol. 31 (1962), p. 170; cf. David Sellwood, 'Medieval minting techniques', British Numismatic Journal, vol. 31 (1962), pp. 57-65). In the letter, IS thanks CEB for his postcard from the Pyrenees and agrees that "Jim Stewart's work must be published" [presumably in reference to Prof. James R. B. Stewart (3 July 1913-6 February 1962), who was an Australian archaeologist of Cyprus and the Ancient Near East at the University of Sydney and member of the BNS]. IS refers to an enclosure consisting in an article from an "inaccessible publication", but there is no mention of an author or title. He enthusiastically recounts David Sellwood's presentation at the BNS May meeting in which Sellwood argued that the flans Anglo-Saxon coins were cut from a kind of pastry-cutter from a larger sheet after striking. He also says that Sellwood postulated square-headed dies, with which IS agrees, with a collar, with which he doesn't. IS further notes that RHMD [i.e. Michael Dolley] said that the BM is planning to test the Pendred. In the final paragraphs, IS says that he has been working on the inscriptions of Anglo-Saxon coins from Eadmund to Eadgar, which has led him to forming some ideas about the regional significance of moneyers' names.
Blunt, Christopher Evelyn
Two letters of Christopher Blunt in reply to letters of Ian Stewart
Part of Personal Papers
Two letters of Christopher Blunt in reply to letters of Ian Stewart:
(a) letter from Ian Stewart to Christopher Blunt, manuscript, one folio (recto & verso), dated 1 March [1962], referring to the attached copy of [Derek] Allen's monograph and apologising for the condition of the cover. IS thanks CEB for Trewhiddle, presumably in reference to material or publications on the Trewhiddle (Cornwall) hoard of Anglo-Saxon pennies, found 1774; he also thanks CEB for an Anglo-Saxon dictionary and the loan of other books, and he asks to borrow to CEB's copy of vol. I of Engel and Serrure.
(b) letter of Christopher Blunt to Ian Stewart, manuscript, one folio (recto & verso), dated 4 March 1962, in reply to the preceding letter of Ian Stewart, thanking IS for the Derek Allen monograph and consenting to lend him the Engel & Serrure volume. He says that IS and Stewart [Lyon] have drawn his attention to a question regarding the origin of the so-called "Cuthred" coins between either Mercia and Kent. He states that they fit better in the former and that "the moneyer must surely be EADCAR, explaining some of the difficulties in reading the signature on the coins. He agrees that they have made good progress on Mercia 820-840 and can explain their differences of opinion in a footnote. There is a postscript about ĐES [in the inscription ĐES MONETA] referring to the [money of the] king, but he regards it as the best solution thus far conceived and preferable to reading ĐES as a personal name.
(c) letter from Ian Stewart to Christopher Blunt, manuscript, one folio (recto & verso), dated 8 March 1962, instructing CEB to keep the [Derek] Allen monograph as ha owns the Iron Age publication in which it originally appeared. IS says that he has been discussing the 820s with CSSL [i.e. Stewart Lyon] and they are happy dissociate the "Cuthred" from Kent and assign it to Mercia / East Anglia. He also says that he will give [notes about?] the Copenhagen Viking series to CEB at the next BNS meeting and expresses regret that "Galster's work is wasted" in the interest of reducing the text to "minimum essentials". IS explains his "mistrust of [the] ĐES M[ONETA]" interpretation but allows that it is "perhaps preferable to a moneyer's name". He discusses a "Pendred", favouring its interpretation as a presentation piece and looking forward to CEB's paper on it. In a footnote, he wonders "Bruun 1920" means.
(d) letter of Christopher Blunt to Ian Stewart, manuscript, one folio (recto & verso), dated 10 March 1962, in reply to the preceding letter of Ian Stewart, thanking IS for allowing him to keep the Derek Allen monograph and giving his impressions after seeing the cleaned "Cuthred" at the BM. He acknowledges a previous misreading of the inscription but still dislikes the coin in the Kentish series, preferring East Anglia. There is further discussion of ĐES MONETA and Pendred, and he says that "Bruun 1920" is in reference "to a parcel of coins acquired by Bruun in that year, as distinct from the Bruun gift of 1928".
Blunt, Christopher Evelyn
Part of Personal Papers
Two letters from Christopher Blunt to Ian Stewart with three letters from Ian Stewart to Christopher Blunt:
(a) letter from Ian Stewart to Christopher Blunt, manuscript, one folio (recto & verso), dated 4 March 1963, thanking CEB for his hospitality at Ramsbury, also noting the fine weather.
(b) letter from Ian Stewart to Christopher Blunt, manuscript, two folios (recto & verso), dated 4 March 1963 (same day as the previous item), further commenting on the enjoyable weekend but regretting that Stewart [Lyon] was unable to be there. He thanks CEB for his constructive criticism and helpful comments about die-output.
(c) letter from Christopher Blunt to Ian Stewart, manuscript, single page (recto only), dated 4 April 1963, describing as intriguing the idea that the dies for the Pendred coin were cast and noting that he has now had a chance to consider "the paper by Balog [...] and the evidence of the Caligula large bronze". He says that he has sorted out the early Coenwulf – early Cuthred – Æthelheard more or less to his satisfaction. There are still problems, he says, but the pattern is now clear.
(d) letter from Christopher Blunt to Ian Stewart, manuscript, two folios (recto & verso), dated 2 August 1963, acknowledging receipt of IS's postcard from Ravenna. After thanking IS for sending a [photographic] plate to [George] Tatler, he agrees that they should "get down seriously to blending our papers on Mercia and proposes to meet with IS and Stewart [Lyon] in September to spend some time "putting it all together and settling any points" of difference. He says that the Stewart [Lyon] has sent him IS's paper on the London mint, which he has read but not yet studied in detail; his first impressions are positive but he is concerned more about the practicalities of illustrating the article for publication. He promises to put his ideas on paper and to circulate them in advance of their meeting, noting that he will be going to Rome on 20 September to see part of the forum hoard, newly cleaned, and a "new parcel and possibly exciting parcel" that has turned up. There is a manuscript note on the first page, in Ian Stewart's hand, stating "w/e mid-Oct. |? even 1st week Sept."
(e) letter from Ian Stewart to Christopher Blunt, manuscript, one folio (recto & verso), dated 17 September [1963], thanking CEB for information about the Baldred fragment, noting that the obv. is imilar to Lockett III, 2631. He says that it belongs to what CSSL [i.e. Stewart Lyon] calls "the Rochester group", adding that the moneyers Dunun and Ethelmoth "seem to strike coins of different style and type consistently from the Canterbury group". He mentions "a teasing coin" acquired by R. P. Mack and expresses the hope that CEB's trip to Rome was fruitful. IS does not give the year in his dating of the letter, but his reference to CEB's visit to Rome dates the letter.
Blunt, Christopher Evelyn
Part of Personal Papers
Two letters from Christopher Blunt to Ian Stewart and two sets of notes with two letters and two cards from Ian Stewart to Christopher Blunt:
(a) letter from Ian Stewart to Christopher Blunt, manuscript,one folio (recto & verso), dated from St George's Rd, SE1, on 9 July 1967, thanking CEB for his invitation to Ramsbury in September and giving assurances that he will be able to write up the Loch Doon hoard. He agrees with CEB about the BNS and will speak with MMA [i.e. Marion Archibald] about it if necessary. In the meantime, he is writing to JK [i.e. John Kent] to ask whether he can read a paper during the next session but is waiting to hear from Stewart [Lyon] before doing anything further. He says that he has spoken to FEJ about his joint paper with CEB in January and sets out the provisional programme for the entire year.
(b) letter from Christopher Blunt to Ian Stewart, manuscript, one folio (recto & verso), dated 20 August 1967, noting that IS's St Martin paper just arrived. He says that he will need to consider the arguments and their implications for his study of the Aethelstan coinage very seriously. He will be delighted to have it for the BNJ but his does raise several "trifling points", to which he devotes the rest of the letter.
(c) letter from Ian Stewart to Christopher Blunt, manuscript, one folio (recto & verso), from St George's Rd, SE1, dated 12 October 1967, stating that his St Martin paper is far from finished but enclosing a draft without references, unchecked and with gaps to give CEB the opportunity to make an editorial appraisal and, for IS's benefit, to provide his expert comment. He asks about the deadline for the final version. He also says that CEB may scribble on the copy as necessary and asks that he "pass it straight on to Michael [Dolley] (with a plea to comment and return [...] as soon as possible)". He notes that Dorothy Whitelock does not "seem horrified by a post-918 Lincoln coinage".
(d) notes of Christopher Blunt, manuscript, one folio of lined paper (recto & verso), entitled "The St Martin coins of Lincoln: notes of BHIHS's paper", initialed by CEB and dated 17 October 1967, setting out his comments on the paper. He concludes that IS has not satisfactorily made the case for upsetting the pre-918 dating of the Lincoln coinage, but says that he would be inclined to accept it for the BNJ "as a serious attempt to deal with a difficult problem".
(e) notes of Christopher Blunt, manuscript, two pages on two folios of recycled paper (with the verso being printed pages from Michael Dolley's 1965 article on the Buckingham mint), virtually identical to the previous set but with some variation in wording.
(f) card from Ian Stewart to Christopher Blunt, manuscript, undated but postmarked [25] October 1967, expressing regrets about CEB's lumbago, thanking him for taking so much trouble with the St Martin paper and awaiting comments. He says that the argument hinges on the dating of the literate sword St Peter and explains that quite a few St Peter and St Martin coins have 18th-century pedigrees, which perhaps suggests that these coins derived from an early hoard.
(g) letter from Christopher Blunt to Ian Stewart, manuscript, one folio (recto & verso), dated 28 October 1967, explaining that Michael [Dolley] has returned IS's St Martin paper to him because he wanted to oversight that he believes CEB should have picked up. Apart from that, RHMD "is prepared to go along with [IS] rather more" than CEB is. He goes to comment on the death of Thomas Reddaway, an urban historian of 17th-century London. There is also reference to a Ludica coin, which both CEB and IS thought had a good chance of being genuine, but he says that he has now seen an enlarged photograph that convinces him it is not, and Michael [Dolley] agrees, but he again appeals to IS for his views. He asks that IS deliver the final version of his St Martin paper at the AGM of the BNS.
(h) card from Ian Stewart to Christopher Blunt, manuscript, dated 2 November 1967, commenting vaguely on a Coenwulf coin [and a possible connection with the Ludica coin?]. He asks CEB to send him a note with the titles of his and FEJ's contributions on Stephen hoards as they should appear in the programme. There are annotations in the hand of CEB on the side with address and postmark.
Blunt, Christopher Evelyn
Three letters from Ian Stewart to Christopher Blunt
Part of Personal Papers
Three letters from Ian Stewart to Christopher Blunt:
(a) letter from Ian Stewart to Christopher Blunt, manuscript, one folio (recto & verso), dated 3 June 1964, enclosing the remounted London and Wulfred plates for their article and explaining the manner in which the coins are numbers in the plates. He is returning CEB's Eretcod cast, "since the BM specimen has produced a tolerably good cast"; he prefers to use the BM coin is it is one that he refers to in his text and has never before been illustrated. He notes that his Warwick Group notes turned up in the Balliol boathouse.
(b) letter from Ian Stewart to Christopher Blunt, manuscript, one folio (recto & verso), dated 19 September 1964, submitting an article for the next BNJ but making no reference to a title, stating that it's all he has to offer in the absence of collaborations [in preparation] with [William] Seaby and [RBK] Stevenson. He notes the illustration requirements and asks CEB to fill in two small points in the footnotes, giving the BMC types of the Henry I coins that match Snelling's nos. 19 & 20, presumably VIII or XII, and the lot number for Drabble's Willem-on-Card.
(c) letter from Ian Stewart to Christopher Blunt, manuscript, one folio (recto & verso), dated 6 December 1964, submitting his joint article on the Balleny hoard of Scottish hoard of Scottish groats [with William (Bill) Seaby] and apologising for its messy aspect. He thanks CEB for the hospitality that he recently showed to the Warwick Group and, in a postscript, asks CEB whether he owns a styca of Eanred, moneyer Wintred, transcribing the legend (which is runic or has runic elements); he notes that his collection has two such specimens from the same die and wishes to find a good home for one of them.
Stewart, Bernard Harold Ian Halley
Part of Personal Papers
Two letters from Christopher Blunt to Ian Stewart with four letters and one card from Ian Stewart to Christopher Blunt:
(a) letter from Ian Stewart to Christopher Blunt, manuscript, two full folios (recto & verso), dated from St George's Rd, SE1, on 31 January 1967, explaining that he was unable to join CEB after the last BNS meeting because Mrs [Joan] Murray had come from Cheltenham and adding that "the plan of going via Brit. Acad. for T.T. seems sound". IS thanks CEB for his exhibit and asks about his "plans for unpublishing [!] the sovereign groat", noting its importance "to the whole Henry VII problem". IS says that Stewart [Lyon] has delivered to him the cast of the Scandinavian imitation of Ethelred. He explains that he has written his review of Michael [Dolley]'s Viking Coins but "without regard for the identity or personality of the author", which makes it unprintable in its current form, so he wishes to obtain the views of CEB and Stewart [Lyon] on how much modification it requires. There is lengthy discussion about the feasibility and potential benefits of the sale of offprints by the BNS. He notes that MA [i.e. Marion Archibald] will not be prepared to present her Newstead paper in April, so her paper will be left for January 1968, but IS wonders whether she would be able to contribute a summary note for the BNJ going to press later in 1967, since the definitive publication will be a long way off.
(b) letter from Christopher Blunt to Ian Stewart, manuscript, two full folios (recto & verso), dated 7 February 1967, in reply to Ian Stewart's letter and covering the point raised in turn. CEB answers IS's query about the sovereign groat and asks IS to send him his draft review on the Viking Coins, explaining that Michael [Dolley] readily accepts criticism before publication but becomes more adverse to it "once he has gone to print". CEB then explains his position regarding the sale of offprints by the BNS and expresses his disappointment that MMA [i.e. Marion Archibald] doesn't feel that she can provide her paper for April but says that he would also like a summary account of the find for the BNJ.
(c) letter from Ian Stewart to Christopher Blunt, manuscript, one folio (recto & verso), from St George's Rd, SE1, undated but with a date of 21 February 1967 added in pencil in the upper margin, in square brackets, in CEB's hand. IS resigns himself to MA [i.e. Marion Archibald] presenting her paper in January 1968; he finds the whole thing annoying, above all because he doesn't like tampering with the programme, but doesn't want to press her because that could jeopardise his relationship with her and the British Museum more generally. He refers to an enclosed "note about offprints" to provide a "basis for discussion at [the] next Council, no longer coupled with the letter, and asks whether CEB knows of any hoards besides Hounslow and Hartford that have early coins of Henry VII in quantity.
(d) letter from Ian Stewart to Christopher Blunt, manuscript, one folio (recto & verso), dated from St George's Rd, SE1, on 4 March 1967, expressing his delight that CEB has asked him to join the Sylloge committee. He says that he has received the Renfrew proofs and queries CEB's remarks about the Tutbury hoard. He notes the quality of the [British Numismatic] Journal but adds that "so many short items must have been a headache".
(e) card from Ian Stewart to Christopher Blunt, manuscript, undated but postmarked 20 April 1967 and annotated by CEB as having been answered on 24 April; he apologises "for having done nothing about the Rashleigh Stephen plates" but explains that the Renfrew proofs, which he will be returning to [Horace Herbert] King the next day, have consumed all his time. He says that he has added a note about about Tutbury, thanks CEB for his help and promises to write again soon on Rashleigh. He describes the London Bridge "Davids" as "most interesting.
(f) letter from Ian Stewart to Christopher Blunt, manuscript, one folio (recto & verso), dated from St George's Rd, SE1, on 30 April 1967, enclosing details of the Rashleigh coins and noting that he has assembled some interesting information about coins of David in other hoards. He says that he left NC [i.e. Numismatic Chronicle] at Albany for CEB and stresses the importance of maintaining MA [i.e. Marion Archibald] as treasurer, wondering if John Brand would be able to help, since he is an accountant. He also sends his "much recast and [...] now inoffensive review of Michael [Dolley]'s Viking Coins, again asking CEB to review his text . In two postscripts, he invites CEB to note Seaby, May 1223, presumably in reference to a coin listed for sale, and hopes that CEB has a good trip to Turkey.
(g) letter from Christopher Blunt to Ian Stewart, manuscript, three pages on two folios (recto/verso & recto), dated 28 May 1967, saying that he has now re-read IS's excellent review of Viking Coins. He comments upon the character of RHMD [i.e. Michael Dolley] and his reaction to criticism, notes his appreciation of the way IS dealt with a couple of questions, and then raises a couple of points of his own. He hopes to see IS at the next BNS meeting and thinks that his idea to enroll John Brand in an effort to retain MMA [i.e. Marion Archibald] as treasurer a good one.
Blunt, Christopher Evelyn
Part of Personal Papers
Two letters from Christopher Blunt to Ian Stewart with one letter of Ian Stewart to Christopher Blunt:
(a) letter from Christopher Blunt to Ian Stewart, manuscript, one folio (recto & verso), dated 18 September 1962, saying that the postcard IS sent from the Costa del Sol happily reminded him of Cordoba. He notes that Michael [Dolley] recently left for a fortnight in Stockholm with CSSL [i.e. Stewart Lyon], leaving IS's "Moneta" paper with CEB and asking him to relay his comments, which he does.
(b) card from Ian Stewart to Christopher Blunt, manuscript, dated 29 September 1962, acknowledging receipt of his "Moneta" article and CEB's letter of 18 September 1962. He goes on to discuss some of the finer linguistic points that form the subject of his paper.
(c) letter from Ian Stewart to Christopher Blunt, manuscript, four pages on one folio folded into a little booklet (recto & verso), dated 8 October 1962, noting that he has carried his draft of the Mercia papers as far as he is able without knowing what CEB is writing, since the Mercian and East Anglian series overlap the two papers. Before meeting to coordinate their efforts, however, IS broaches a fresh idea with CEB about the non-portrait and portrait types of Canterbury, asking whether he considers it plausible.
(d) card from Ian Stewart to Christopher Blunt, manuscript, dated 10 November 1962, thanking CEB for the offprint of his presidential address, which will be useful to have. He says that his Mercia manuscript is with CSSL [i.e. Stewart Lyon], who is going to have it typed and will send a copy. He also notes that "Pagan of West School" sent him photographs of two "staggering Delgany coins", presumably in reference to the Delgany hoard of 1874, asking of Pagan "who is he"? In closing, he asks CEB whether he may illustrate his IV/V mule for a paper with [George] Tatler on Edwardian pence. There is a note in red ink in CEB's hand, which reads "Sent to BHIHS 21-11-62".
(e) letter from Ian Stewart to Christopher Blunt, manuscript, one folio (recto & verso), dated 25 November [1962?], sending a final draft – or near final draft – of his Moneta article with just a few points that need to rectified a table and the footnotes. He asks CEB to provide the inscriptions for F. Baldwin's coins, notes that CSSL [i.e. Stewart Lyon] will supply the page reference to Pegge, and asks CEB for the date of Thomen's vol. 3. He says that he has standardised the spellings and taken account of CEB's and RHMD's [i.e. Michael Dolley's] criticisms and comments. NB: IS does not give the year as part of the date; "64?" has been pencilled in next to the rest of the date, but the article to which the letter refers appears in BNJ vol. 31 for 1962, which has a publication date of 1963, so the letter must be earlier, probably 1962.
(f) letter from Christopher Blunt to Ian Stewart, manuscript, one folio (recto & verso), dated "Xmas Eve" only but datable to about 1962 on the grounds that the subject of the letter is an advanced version of IS's MONETA / MOT article, which appeared in the BNJ volume for 1962.
Blunt, Christopher Evelyn
Two letters and one card from Ian Stewart to Christopher Blunt
Part of Personal Papers
Two letters and one card from Ian Stewart to Christopher Blunt:
(a) letter, manuscript, one folio (recto & verso), dated from Founders Court, Lothbury, EC2, on 29 June 1966, expressing his enjoyment of CEB's paper on Aethelstan and complimenting him for his work on the Journal [i.e. BNJ]. He says that he half-filled the [BNS] programme for 1967 in a single evening, noting some of the speakers that he has enrolled, asking CEB's opinion on them, and asking whether he would be willing to talk on "A Numismatic Journey to Russia", mentioning the hoard [?] and describing the scope of the collections. He describes a "BofE" [i.e. Bank of England?] meeting as "most satisfactory" and thanks CEB "again for the instruction & entertainment of your admirable Aethelstan paper.
(b) letter, manuscript, one folio (recto & verso), dated from St George's Road, London, SE1, on 16 December 1966, explaining that he held off in writing in the hope of including his review of [R.B.K.] Stevenson but hasn't quite finished it. He thanks CEB for his three groats, refers to the "fantastic story [...] emerging about Newstead", and thanks him the copy of his letter to Stewart [Lyon]. He thanks CEB for their weekend at Ramsbury, mentions the visit that CEB's son Simon and Simon's wife Julia paid to their house, and wishes CEB Happy Christmas. In a postscript, he says that the 1968 [BNS] programme is filling up and asks whether CEB will want to read a paper. He says that he may try his St Peter & Sihtric paper for half of an evening and suggests that another another 10th century paper would be appropriate.
(c) card, manuscript, undated but datable to late 1966 on the grounds that it picks up on an element of the discussion in IS's letter of 16 December and refers to a forthcoming encounter on the 4th of January. IS states that he will book a BNS paper meeting for the two of them in 1968 and suggest January, adding that "Metcalf, Lyon, Pollard, Rayner/Liddell & Dolley" are already provisionally lined up. He says that 4 January would suit him and says that he will come along with Stewart [Lyon] as soon as possible after work. He promises to give CEB "details of the two Davids" and asks him to bring his copy of the NC [i.e. Numismatic Chronicle] volume for 1851. In the last line, he says "poor, poor FEJ", wondering what is to be done.
Stewart, Bernard Harold Ian Halley
Part of Personal Papers
Two letters from Christopher Blunt to Ian Stewart with two letters from Ian Stewart to Christopher Blunt:
(a) letter from Ian Stewart to Christopher Blunt, manuscript, one folio (recto & verso), dated 3 January 1963, thanking CEB for his letter and "for having settled the outstanding points on the Moneta paper", promising to incorporate the recommended corrections. He notes that he is enclosing two pairs of casts, one of the Erebald on Eden from the BM and the other "a Sheldon coin from the same obv. die", asking whether it would be possible to prepare a slide and a print of all four casts together for the January BNS meeting. He further remarks that MD [i.e. Michael Dolley] provided the Sheldon cast, who instructed that no one else should know anything about them. IS believes that the cast was made from a coin in the possession of the Duke of Devonshire and, through his daughter, is seeking "to get a sight of it". He asks whether CEB has seen a copy of the Canterbury and Rochester sections of Mercia from CSSL [i.e. Stewart Lyon].
(b) letter from Christopher Blunt to Ian Stewart, manuscript, one folio (recto & verso), dated 6 January 1963, recounting the practicalities of preparing the requested slide and photo. He says that he believes the Sheldon hoard to be at Chatsworth. He doesn't understand all the secrecy about it, but says that the Duke of Devonshire has a very good librarian named Thompson and that he "would not have expected any difficulty fora responsible person to see the coins". He asks IS to let him know how things develop. He says that he has seen the Canterbury and Rochester sections and agrees that they must meet to discuss it, perhaps at Ramsbury.
(c) letter from Christopher Blunt to Ian Stewart, manuscript, one folio (recto & verso), dated 13 January 1963, explaining that the weekend of 2-3 March would be suitable for a meeting and hoping that Stewart Lyon will be able to come. There is a reference to the rescheduling of the BNS meeting and a brief account about the visit(s) of [Hugh] Pagan and [Nicholas] Rhodes, noting that "Pagan didn't like the Ludica" [i.e. a coin of the king of Mercia, 826-827]. He also says that he is still awaiting the photographs, because the people who develop them have a backlog, but he expects to have them by the 22nd.
(d) letter from Ian Stewart to Christopher Blunt, manuscript, one folio (recto & verso), dated 14 January 1963, saying that CSSL [i.e. Stewart Lyon] will be able to attend their meeting of 2-3 March. There is discussion of their work on Mercia and the proposal that all their work be merged together since the points of disagreement are few and insignificant. He says that Stewart Lyon showed him a letter from [Hugh] Pagan with information on the two coins from the Delgany hoard and on the Ciolheard solidus. Before any reading of the paper on the solidus, IS believes it would be wise to consult [Philip] Grierson for his views, since he is the only person able to put this isolated gold coin in wider perspective. He notes that he will be discussing the Erebald stuff with Michael [Dolley] on the following evening and thanks CEB for arranging the photograph(s).
Blunt, Christopher Evelyn
Part of Personal Papers
Two letters from Christopher Blunt to Ian Stewart with two letters from Ian Stewart to Christopher Blunt:
(a) letter from Christopher Blunt to Ian Stewart, manuscript, one folio (recto & verso), dated 12 January 1964, stating the [Horace Herbert] King [editor of the BNJ] "is most anxious to get our article" because it will come first and go straight to page proofs, which means that he cannot send anything to the publisher until he has it. He also says that he has received some interesting charter information on Beornwulf from Dorothy Whitelock to the effect that he never described himself as king in Kent, and he considers the implications of the new information. He promises to show IS the letters from DW and mentions an upcoming Sylloge meeting. He also reports that his contribution to their joint article is now being typed and asks IS where he would like to receive the draft.
(b) letter from Christopher Blunt to Ian Stewart, manuscript, one folio (recto & verso), dated 15 February 1964, reporting that he is sending their Mercian paper to Stewart [Lyon] and asking him to pass it on to IS along with the covering letter. The only outstanding issue, he says, is the one about the Coenwulf / Ceolwulf die-links highlighted by IS. He notes that Michael [Dolley] published and illustrated it in BNJ vol. 28, p. 247, asking whether IS or Stewart [Lyon] does not accept it. CEB also asks IS to review a book for the BNJ. In a postscript, he says "I think you'll have to call me Christopher. Everyone else does!" Until now, IS always began his letters "Dear Mr Blunt".
(c) letter from Ian Stewart to Christopher Blunt, manuscript, two folios (recto & verso), dated 16 March 1964, in which IS attempts to explain the nature of his differences with Michael [Dolley], but he says that he doesn't wish to belabour the point or to make an issue of it in public, so he encloses an emendation of the crucial paragraph. He notes that [Horace Herbert] King also wants a footnote about Coenwulf's "triple aura" type. IS had understood that this could be inserted at proof stage, but since that is not the case, he asks whether he may send King a version of the note on which he and Stewart [Lyon] agree with the understanding that it may need to adjusted in proof to satisfy CEB.
(d) letter from Ian Stewart to Christopher Blunt, manuscript, one folio (recto & verso), dated 9 Mary 1964, acknowledging that his fragment is "Grantley lot 958", a sword type from Baldwin, and suggesting that someone, either CEB or Michael [Dolley], should write up the whole series. There is a further paragraph that is cryptic without the full context. It contains reference to Murdock, asking CEB whether he could illustrate it from his card index, and thanks his for writing to Derek Lockett while IS reports that he has written to Mack.
Blunt, Christopher Evelyn
Six letters from Ian Stewart to Christopher Blunt
Part of Personal Papers
Six letters from Ian Stewart to Christopher Blunt:
(a) letter from Ian Stewart to Christopher Blunt, manuscript, one small folio (recto & verso), dated 20 March 1965, again sending his paper for the BNJ, apparently following a mishap of some sort. IS says that the new version differs somewhat from the earlier one and is perhaps a fraction longer. He again asks CEB to resolve a couple of issues for him in a footnote and appendix. The first concerns the BMC type(s) of the Henry I coins that match Snelling's nos. 19 & 20, which should be XII or VIII or both, while the second concerns the dates of publication of the separate parts of Snelling's English works. There is a note in Christopher Blunt's hand in the upper right margin of the recto, just below the date, that reads: "Sent letter 1[5]/4"
(b) letter from Ian Stewart to Christopher Blunt, manuscript, four pages on two small folios (recto & verso), dated 4 July 1965, enclosing an offprint of an article in the Numismatic Chronicle sent to press two years earlier, noting that the the production phase for BNJ publications is much shorter. He remarks about the last BNS meeting and [Hugh] Pagan's paper presentation, which he describes as "very competent, but a little hard to follow for complexity", thinking that it will prove a comprehensive piece of work on paper. He suggests rearranging their "die-link exhibit" for September and apologises for having kept some of CEB's Scottish early coins for so long. He proposes an exchange for the Scottish coins, giving CEB an Eadred penny of the moneyer Sperlink with three chips along the edge, "as if used in a broach or somesuch", but describing it as a "tolerable specimen". He remarks on current coin prices, saying that "the future isn't very bright for the student collector".
(c) letter from Ian Stewart to Christopher Blunt, manuscript, four pages on two small folios (recto & verso), dated 25 July 1965, thanking CEB for his letter and addressing the points raised in turn. IS notes that he has given an offprint [of their joint article] to D.J.V. Fisher, a "v. good Anglo-Saxonist" who was IS's tutor at Cambridge. He agrees with CEB that [Hugh] Pagan's paper was difficult to follow but "gave the impression of profound and intricate study", which "should look much better in print". He also agrees with CEB's suggestion to "exhibit the die-link at the October meeting", adding that "Stewart Lyon will bring photographs of other coins from the same obv.". He then acknowledges CEB's kindness in agreeing to a trade involving 3½ Scottish sterlings and refers to an enclosure consisting in "the three types of David I and also the William the Lion in exchange". He says that the Eadred coin of the moneyer Sperling (or Swerling) is from the Seaby Bulletin, 1948, no. 3327, and would make a good companion to CEB's coin of Eadwig. IS agrees to sell the coin to CEB based of a valuation of Albert Baldwin for an exchange between friends. IS notes that he does not own a copy of Ekwall, presumably in reference to Prof. Eilert Ekwall's dictionary of English place-names, and greatly appreciates CEB's offer of it as a gift. He says that he is returning the manuscript [of his joint paper with R.B.K. Stevenson] on the Rhoneston hoard, briefly describing the changes, and he asks about the Dublin proofs and whether CEB wants a review of Michael [Dolley]'s Viking Pennies. In closing, he wishes CEB luck in the Archbishop Sharpe sale, in which he is not competing.
(d) letter from Ian Stewart to Christopher Blunt, manuscript, one small folio (recto & verso), dated 9 October 1965, asking whether Edmund Grant Blunt was of the same family because he has a small Lincoln cabinet with his name on the bottom. If so and CEB wants the cabinet, IS asks only for something similar in return. He says that [Charles Wilson] Peck has written suggesting his "nomination as Director of the BNS if Stewart [Lyon] is duly promoted to the Chair", and he asks CEB's advice and opinion on the matter. The recto has a note in Christopher Blunt's hand in the upper right margin below the date that reads: "Ans 11/10".
(e) letter from Ian Stewart to Christopher Blunt, manuscript, one small folio (recto & verso), dated 4 December 1965, asking whether CEB has noticed the Ramsbury token for sale in Seaby's December Bulletin, no. 160. He says that he has discussed CEB's idea for a Hastings centenary and asks whether a paper by [Peter] Sawyer on the English coinage after the conquest wouldn't be appropriate. He also asks to hold onto CEB's volume of PSAS [i.e. Proceedings of the Society of Antiquities of Scotland] a little longer because he has been preoccupied with "BNJ proofs and going through the Scottish Border section of [R.P.] Mack's paper", presumably in reference to his submission on Stephen for the 1966 volume. He describes the paper as "terribly incomplete" and "out-of-date", with numerous examples missing, and he recommends that the text undergo the scrutiny of Elmore Jones, [Michael] Dolley or "someone who knows about these things". There is a note in the upper right margin of the recto in Christopher Blunt's hand that reads: "Ans 6/12".
(f) letter from Ian Stewart to Christopher Blunt, manuscript, one small folio (recto & verso), dated 11 December 1965, noting that he has received "an appreciative letter" from [R.P.] Mack and is now "sure [that] his going to be as conscientious as he can". IS says that he was "amused (and ashamed)" by CEB's "remark about the danger of an absolute pro doing potted [?] historical sections". He asks CEB when the paper is due to appear in the BNJ and whether he has seen [Michael] "Metcalf's review of Gerasimov on Andronican hyperpera in HBN", quoting some of its more disparaging passages.
Stewart, Bernard Harold Ian Halley
Part of Personal Papers
Two letters from Christopher Blunt to Ian Stewart and three letters from Ian Stewart to Christopher Blunt:
(a) letter from Christopher Blunt to Ian Stewart, manuscript, one folio (recto & verso), dated 2 September 1968, replying to a query about short-cross mint accounts in the Fox notebooks. CEB encloses a photographic slide that shows what there is in summary form; he will show IS the actual notebook when he visits on the weekend of the 14th. The slide and original envelope in which the letter and slide were sent are attached.
(b) letter from Ian Stewart to Christopher Blunt, manuscript, one folio (recto & verso), dated from St George's Rd, SE1, on 18 September 1968, thanking CEB for the roses groat and making passing references to [Horace Herbert] King and Stewart [Lyon]. He regrets that he is very doubtful about the forthcoming Sylloge Committee meeting due to being "terribly short-staffed at the bank". He notes their enjoyment of the weekend.
(c) letter from Christopher Blunt to Ian Stewart, manuscript, two small folios (recto & verso), dated 1 November 1968, asking IS for his views on a point of difference between Michael [Dolley] and himself over a William I coin of the PAXS type in the Stockholm Sylloge. He explains the issue at some length, apologises for bothering IS with the problem but notes that time is short if they are to have the volume ready for the Reading Congress in March. In a postscript, he comments upon "a satisfactory meeting with OUP", about which he has written to CSSL [i.e. Stewart Lyon] in detail.
(d) letter from Ian Stewart to Christopher Blunt, manuscript, one folio (recto & verso), dated from St George's Rd, SE1, but without the date, which is added in CEB's hand in square brackets: "[c. 9 Nov. 1968]". IS agrees that the comment of Michael [Dolley] about the William I PAXS coin cannot stand as it is but must be either abbreviated or expanded, and he gives some possible formulations. He welcomes CEB to refer to his support. There is a note in upper right margin of the recto in CEB's hand to the effect that he acknowledged the letter on 13 November.
(e) letter from Ian Stewart to Christopher Blunt, manuscript, one folio (recto & verso), dated from St George's Rd, SE1, on 15 November 1968, enclosing an offprint and part of a paper on Scottish mints for the Baldwin volume on which he asks CEB to comment. He is also anxious "that it doesn't conflict with [CEB's] ideas about English Berwick". Because it's his last copy, he asks for its return as soon as possible and for the comments to be made in a particular manner. In a postscript, he asks whether CEB would second [Robert B. K.] Stevenson for the BNS.
Blunt, Christopher Evelyn
Part of Personal Papers
One letter from Christopher Blunt to Ian Stewart and four letters from Ian Stewart to Christopher Blunt:
(a) letter from Ian Stewart to Christopher Blunt, manuscript, one folio, dated from Ewelme on 1 February 1970, congratulating CEB on the latest volume of the [British Numismatic] Journal but noting a blemish in his contribution on Ethelred and asking rectification could be slipped into a miscellanea plate in the Journal this year or next. He expresses enthusiasm about the possibility of seeing mint figures for the early 18th century from [Peter Alan] Rayner and/or [John P.C.] Kent, hopes that "the MD [i.e. Michael Dolley] problem is sorting itself out, and noting that the death of FB [i.e. Albert Henry Frederick Baldwin, d. 12 January 1970] has led to the discovery of all the unsold Scottish coins from the Brussels hoard. In a postscript, he says that he is happy to learn that CEB's work on Athelstan will appear as a Special Publication of the Royal Numismatic Society. There are annotations in CEB's hand on the recto, with one in the upper margin
(b) letter from Ian Stewart to Christopher Blunt, manuscript, one folio, dated from St George's Road, London SE1, on 16 February 1970, thanking CEB "profoundly" for his "very kind & generous" present of "the die-linked pseudo Ethelred". He apologises for inadvertently missing the Sylloge Committee meeting, thanks CEB for the Ethelred photographs and comments that it may be better to use casts for the miscellanea plate. He also hopes for a resolution to the the Irish problem and "the miserable predicament which exists at present".
(c) letter from Ian Stewart to Christopher Blunt, manuscript, one folio, dated from St George's Road, London SE1, on 20 March 1970, saying that he enjoyed CEB's survey of St Edmund and enclosing his "miserably few examples" in case they are of interest. He expresses his view that the coinage is not "a city coinage of a patron saint like St Peter, Martin etc." and looks forward to seeing the paper in print. He also warns that he will not attend the next BNS meeting and asks CEB to give Michael [Dolley] "the enclosed note of apology for his missing paper". In a postscript, he asks whether it is a "fair criterion that Cuerdale St Es have A [with an inverted circumflex crossbar] and later A [without crossbar].
(d) letter from Ian Stewart to Christopher Blunt, manuscript, one folio, dated from St George's Road, London SE1, on 2 April 1970, assuring CEB that he is in no hurry for the return of his St Edmunds [i.e. coins] and agreeing that these coins likely derive from a number of different mints but wondering what the inscription INR means. He considers the notion that the "Rex Do Alfred St Edmunds" were struck at Canterbury but tends towards the view of Michael [Dolley], who suggests East Anglia. He asks whether Marion Archibald is aware of the proposed invitation to join the Sylloge Committee, and expresses satisfaction that she asked him to do the Scottish element of the Colchester hoard. He says that "she is now in an understanding & cooperative frame of mind" but feels that "the BM's Dollophobia is unabated". He also states that, in view of his other commitments, he is unlikely to have his short-cross article ready for the next BNJ, but does have one or two short pieces that would be suitable. In a postscript, IS enquires about BNJ offprints.
(e) letter from Christopher Blunt to Ian Stewart, typescript (carbon copy), one folio (recto & verso), dated 6 April 1970, in reply to IS's letter of 2 April, beginning with discussion of Michael Dolley's reference about the possibility that the REX DO coins were struck in East Anglia. He goes on to say that Marion Archibald has been invited to join the Sylloge Committee but she has declined without stating a reason, though he adds that IS can probably guess the reason and says that Michael [Dolley] "is completely mystified". He is pleased that IS is doing the Scottish component of the Colchester hoard and that the BNJ would be delighted to have it in principle but notes that Michael [Dolley] now wants "to be consulted on everything. He tells IS not to worry about the short-cross article because the journal may have more than it can manage, but he asks IS not to broadcast as much since room can always be made for good-quality material. CEB notes that he has had several enquiries about offprints and has written to Dublin about it but has not yet had any reply.
Blunt, Christopher Evelyn
Part of Personal Papers
One letter from Christopher Blunt to Ian Stewart and four letters from Ian Stewart to Christopher Blunt:
(a) letter from Ian Stewart to Christopher Blunt, manuscript, two folios (recto & verso), dated from St George's Road, London SE1, on 18 March 1972, evidently in reply to an invitation to come to Ramsbury, with IS noting that his family will be away in Rhodes during the second half of April. He asks CEB to give his apologies to the Sylloge Committee. He wonders whether there is "any chance of BM/Norwich disgorging some of the 300 duplicates from the Morley St P[eter] hoard to other museums" and about Peter Sawyer's opinion of the index volume. He notes the "marvellous review of Petersson in BNJ by B.M. [i.e. Brita Malmer?] and thanks CEB for offering "something on pseudo-Athelstans". He comments favourably on the subject of "Ruskin on coins" and is pleased to learn that "there will be offprints from the D.W. Festschrift".
(b) letter from Ian Stewart to Christopher Blunt, manuscript, one folio (recto & verso), dated from St George's Road, London SE1, on 8 April 1972, welcoming CEB's "offer of a talk on some [his] earlier numismatic acquaintances" and commenting on CEB's report about the Sylloge Committee meeting.
(c) letter from Ian Stewart to Christopher Blunt, manuscript, one folio (recto & verso), dated from St George's Road, London SE1, on 29 August 1972, expressing delight over his florin pennies and thanking CEB for allowing him to see his many 15th-century treasures, leaving "duly fortified for EC2 and mumps"!
(d) letter from Ian Stewart to Christopher Blunt, manuscript, one folio (recto & verso), dated from St George's Road, London SE1, on 18 October 1972, reporting that "Brian Warwick has offered [him] a Doubleday Ed III post-treaty ½ groat from the same obv. as his Henry IV, so he mentions to CEB in the event that he would like it. He expresses concern that, after the last Sylloge Committee meeting, it seemed the numismatic function of the proposed index was in danger of being neglected, since it must facilitate searches of reign, type, mint, moneyer and/or combination of these.
(e) letter from Christopher Blunt to Ian Stewart, manuscript, two folios (recto & verso), dated 23 October 1972, thanking IS for bringing the Edw III ½ groat to his attention as he would like to have it. There is reference to an oversight apparent in the Lessen catalogue and suggests the [Eric] Harris has a sharp eye for variants in the relevant series. CEB says that he stayed out of discussions over the index at the Sylloge Committee meeting, "partly because Michael dolley is so touchy about any suggestions in it that do not conform with his own ideas". He also wishes to avoid imposing "too great a burden on the person who will be doing the work" [i.e. Mrs Sharp?], since it will be "a fairly mammoth task". He agrees that what IS proposes would be best but is doubtful about asking her to go into such detail. The letter continues with discussion about various aspects of the proposed index.
Blunt, Christopher Evelyn
Part of Personal Papers
Two letters from Christopher Blunt to Ian Stewart and three letters from Ian Stewart to Christopher Blunt:
(a) letter from Ian Stewart to Christopher Blunt, manuscript,one folio (recto & verso), dated from St George's Rd, SE1, on 2 February 1968, reporting that he is "in the middle of M's Irish Edw. I", probably in reference to an unpublished paper presumably of Michael Dolley [?], expressing doubts about the "dating indices and the Irish output volume", and delineating his doubts at some length. In view of his doubts, IS suggests that an Irish specialist such as [David] Dykes would be more appropriate to referee the paper than, say, Peter Woodhead, but he will ask CSSL [i.e. Stewart Lyon whether he agrees]. IS says that he will do the Numismatic Literature summaries but asks whether HS [i.e. Herbert Schneider?] wants summaries of papers that appear in journals other than the BNJ and NC. A note in the upper right margin of the recto in CEB's hand suggests that he answered on 7 February, but there is no CEB letter of that date among the Stewartby papers.
(b) letter from Christopher Blunt to Ian Stewart, manuscript, two small folios (recto & verso), dated 24 April 1968, remarking on Ian Stewart's St Martin paper and stating that he finds the "arguments about the ordering of the types of the St Peter [coins] most satisfying". CEB nevertheless notes that IS has wrongly "avoided giving a deposit date to Morley St Peter", adding that he finds c. 925 difficult to accept, stating his reasons at some length and expressing his interest in learning IS's views on the matter. CEB also comments positively on the paper that IS read at the BNS and advises that he will be in Portugal so IS shouldn't expect a reply to any letter. In a postscript, he says that [Horace Herbert] King has spoken to him about giving up the editorship [of the BNJ] but he has so far persuaded him to stay on; he stresses that they must someone to work with him at first and then take over from him, and he suggests that IS may like to think about this.
(c) letter from Ian Stewart to Christopher Blunt, manuscript, one folio (recto & verso), dated from St George's Rd, SE1, on 27 April 1968, thanking CEB for the proof corrections to his St Martin paper and the interesting letter. He discusses a few editorial points and then comments on CEB's appealing thoughts about early Aethelstan, which he will be interested to follow as they develop. He says that he will think about candidates for the editorial work, remarks on the death of [Charles Wilson] Peck and wishes CEB "a good fortnight in Portugal". A note in the upper right margin of the recto in CEB's hand suggests that he answered on 5 May, but there is no CEB letter of that date among the Stewartby papers.
(d) letter from Christopher Blunt to Ian Stewart, manuscript, three pages on two short folios (recto & verso), dated 21 June 1968, stating that he has also received "a somewhat hysterical letter from Michael [Dolley?] alleging that an editorial meeting had been held without his knowledge and complaining bitterly", a day after CEB had written to him to suggest that a meeting is needed for the summer. He feels that Michael "is jumping to conclusions on evidence that is clearly inadequate". He otherwise thanks IS for his postcard and agrees to speak at the BNS if needed but offers to withdraw if the programme fills up substantially. He suggests two alternatives: (1) mint output in the long- and short-cross coinages, or (2) North/Southampton from Athelstan to Edward the Martyr.
(e) letter from Ian Stewart to Christopher Blunt, manuscript, one folio (recto & verso), dated from St George's Rd, SE1, on 30 June 1968, suggesting that later August or early September would be best for prospective weekend visit to which CEB has invited him. He thanks CEB for the list of papers, commenting briefly on some of them. He informs him that he is putting his "Closeburn" paper "into cold storage" but encloses a brief note for the next BNJ. He remarks on the Sylloge [committee] meeting with reference to CHVS [i.e. C. Humphrey V. Sutherland] and EJW [i.e. Edgar J. Winstanley] and notes that he is "recovering from the shock of recently discovered Brussels material at Baldwins". A note in the upper right margin of the recto in CEB's hand suggests that he answered on 3 July, but there is no CEB letter of that date among the Stewartby papers.
Blunt, Christopher Evelyn
Part of Personal Papers
Three letters from Christopher Blunt to Ian Stewart with one card and two letters from Ian Stewart to Christopher Blunt:
(a) letter from Christopher Blunt to Ian Stewart, manuscript, two pages on two folios of recycled paper (recto only), dated 2 December 1972, commenting on IS's review of Michael Dolley's Medieval Anglo-Irish coins.
(b) card from Ian Stewart to Christopher Blunt, manuscript, dated 8 December 1972, thanking CEB for his comments on the review, promising to take account of them and elaborating on the significance of documentary references in the close rolls to denarii hiberniae, which he argues need not refer specifically to Irish pennies.
(c) letter from Christopher Blunt to Ian Stewart, manuscript, one folio (recto & verso), dated 14 December 1972, hoping to be able to deliver a gift [?] personally "to avoid the visit you propose", adding that "the two little coins come with [his] best wishes". He says that "the florin penny appears not to be recorded by Fox" so he is unable to say whether "he had it when he wrote". He describes the other as "a poor thing" that may fill a gap in IS's collection.
(d) letter from Ian Stewart to Christopher Blunt, manuscript, one folio (recto & verso), dated from St George's Road, London SE1, on Boxing Day 1972, describing the Henry IV penny as "one of the most unexpected and exciting Christmas presents [he] can ever remember having received". He also thanks CEB for Durham XVI with retrograde N, and he asks to say whether it will be too much for him to do Athelstan by about July.
(e) letter from Christopher Blunt to Ian Stewart, manuscript, one folio (recto & verso), dated 27 December 1972, thanking IS for his part in the Edw III ½ groat. He says that he was touched by the proposals for a sep[arate?] American [birthday?] volume, but the form must be for "you all to decide". He also discusses plans to get the Athelstan volume finished by the end of May, and will try to engage a girl with the capacity to deal with both his writing and the unusual terminology of numismatics.
(f) letter from Ian Stewart to Christopher Blunt, manuscript, one folio (recto & verso), dated from St George's Road, London SE1, on 31 December 1972, expressing pleasure to know that CEB finds the prospect of the birthday volume as happy as do many of his friends. He suggests that CEB use the same person for his typing that IS uses, a Miss Victoria Stileman who is a family friend and works at the Ashmolean. He goes into some detail about the working arrangements that he has with her.
Blunt, Christopher Evelyn
Three letters from Ian Stewart to Christopher Blunt
Part of Personal Papers
Three letters from Ian Stewart to Christopher Blunt:
(a) manuscript, one folio (recto & verso), dated from St George's Road, London SE1, on 8 March 1969, expressing satisfaction with the latest volume of the [British Numismatic] Journal, especially [Herbert] Schneider's contribution. He asks CEB to convey his apologies to the Sylloge Committee in the event that he is unable to attend the forthcoming meeting. He also comments on the new Colchester hoard and the Mayfield hoard, hoping that MMA [i.e. Marion Archibald] "will publish some of the wonderful hoards in her care". There is a note in the upper right margin of the recto, in CEB's hand, to the effect he answered the letter on 11 March, but there is no CEB letter of that date among the Stewartby papers.
(b) manuscript, one folio (recto & verso), dated from St George's Road, London SE1, on 12 October 1969, advising that his plans are subject to the demands of his mother's illness, which is very serious. He also says that he will be unable to accept CEB's dinner invitation on the following evening but may be able to join them in time for coffee at about 9pm. In reply to a letter of CEB, he says that he would prefer not to review the RS [i.e. Robert Sevenson] sylloge because he declined to review it for the Numismatic Chronicle, he is not very familiar with the volume and is anxious about taking on any additional work under the present circumstances. He says that his short-cross paper must also be put on hold due to "domestic troubles" His only contribution to the current BNJ with therefore be his part of the Loch Doon paper.
(c) manuscript, one folio (recto & verso), dated from St George's Road, London SE1, on 8 November 1969, expressing satisfaction that CEB finds the BNS programme agreeable. He says that they cannot visit Ramsbury on the dates that CEB suggests but would be happy to accept an invitation for after Christmas. He also confesses that he is awaiting a paper of MD [i.e. Michael Dolley] "with some misgivings", adding that "he really does seem badly off balance now". He describes the BA [i.e. Brititsh Academy] row as "lamentable". In closing, he asks CEB whether he ever managed to obtain offprints of Reddaway's last paper.
Stewart, Bernard Harold Ian Halley
Part of Personal Papers
One letter from Christopher Blunt to Ian Stewart and three letters from Ian Stewart to Christopher Blunt:
(a) letter from Ian Stewart to Christopher Blunt, manuscript, one folio (recto & verso), dated from St George's Road, London SE1, on 10 January 1971, thanking CEB for his invitation and asking about arrangements. He looks forward to discussing the editorship and agrees that John Brand would make a good [BNS] officer.
(b) letter from Ian Stewart to Christopher Blunt, manuscript, one folio (recto & verso), dated from St George's Road, London SE1, on 31 January 1971, referring to a coin that he describes as interesting because it is overstruck, has unusual typology and has an inscription ending in a form of ND that he wasn't able to find anywhere. He offers the coin to CEB since he is more likely to identify it and thanks him for the enjoyable weekend. In a postscript, he says that it is a third of a penny that he acquired from Seaby in 1955 but has no pedigree.
(c) letter from Christopher Blunt to Ian Stewart, manuscript, single page, dated 14 March 1971, saying that he will soon need to tell his co-editors of the BNJ about his intention to step down from the editorship as soon as the volume now in press is done. He says that he will be happy to help his successor but is not prepared to act as a buffer between the new editor and [Michael] Dolley, stressing that his main reasons for stepping down are that he has been editing the BNJ for too long and that he finds dealing with Dolley increasingly difficult and unpleasant and wishes to rid himself of that unpleasantness. He writes to IS rather than Stuart Rigold because already knows the background; he welcomes him to show the letter to Rigold but otherwise asks that he treat it the matter in confidence.
(d) letter from Ian Stewart to Christopher Blunt, manuscript, one folio (recto & verso), dated from St George's Road, London SE1, on 18 March 1971, acknowledging that it would right for CEB to advise his co-editors in haste since some "fairly prompt moves" will be necessary to ensure the smooth operation of the BNJ. He also says that CEB is "right about not being a buffer" and sympathises with him that [Michael] "Dolley's behaviour has been such an unnecessary burden. He hope that leaving the editorship will give CEB more time to pursue his own work.
Blunt, Christopher Evelyn
Part of Personal Papers
One letter from Christopher Blunt to Ian Stewart and three letters from Ian Stewart to Christopher Blunt:
(a) letter from Ian Stewart to Christopher Blunt, manuscript, one folio (recto & verso), dated from St George's Road, London SE1, on 7 July 1971, thanking CEB for some sale catalogues and commenting on an enjoyable weekend. In a postscript, he says that CEB's gift has made him owner of a Grantley catalogue, which had enabled him to see that his coin of Offa is not Grantley 822 as he had thought but a die-duplicate.
(b) letter from Christopher Blunt to Ian Stewart, manuscript, one folio, dated 12 July 1971, wondering whether IS's supposed die-duplicate of the Offa coin (= Grantley 822) may be the one he saw at Baldwin's in 1957, which later came into "the collection of a man called C.A. Childers of Sheltisham" [?], who he says sold some of his coins. He notes that it doe-links with other coins, including one that Lawrence described as coming from false dies, but CEB regards IS's example as genuine and says that it is a very nice addition to his collection. CEB says that he has written [Patrick] Finn [at Spink] about an Athelstan coin and there follows discussion of the price being asked for it. He says that there is no word from Michael [Dolley] since 6 June, despite having sent him letters that call for an answer, and asks IS to let him know if he hears anything.
(c) letter from Ian Stewart to Christopher Blunt, manuscript, two folios (recto & verso), dated from St George's Road, London SE1, on 18 July 1971, enclosing a paper for BNJ vol. 40, which he thinks will be his only contribution. He says that CEB's information adds to what he knows about the Offa coin, noting that that "the Lawrence 'forgery' was new to [him]". He asks about Metcalf's reference to the "Astronomer 84" coin, noting that "it could be RCL 347 ex PCB or BMC 9". He refers to an enclosure the notes "Ealred coins by dies" and, in closing, is "glad to hear that MD is communicado again". There is a lengthy postscript, occupying the better part of one full folio, that deals with "WJA's Reading theories about the Stefanus R die" – in reference to W.J. Andrew (1859-1934), who was writing 1903-1934 and published several articles touching upon the coinage of Stephen during that time – and IS's preparations of the illustrations and references for his Stefanus R article in the Numismatic Chronicle. The attached note, in manuscript in pencil, is entitled "Offa's coins of Ealred", undated, with diagrams that show or suggest the progression of four obverse and five reverse types.
(d) letter from Christopher Blunt to Ian Stewart, manuscript, one folio, dated 4 August 1971, thanking IS for his paper at the BNS. He
says that, according to his notes, "Astronomer 84 = PWCB 1602 = Lockett 347, now Ashmolean". The Astronmer sale, he adds, was in 1906. He warns IS about "a nasty forgery floating around if Alfred BMC IX moneyer Ælfstan", promises to make arrangements for a cast to be made of his X/IX mule at the British Museum and encloses his copy of the Dolley-Goddard paper in PRIA [i.e. Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy], which IS had asked to borrow. He also says that he "got the two Athelstans" and, in a postscript, notes that "correspondence with Ireland still strangely one-sided".
(e) letter from Ian Stewart to Christopher Blunt, manuscript, one folio (recto & verso), dated from St George's Road, London SE1, on 8 August 1971, enclosing "the Bristol plate with [his] ideas about sub-calasses pencilled in". He also thanks CEB for the information about Astronomer and the Alfred forgeries, and for arranging the cast of his mule at the BM. He asks to keep the PRIA paper for a little while, notes that he has sent MD [i.e. Michael Dolley] a draft on Hiberno-Norse for comment and wonders when he will hear from him. He expresses his disappointment that his paper for the BNJ on Victorian bronze coins was "relegated to Miscellanea". He hopes to see [Michael] Metcalf in Oxford when he goes Ewelme and remarks on CEB's acquisition of the Athelstans. In a postscript, he notes an enclosure of another instalment of the Naxos hoard with two Londe Civitas.
Blunt, Christopher Evelyn
Letter from Christopher Blunt to Ian Stewart and two letters from Ian Stewart to Christopher Blunt
Part of Personal Papers
Letter from Christopher Blunt to Ian Stewart and two letters from Ian Stewart to Christopher Blunt:
(a) letter from Ian Stewart to Christopher Blunt, manuscript, one folio (recto & verso), dated from St George's Rd, SE1, on 11 December 1968, asking CEB to check a reference in the Ducatus Leodiensis reputed to state that there were coins of William I in the Bramham Moor hoard. He suspects that the references may be to coins of William the Lion, whose coins were not recognised in 1756, and further wonders whether coins of David I and Malcolm IV might have been in the hoard.
(b) letter from Christopher Blunt to Ian Stewart, manuscript, one folios (recto & verso), dated 22 December 1968, with an enclosure of some sort that is not clearly described. He thanks IS for coming to their "little party in Albany on Friday", referring also to Lady Stenton. There are annotations in pencil in Ian Stewart's hand on the verso.
(c) letter from Ian Stewart to Christopher Blunt, manuscript, one folio (recto & verso), dated from Southwark on 29 December 1968, saying that it was kind of CEB to remember "Tingstäde" [Gotland, Sweden] for him. He says that, since returning to Ireland, M [i.e. Michael Dolley] had sent him the plates, and he wonders whether there is still time for corrections. In the event that there isn't, he makes several suggestions (about which he has also written to M). He says that his next paper for the BNJ, subject to checking a few points, is done, and he promises the final version in a week or two.
Blunt, Christopher Evelyn
Part of Personal Papers
Two letters from Christopher Blunt to Ian Stewart and four letters from Ian Stewart to Christopher Blunt:
(a) letter from Christopher Blunt to Ian Stewart, typescript (carbon copy), one page, dated 18 May 1970, thanking IS for his letter of 14 May, which does not appear to be among the items that CEB arranged to be returned to IS after the death of the former. CEB states that he knows only three specimens of the Alfred of Exeter [coin]: BMC 79, Morley St Peter hoard and Brittell's. He says CENARD cannot be regarded as an Athelstan moneyer of Exeter, since "the coin on which the British Museum Catalogue is relying is in fact one of those crude north eastern types and cannot [...] have been issued at Exeter". He says that the four Sigeland coins of which he is aware equally are not of Exeter. He also looks forward to seeing IS at the Sylloge Committee meeting on the following afternoon, when he will give him copies of the Exeter section of the forthcoming Copenhagen Sylloge.
(b) letter from Ian Stewart to Christopher Blunt, manuscript, one folio (recto & verso), dated from St George's Road, London SE1, on 20 May 1970, thanking for the Athelstan information and asking whether CEB can tell him who the Exeter moneyers were and what were their types. He then provides a short list of other pre-reform (Edgar) examples of Exeter that he has noted with their moneyers. The point of his immediate reply, however, is to ask whether the Copenhagen Sylloge "is beyond correction" and propose a correction based on his reading of no. 462, which he transcribes as HVNNIONMEALM and identifies with the moneyer HVNNA of the mint of Malmesbury. If it is too late to add a note for the entry, he asks whether he may "politely point it out in [his] Exeter paper"?
(c) letter from Christopher Blunt to Ian Stewart, typescript (carbon copy), one page, dated 22 May 1970, naming the Exeter moneyers of Athelstan as Abun and Raegenold. He says that the Copenhagen Sylloge is probably beyond correction but thanks IS for "bringing it to notice", confides that he is inclined to accept the reading and promises to raise the matter with [Michael] Dolley. He says that as long as the Exeter paper appears after the Sylloge, "there can be no possible objection to [...] mentioning it".
(d) letter from Ian Stewart to Christopher Blunt, manuscript, one folio (recto & verso), dated from St George's Road, London SE1, on 13 September 1970, resigning himself to the fact that he will be able to offer the next BNJ only "a (rather dull) piece on Alex III". He asks CEB whether he is a potential contributor to the 1971 BNS programme and remarks upon the passing of Tony Thompson [d. 3 September 1970]. He adds that he was reading on that very day the joint article of CEB and JDAT on 'Forgery in the Anglo-Saxon series', BNJ, vol. 28 (1956), pp. 18-25 & pl. I , noting that he has acquired a product of their 19th-century forger. There is a note in the upper right margin of the recto in CEB's hand to the effect that he answered the letter on 17 September, but there is no CEB letter of this date among the Stewartby papers.
(e) letter from Ian Stewart to Christopher Blunt, manuscript, one folio (recto & verso), dated from St George's Road, London SE1, on 13 December 1970, congratulating CEB on the excellent new [British Numismatic] Journal and asking whether he has a review of Petersson's Anglo-Saxon Currency for the next one. He says the Philip [Grierson] has sent him a photocopy of a review by [Brita] Malmer in English translation, which would be valuable to have published, noting that it runs to thirteen pages. There is a note in the upper right margin of the recto in CEB's hand to the effect that he replied to the letter on 16 December, but there is no CEB letter of this date among the Stewartby papers.
(f) letter from Ian Stewart to Christopher Blunt, manuscript, six pages on three full folios (recto & verso), dated from St George's Road, London SE1, on 30 December 1970, expressing his satisfaction about arrangements for the Malmer review. There is brief comment on "the NORĐ coin" and then a lengthier one on potential editors for the BNJ and officers for the BNS; he makes a few suggestions but worries that, "with M[ichael Dolley] an active editor, weight and patience are needed, and diplomacy". The subject moves to the future of the BNJ and the BNS, given "that there seems to be a missing generation of numismatists, say, between the ages of 40 and 60. He notes the "growing stature and maturity" of Marion [Archibald], "both numismatic and personal", praises her handling of the Colchester project and remarks on the quality of her papers to the BNS. He concludes by saying that "it would be good for the subject, the Society and the BM if she would come occupy the central position which distinguished predecessors have done". There is a note in the upper right margin of the recto in CEB's hand to the effect that he answered the letter on 8 January [1971], though there is no CEB letter of this date among the Stewartby papers.
Blunt, Christopher Evelyn
Part of Personal Papers
Three letters from Christopher Blunt to Ian Stewart and four letters from Ian Stewart to Christopher Blunt, one with an attachment:
(a) letter from Ian Stewart to Christopher Blunt, manuscript, one folio (recto & verso), dated from St George's Road, London SE1, on 14 March 1973, with one attachment, returning a paper of Christopher Blunt (i.e. the attachment), briefly commenting upon it and recommending that he publish it. He also sends two unidentified offprints and apologises that he will be on holiday in mid-May and must therefore miss the BNS meeting at which CEB will share his reminiscences. Finally, he expresses the hope that Victoria Stileman, the typist that CEB engaged to turn his Athelstan manuscripts into typescript, is proving her worth.
(b) paper entitled "Privy Marking and the Trial of the Pyx", manuscript, six pages on six folios of lined paper (recto only), undated and unattributed, but clearly in CEB's distinctive hand, attached to IS's letter of 14 March 1973 (described above). CEB eventually published the paper as 'Privy-marking and the trial of the pyx', in Studies in numismatic method presented to Philip Grierson, ed. C.N.L. Brooke . . . [and others] (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1983), pp. 225-230.
(c) letter from Ian Stewart to Christopher Blunt, manuscript, one folio (recto & verso), dated from St George's Road, London SE1, on 10 July 1973, expressing satisfaction that Victoria Stileman is coping with CEB's Athelstan text and advising on remuneration. He also sends a [coin] fragment, which he describes as "much too miserable a thing to be dignified as a birthday present", but would like to CEB to have it. In closing, he mentions the "encouraging news about [the] BM Sylloge".
(d) letter from Christopher Blunt to Ian Stewart, manuscript, one folio (recto & verso), dated from Ramsbury on 1[8] July 1973, thanking IS for his advice about Victoria Stileman and for the Athelstan [from the moneyer] Berngar, noting that there was a coin of this moneyer in the Skye hoard and another in the Forum hoard.
(e) letter from Ian Stewart to Christopher Blunt, manuscript, one folio (recto & verso), dated from St George's Road, London SE1, on 30 July 1973, thanking CEB for his hospitality and for his generous gift of a York penny and Henry IV groat. IS then asks CEB to keep the rosette/OXO imitation, though not in exchange because it is "ridiculously unequal".
(f) letter from Christopher Blunt to Ian Stewart, manuscript, one folio (recto & verso), dated from Ramsbury on 6 August 1973, commenting on IS's recent visit to Ramsbury and discussing various numismatic issues before noting that he goes to America for about a month on the 23rd.
(g) letter from Ian Stewart to Christopher Blunt, manuscript, one folio (recto & verso), dated from St George's Road, London SE1, on 16 September 1973, stating that he "found this bomb on [his] City desk" and is delivering it to Albany for his return. He says that Herbert S. [i.e. Schneider] was over and that he "learned all sorts of fascinating things from him". IS then asks CEB whether he has a copy of WJWP [i.e. Potter] on Richard II AV. He says that he has been looking through the Fox papers on 1327/44 that CEB lent him and may have found some interesting (new?) things that he would like to discuss with Peter Woodhead. He also says that Michael [Dolley] has written about being stuck in Scandinavia until October and therefore not being able to speak at the BNS, adding that he has asked him to read a piece on Sihtric Caoch and an Hiberno-Norse note but conceding that he can hardly understand them. He says that found the two enclosed papers among his papers, having presumably inadvertently picked them up with his, and apologises if CEB has been looking for them. He closes by saying that he has been looking into privy marks again and would like to do something with CEB on the subject at some point in the future.
(h) letter from Christopher Blunt to Ian Stewart, manuscript, one folio (recto & verso), dated from Ramsbury on 28 September 1973, noting that he failed to respond to a point in IS's letter of 16 September. CEB tells IS to feel free to show the Fox notes to Peter Woodhead and to discuss them with him, also noting other Fox material relevant to IS's lines of enquiry. CEB does not believe that he has a copy of Potter on Richard II AV but suggests that IS approach [Edgar] Winstanley or [Michael] Metcalf.
Blunt, Christopher Evelyn
Part of Personal Papers
One letter from Christopher Blunt to Ian Stewart and four letters from Ian Stewart to Christopher Blunt, one with attachments:
(a) letter from Christopher Blunt to Ian Stewart, manuscript, two pages on two folios (recto only), dated 1[9] January 1975, asking IS to look at two Scottish coins from the Winchester [Cathedral] Car Park hoard (Numismatic Chronicle 1961, p. 187 & pl. 24) and provide reverse readings to the extent possible, which will help him to complete his report with Michael Dolley on the excavations. He also notes, incidentally, that the reference to BH [i.e. Brussels Hoard] 84 for no. 18 looks wrong, but further states that he will not be referring to BH numbers in the new report. There is then lengthy discussion of "an amusing 'crumb' on Emary", which CEB realised when looking at the catalogue for the sale Walter Wilson's coins at Sotheby's on 26 July 1847. One lot consists in "a small square mahogany medal cabinet (five drawers) lined in velvet, adapted for 'Denarii' size; formerly Emary's of Hastings", and CEB considers some of the implications of this. CEB then replies to the queries of IS about the sun and rose pence of RCB and Hunter before commenting on the Offa link.
(b) letter from Ian Stewart to Christopher Blunt, manuscript, one folio (recto & verso), dated from the House of Commons on 27 January 1975, giving CEB his readings of the two Scottish coins from the Winchester [Cathedral] Car Park hoard. He comments briefly on the "fascinating sidelight on Emery" and then says that he anticipates being asked to write a piece about Sussex mints for a volume on the county during the Anglo-Saxon period. He would be interesting in contributing something with "a bit of originality" and asks to discuss the the period before Edgar's reform with CEB, especially on the question of whether it may be possible to attribute unsigned coins to Sussex mints with any confidence.
(c) letter from Ian Stewart to Christopher Blunt, manuscript, one page (recto only), on House of Commons letterhead but lacking the actual date; the letter may be dated to shortly before 25 February 1975 on the basis of a manuscript annotation, in CEB's hand, which reads "Ans 25/2/1975". IS thanks CEB for his "very thorough notes on Chichester & Lewes" and expresses relief "that Iohan of Edmund is to be deleted". This part of the letter ends abruptly but there is an additional manuscript note in pencil in IS's hand and signed "Ian", which states that he has not yet been able to resolve domestic arrangements for Easter but thanks CEB for the invitation and asks if he may fill him in on the details before too long.
(d) letter from Ian Stewart to Christopher Blunt, manuscript, one folio (recto & verso), on House of Commons letterhead, dated 5 March 1975, returning a note of Michael [Dolley] and expressing interest in CEB's "comments to Michael about Anlaf's flowers". There follows discussion about plans for coming to Ramsbury for Easter. In a postscript, IS notes that he dictated the enclosed text on "The Barnstaple mint and its moneyers" (see item (e) below) to Peter Mitchell's secretary and asks CEB to make any appropriate corrections, comments, additions, etc., adding the Peter [Mitchell] might have already sent him an uncorrected copy.
(e) "The Barnstaple mint and its moneyers" (attached to item (d) above), typescript, six pages on six folios (recto only) plus a manuscript table in one page on a further folio, undated and unsigned. There are two copies, one uncorrected carbon-copy on lightweight and the other a photocopy on heavier paper with interlinear manuscript corrections in IS's hand.
(f) letter from Ian Stewart to Christopher Blunt, manuscript, one folio (recto & verso), dated from St George's Road, London SE1, on 2 April 1975, thanking CEB for "the two Henry half-pence" and for their lengthy discussions about numismatics during his stay [at Ramsbury]. He reports that Michael [Dolley] rang and left a message with his secretary that he must not leave Barnstaple out. He asks "what on earth can be going on" and hopes to speak with MD "while he is over". In a postscript, he refers to an enclosure that "raises a lot of questions in view of the new taxes".
(g) letter from Ian Stewart to Christopher Blunt, manuscript, one folio (recto & verso), dated from the House of Commons on 17 June 1975, saying how much his family enjoyed their [recent?] visit to Ramsbury. He thanks CEB for the coins of Henry VIII and comments that "there is still a good deal to learn from them". He encloses his "piece on Henry VII", hoping that it resuscitated the sovereign groat. In a postscript, he says that he would like to see CEB's "Brescia Mia" [?] again if it goes into typescript.
Blunt, Christopher Evelyn
Part of Personal Papers
Four letters from Christopher Blunt to Ian Stewart and one letter from Ian Stewart to Christopher Blunt:
(a) letter from Christopher Blunt to Ian Stewart, manuscript, one folio (recto & verso), dated from Ramsbury on 22 February 1976, adding to what he wrote on the previous day [?] by recounting the history of the Crockerton coin hoard, from near Warminster, found in March 1972, during the three and a half years that it took for the reward to reach the finders. There is a manuscript note in the upper right margin of the recto, in pen in the hand of IS, which reads: "Treasure Trove File"; in the upper left margin is the number "13" encircled.
(b) letter from Christopher Blunt to Ian Stewart, manuscript, one folio (recto & verso), dated from Ramsbury on 23 March 1976, writing about a "surprise" ruling of the [British] Academy Council on the "Start in Fund" [?] and about the possible publication of Philip Grierson's collection. He refers to the Secretary being harassed by the Council over money, proposes that they try to compile some facts and figures, and asks IS how he would like to proceed. He also notes that he is enclosing a draft of the minutes regarding the matter for IS to edit and improve before he sends it to Dorothy [Whitelock]. In the upper letter left margin is the number "17" in manuscript.
(c) letter from Christopher Blunt to Ian Stewart, manuscript, one folio (recto & verso), dated from Ramsbury on 24 May 1976, writing that he has received a helpful reply from Dorothy W. [i.e. Whitelock], who makes suggestions. His impression is that she thinks they are on the right track. He also notes that she sound a Searle reference that had eluded him and promise to let IS if hears anything further from Spinks about the Lucas family.
(d) letter from Christopher Blunt to Ian Stewart, manuscript, one folio (recto & verso), dated from Ramsbury on 8 September 1976, noting his delight that IS thinks the plan for a 10th-century volume is a "starter" and adding that Stewart [Lyon] feels the same. CEB's idea is that they should aim to publish it around the same time as the Sylloge volumes in 1979. He refers to two enclosures: one is a list of the buyers of lots in the [Derek] Allen sale and the other is a photocopy of a parcel of coins in SNC [i.e. Spinks Numismatic Circular] from May 1910 that he just obtained from Spinks. He suspects that the parcel "is the source of most of the coins in NK [?] recorded as bought by Evans ex Spink – and note that BMC 221 adds specifically ex Shillington". He asks for the return of the photocopy and notes that he just received proofs of the plates from OUP for the Wessex Sylloge, which he promises to show IS, and he thanks IS for proving him with a reference.
(e) letter from Ian Stewart to Christopher Blunt, typescript (carbon-copy), dated 28 October 1976, noting an enclosure of "a copy of a letter from the Chief Secretary to the Treasury which came out of the blue and goes a very long way towards meeting the points which I made to him earlier this year". He suugests that CEB may be interested to see a copy of a statement that IS made to the press about it. He also asks that CEB provide comments for the Minister "concerning the working of the proposed Committee".
Blunt, Christopher Evelyn
Part of Personal Papers
Five letters from Christopher Blunt to Ian Stewart and four letters from Ian Stewart to Christopher Blunt:
(a) letter from Ian Stewart to Christopher Blunt, manuscript, single page, dated from the House of Commons on 7 February 1977, returning "the T.T. memo and 957/9 + photocopies" and sending "the rest of A/S gold", noting that he would welcome any comments and criticisms.
(b) letter from Christopher Blunt to Ian Stewart, manuscript (carbon-copy), four pages on four folios (recto only), dated 12 February 1977, thanking IS for returning the papers and commenting at length on his draft on Anglo-Saxon gold.
(c) letter from Christopher Blunt to Ian Stewart, manuscript, one folio (recto & verso), dated from Ramsbury on 25 March 1977, writing that he has been through IS's draft introduction; he suggests a couple of paragraphs and makes a few comments on it. He mentions running into David Wilson while he was working at the BM and talking to MMA [i.e. Marion Archibald]. He says that he enquired about the Sylloge, suggesting that it should be a British Museum publication and have a longer introduction than other volumes and further enquiring about the prospects for a later volume. CEB says that the Sylloge Committee warmly supported the idea of MD [i.e. Michael Dolley] doing such a thing as long as the project had British Museum approval. He also states that DW "was obviously fully aware of the problems and made it clear that he backed his Keeper", noting that "he described MD as 'a disruptive influence' and [...] expected trouble" over the keepership vacancy, all while MMA was there. CEB says that he was surprised by all this and when he said so, DW answered that Michael was trying to move to Ireland. CEB notes that he has labelled his letter "in confidence" for obvious reasons but says that he will tell Dorothy [Whitelock] about and invites IS to tell Philip [Grierson]. He also talked with DW about the Lausanne gold penny. On the recto, in the upper left margin, there is a manuscript note in CEB's hand that reads "Confidential", underlined. The letter is accompanied by a carbon-copy on two folios (recto only).
(d) letter from Christopher Blunt to Ian Stewart, manuscript, one folio (recto & verso), dated from Ramsbury on 2 April 1977, advising IS that his draft needs a few alterations. He notes that Rev. George Musgrave was Lord of the Manor of Shillington and not the vicar., and that Commander and Mrs Lucas recently took up residence in the Manor following the death of his mother. Once they have an agreed draft, CEB suggests to "try it in Spinks", asking them if they would have any objection to their telling Commander Lucas about their problem and enquiring whether he produce evidence of the marriage. He says that he "wouldn't like to write without their assurances because" he feels that they might "have been given the name of Lucas in confidence". In closing, he asks for the return of the carbon. There are traces of typescript on the verso, running almost perpendicular to the manuscript.
(e) letter from Ian Stewart to Christopher Blunt, manuscript, single page, dated from St George's Road, London SE1, on 16 April 1977, stating that Douglas Liddell had casually told him "that the 'Shillington' parcel came from one of two brothers Lucas who, like his grandfather, was in the church and who lived at Lewes". IS suggests that they send the draft to DL, saying that they are planning to offer it to the Numismatic Circular and asking him whether to submit it to Mr Lucas and about the propriety of contacting the commander. IS notes that he is now working on Droitwich and asks the meaning of the name of the Worcester moneyer PICINC. In connection with this, he states his interest in illustrating the Hunter "two sceptres" coin and asks from whom should he seek permission. In a postscript, he hopes that CEB enjoyed his holiday and expresses excitement about an unnamed hoard of early pennies.
(f) letter from Christopher Blunt to Ian Stewart, manuscript, three pages on three folios (recto only), dated 8 May 1977, thanking IS for his letter and expressing his satisfaction that IS has found time to work on Droitwich. He comments on a paper of Mark Blackburn, the options for illustrating the Hunter "two sceptres" coin, the suggestions of Dorothy W. [i.e. Whitelock] for the Sylloge and IS's interesting idea about the name PICINC. There is also discussion of the Shillington note, a copy of which CEB says that he sent to Douglas Liddell, of matters relating to their work on the 10th-century volume, and of the constraints of the Act under which the BM operates in regard to the disposal or exchange of anything that is not an absolute duplicate.
(g) letter from Ian Stewart to Christopher Blunt, manuscript, one folio (recto & verso), dated from St George's Road, London SE1, on 1 June 1977, agreeing that Mark Blackburn "seems to be the best prospect for a long time". He asks whether it would be convenient to visit Ramsbury at the end of August and refers to the agreements they have reached [with Stewart Lyon] on questions of format, presentation and style [in their joint work on the 10th century]. There is a note in pencil in the upper right margin, in CEB's hand, which reads: "Ans 7/6".
(h) letter from Christopher Blunt to Ian Stewart, manuscript, one folio (recto & verso), dated from Ramsbury on 13 June 1977, enclosing a first draft on the cross and rosette type for a joint paper with CSSL [i.e. Stewart Lyon]. He has also sent copies to him and to MMA [i.e. Marion Archibald] and they would appreciate any comments. He also encloses his suggestions for the make-up of their volume, and there is discussion of other guests [who will be at Ramsbury when IS visits]. The letter concludes with CSSL's fundraising ideas for the BNS and a reference to a forthcoming BNS meeting.
(i) letter from Ian Stewart to Christopher Blunt, manuscript, one folio (recto & verso), dated from the House of commons on 15 June 1977, noting that the Shillington proof was sent to Stockwell and asking for CEB's help in gathering together casts for Droitwich illustrations. He agrees with some of CEB's suggestions about format and style for their 10th-century volume but raises further questions to be addressed. He says that he may not be able to attend the BNS meeting as he expects to be tied up in the House of Commons. There is a manuscript note in the upper right margin, apparently in CEB's hand, which reads: "Ack 24/6".
Blunt, Christopher Evelyn
Part of Personal Papers
Four letters from Christopher Blunt to Ian Stewart and three letters from Ian Stewart to Christopher Blunt:
(a) letter from Ian Stewart to Christopher Blunt, manuscript, one folio (recto & verso), dated from St George's Road, London SE1, on 6 October 1973, congratulating CEB on his receipt of an AMH [?] medal and noting how infrequently it has been awarded to English numismatists. He says that he has just returned from Dublin, where he picked up a copy of the MD [i.e. Michael Dolley] publication on Irish history in the 12th-14th centuries but wasn't able to understand much of it. He also asks CEB about "the irony of MD being unable to read his paper of Edgar's reform at the Michaelmas meeting in 1973".
(b) letter from Christopher Blunt to Ian Stewart, manuscript, one folio (recto & verso), dated from Ramsbury on 8 October 1973, thanking IS for his congratulations advice, commenting on Michael Dolley's Irish history and conceding that he had not appreciated the significance of the Michaelmas 1973.
(c) letter from Christopher Blunt to Ian Stewart, manuscript, one folio (recto & verso), dated from Ramsbury on 26 October 1973,
discussing arrangements for exhibits.
(d) letter from Christopher Blunt to Ian Stewart, manuscript, one folio (recto & verso), dated from Ramsbury on 28 October 1973, thanking IS for reminding him of two references. He expects trouble "with our friend" but feels fortified [by information that IS has passed to him]. He mentions that Lowick has found a kufic coin from the Cuerdale hoard, which encourages him to trace as many of these as he can and record them properly, noting that there are six in Liverpool.
(e) letter from Ian Stewart to Christopher Blunt, manuscript, one folio (recto & verso), dated from St George's Road, London SE1, on 10 November 1973, expressing his support of CEB's suggestion for the exhibits. He reports finding "an Edward small ('blundered inscr.')" that reads +GODRCCONGEPIITI and asks CEB whether he would like to publish it along with his William I [in the BNJ]. He expresses interest in CEB's plans to record the kufic coins from Cuerdale. He also mentions seeing a Flanders sterling of Robert de Bethune with the Scottish type in CEB's [coin] trays and asks whether he may have a cast of the coin. He says that he collating material on the profile/mullet sterling imitations.
(f) letter from Ian Stewart to Christopher Blunt, manuscript, one folio (recto & verso), dated from St George's Road, London SE1, on 21 December 1973, thanking CEB for "such a marvellous Christmas present ... [of] Count Robert's coin", which he says is so close to Bruce's that "it must have been directly inspired". IS also thanks CEB for a copy of his Cuerdale note, comments on the "marvellous run of coins still at Downham", and mentions John Brand's return home "after a painful time". He says that he has acquired "the little (centre of a) Rainalt hand/Karolus ex F.B." and offers to CEB if the type is not already represented in his collection.
(g) letter from Christopher Blunt to Ian Stewart, manuscript, three pages on two folios (recto & verso), dated from Ramsbury on 27 December 1973, thanking IS for sending the Seaby book with Whitton's articles and discussing some finer points about referencing a particular collection. He recounts the ongoing Christmas holiday at his house and says that he is "still having trouble with Michael [Dolley] over demonetisation". He notes that he is supposed to be reading at the BNS on the Bath hoard next month and plans to add discussion of the Kintbury hoard because it was found within six years of the other hoard and was closed within an even shorter interval. He says that he has now managed to identify some of the coins from Kintbury and has discovered that he even owns one of them.
Blunt, Christopher Evelyn
Part of Personal Papers
Two letters from Christopher Blunt to Ian Stewart with various attachments and two letters from Ian Stewart to Christopher Blunt with various attachments:
(a) letter from Ian Stewart to Christopher Blunt, manuscript, one folio (recto & verso), dated from the House of Commons on 5 September 1975, noting that he enjoyed re-reading CEB's "Vikings" on which he has made a few comments in pencil. He sends a paper of his own entitled "The early period" to CEB for comment (see item (b) below), noting that he has also sent a copy to Michael [Dolley], who he suspects will disapprove on the grounds that it represents an intrusion on his preserve. He nevertheless explains that he initially "devised this for [his] own records" after "trying to cope with Exeter, Barnstaple & the Sussex mints without a simple scheme of types [...] and found that it saves endless space and confusion". He then complains that "a trivial thing" that he submitted to the BNJ for Miscellanea in late 1973 has not yet reached the proof stage, noting that Michael [Dolley] is also anxious and wondering whether Hugh [Pagan] needs a little support. He finally refers to an enclosed note from Denzil Davis following their meeting (see item (c) below).
(b) "The early period" (attached to item (a) above), typescript (photocopy), two pages on two folios (recto only), undated and unsigned, but there is a manuscript annotation in the upper right margin, in CEB's hand, that reads "Sussex mints, BHIHS".
(c) letter from Denzil Davies [Labour MP & Treasury Minister from 17 June 1975], typescript, single page, dated from Treasury Chambers on 31 July 1975 (attached to item (a) above), in reply to IS's letter of 9 July [1975] to Bob Sheldon [Labour MP & Treasury Minister from 18 October 1974] about the Mint Museum. Denzil Davies notes that he read Dr [John] Kent's memorandum and that careful thought is being given to it as the Mint considers proposals for a Mint Museum. He expects to have the full study before him "fairly soon" and therefore refrains from making any comment on Dr Kent's memorandum.
(d) letter from Christopher Blunt to Ian Stewart, manuscript, single page, dated from Ramsbury on 26 September 1975, enclosing his correspondence with Peter Seaby as well as notes of what he has in mind to say [at a BNS meeting] (see items (e-g) below). He describes it as "not an easy discussion" and appears to refer to political machinations within the BNS.
(e) letter of Peter Seaby to Christopher Blunt, typescript, single page, dated 11 September 1975 (attached to item (d) above), offering to read a paper at the BNS "on the 'York' group of Stephen's irregular issues", introducing his main lines of argument, enclosing notes that show "in what direction [his] mind is working" (see item (f) below), and asking CEB to comment upon the notes. He also asks CEB whether he has an offprint of his paper with FEJ [i.e. F. Elmore-Jones] on 'Two Wiltshire coin hoards in the time of Stephen' that he can spare.
(f) "The 'EBORACI' coins of Stephen's reign and related issues", typescript (photocopy), five pages on five folios (recto only), undated and unsigned but identifiable as the notes to which Peter Seaby refers in his letter of 11 September (see item (e) above).
(g) letter from Christopher Blunt to Peter Seaby, manuscript (carbon copy), two pages on two folios (recto only), dated 26 September 1975 (attached to item (e) above), thanking Peter Seaby for his letter with notes on the curious coins of Stephen. He encloses in return his paper with FEJ [i.e. F. Elmore-Jones] from the WAM [i.e. Wiltshire Archaeological and Natural History Magazine]. He acknowledges that the series is difficult but expresses his opinion that it cannot be dissociated from Northumbria, and he goes on at some length to justify his opinion, but he adds that he is not an expert on Stephen and his comments may have little validity. In a postscript, he notes that Ian Stewart would be interested to see what Peter Seaby had written and hopes that he has objection to CEB having shown the notes to him.
(h) letter from Christopher Blunt to Ian Stewart, manuscript, one folio (recto & verso), dated from Ramsbury on 3 December 1975, enclosing a draft of his paper to the RNS [i.e. Royal Numismatic Society], which is entitled "Viking coinage in England to 954" (see item (i) below), and asking IS for comments and corrections. He notes that he had to differ with [Michael] Dolley on some points, so he needs his facts to be straight, and he add that it will be obvious how much he owes to IS, Stewart [Lyon] and Hugh [Pagan].
(i) "Viking coinage in England to 954" (attached to item (h) above), typescript (copy), twenty-one pages on as many folios (recto only), undated and unsigned but identifiable as CEB's paper that he referred to in his letter of 3 December.
(j) letter from Ian Stewart to Christopher Blunt, manuscript, one folio (recto & verso), dated from the House of Commons on 20 December 1975, enclosing his revision of the section on Athelstan – Edgar for his paper on Sussex (see item (k) below) and another passage (see item (l) below) on which he would like to have CEB's comments.
(k) "The early period" [i.e. the Athelstan – Edgar section for IS's Sussex paper], typescript (photocopy), four pages of text plus a further two pages of notes and/or references and a manuscript table on seven folios (recto only), undated and unsigned but identifiable as the paper to which IS refers in his letter of 20 December.
(l) untitled passage on Widia, the first moneyer of Steyning, typescript (photocopy), single page, undated and unsigned but identifiable as the passage to which IS refers in his letter of 20 December.
Blunt, Christopher Evelyn
Part of Personal Papers
Two letters from Christopher Blunt to Ian Stewart and two letters and a card from Ian Stewart to Christopher Blunt:
(a) card from Ian Stewart to Christopher Blunt, manuscript, dated from St George's Rd, London SE1, on 12 February 1974, asking CEB to see the Numismatic Chronicle volume for 1932, pl. XI.14 and remark at the foot of p. 107, which he had missed. He says that the British Museum as a die-duplicate that is ex-Balcolmbe. He further says that he doesn't have NC 1898 but asks whether the report [of the Balcolmbe find] makes any reference to the coin in question. On another matter, he notes that he has been speaking with Stewart Lyon about Eadmund / red / wig / gar, a subject they hope to pursue at Ramsbury.
(b) letter from Christopher Blunt to Ian Stewart, manuscript, one folio (recto & verso), dated from Ramsbury on 14 February 1974, stating that there is nothing comparable in the 1898 report [on the Balcolmbe hoard] to the coin illustrated in the Lawrence paper in NC 1932. He suggests that IS look at lot 156 in the forthcoming Glendinings sale of 13 March, and discusses the example.
(c) letter from Christopher Blunt to Ian Stewart, manuscript, one folio (recto & verso), dated from Ramsbury on 6 June 1974 "(D-Day in 1944!)", making arrangements to meet with IS at the City University Club on the 12th at 12.45. He thanks IS for his advice about the introduction of MM [i.e. Michael Metcalf] and mentions the necessity of treating the matter delicately. He says that he has read IS's Caistor note and observes that "every reference relies on the Astronomer sales catalogue, lot 189, which gives as reference Ruding, pl. 20.8". He says that the description "corresponds and is convincing", noting that the moneyer's name reads as LEOFMANN. He adds that, according to his notes, "RCL 672a is ex Burstal 70 ex Stockholm duplicates", which suggests that there is a die duplicate in Stockholm; he further notes that "a cursory glance at BEH doesn't throw one up, but it could well be a later acquisition". In closing, he thanks IS for taking an extra copy of his [Pyr... Illustrations?], which he is glad to have "because one so easily ... forgets what one has (often labouriously) worked out".
(d) letter from Ian Stewart to Christopher Blunt, manuscript, one folio (recto & verso), dated from the House of Commons on 13 June 1974, thanking CEB for a copy of Asser but focusing on [Michael] Metcalf's paper, the text of which he describes as "much improved", but he promises to bear in mind CEB's doubts about it when forming his own judgment, which he will report at the next sylloge meeting.
(e) letter from Ian Stewart to Christopher Blunt, manuscript, one folio (recto & verso), dated from St George's Rd, London SE1, on 14 July 1974, giving his initial favourable impressions of CEB's Athelstan text and wishing him happy birthday. He says that he has had little time for anything apart from "Westminster and the City", but he describes an idea that has in mind for a note and asks CEB whether he may consult his records on the pre-reform coinage of Edgar. He refers to an attached note for CEB's files "in case you return to Stephen hoards, etc."
Blunt, Christopher Evelyn
Four letters from Ian Stewart to Christopher Blunt with a page of notes
Part of Personal Papers
Four letters from Ian Stewart to Christopher Blunt with a page of notes:
(a) letter from Ian Stewart to Christopher Blunt, manuscript, one folio (recto & verso), dated from St George's Rd, London SE1, on 2 August 1974, thanking CEB "for sending the Edw V card", which IS now returns along with a page of notes that he "basically compiled when [he] was last at Ramsbury" (see item (b) below). He says that he is considering the idea of publishing [i.e. writing?] "a brief note about the Parsons/Baines [coin] die, which does not appear to have been recognised (as altered) previously, unless '10' is an error for '9' in the B & W note". He says that he has intended to ask CEB whether "he had a note of a BH groat from the die of Montagnii 634 altered". Although not very important, he would be interested to know how many S/R dies are known to have been altered to BH, and how many not, because the question has implications for "the likely length of Ed IV [type?] XXII". If the nearly all the S/R dies were altered, he says, then S/R was probably introduced shortly before the death of Edward IV. Concerning the 10th century, he is surprised at the number of Edgar's moneyers who can be associated with named mints. There is a note in CEB's hand in the upper right margin to the effect that he answered the letter on 10 [December?] 1974, but there appears to be no letter of CEB of that date among the papers.
(b) "Notes on Edward V groat", manuscript (photocopy), single page, signed "IS" and dated 31 July 1974. The page of notes begins with one on "CEB doubtful B.H. groat (not in JSF trays, but in bottom drawer) has POSVI [followed by vertical double-x], which IS believes may be an altered Edward IV [type] XXI groat. Second lengthier note concerns "die-links amonst S/R & B.H. groats" and his assessment of the "rather confused" lists in BNJ, vol. 24, 177 (CAW) & vol. 25, 325 (B & W).
(c) letter from Ian Stewart to Christopher Blunt, manuscript, one folio (recto & verso), dated from St George's Rd, London SE1, on 21 October 1974, thanking CEB for his gift of two Edward IV coins and a Henry [IV?] groat.
(d) letter from Ian Stewart to Christopher Blunt, manuscript, one folio (recto & verso), dated from the House of Commons on 24 November 1974, noting that he will miss the BNS but "feels that Stewart Lyon is the strongest competitor for [the] Sanford Saltus [medal]". He has nevertheless "asked [Stuart] Rigold to air the idea of Potter in view of his tenuous hold on life", noting that he has developed a high opinion of his work. He wouldn't push Potter's case if others were unenthusiastic but notes that it may be his last chance. He next discusses the card index, stating that he favours "the Litilmann-Osulf form", like CEB, but he puts forward two suggestions that he supposes CEB may not like. In closing, he speaks of the difficulties involved in putting together a "classification or system when you are not exactly sure what you are expecting to emerge from it".
(e) letter from Ian Stewart to Christopher Blunt, manuscript, one folio (recto & verso), dated from St George's Rd, London SE1, on 29 December 1974, hoping that CEB had a good Christmas and commenting on his failure to send out any cards. He returns Whitton's note about the Edward V dies, thanking CEB for for allowing him to see them and stating that he made a photocopy of them for his records. There is further discussion about comparison of the RCB & Hunter sun/rose pennies against CEB's with BH and the possibility of die-links. He also says that Stewart [Lyon] had told him about an Offa link.
Stewart, Bernard Harold Ian Halley
Part of Personal Papers
Six letters from Christopher Blunt to Ian Stewart and two letters from Ian Stewart to Christopher Blunt:
(a) letter from Ian Stewart to Christopher Blunt, manuscript, single page, on House of Commons letterhead dated from 12 July 1977, sending CEB an example of Bury [type] VI from [the] Colchester [hoard?] to complete his long-cross collections.
(b) letter from Christopher Blunt to Ian Stewart, manuscript, two folios (recto & verso), dated from Ramsbury on 14 July 1977, thanking IS for the Bury type VII penny. He also notes that he has been studying a "strange parcel of Northumbrian coins" and writes on this at some length.
(c) letter from Christopher Blunt to Ian Stewart, manuscript, single page, dated from Ramsbury on 19 July 1977, reporting that Terry Volk has sent him the 1974 Fitzwilliam report, which contains an illustration of a William II type III penny of Bedford by Lifwi[ne] that was found at Shillington and given to James Wyatt of Bedford by John Evans. He notes that inscription clearly reads as follows: +LIFPIONBEDFRI. He mentions another Shillington coin of William II type II, giving a reference from Spink Numismatic Circular from January 1911. Finally, he asks IS how near he is to releasing the Salisbury coin to Spink.
(d) letter from Christopher Blunt to Ian Stewart, manuscript, one folio (recto & verso), dated from Ramsbury on 9 August 1977, informing IS that Spinks offered him the Salisbury penny for £50 while pointing that the coin would probably sell for £125-150 on the open market; he thanks IS for the role that he might have had in the affair. He also advises IS of another possible Shillington parcel from the Archdeacon Parnell sale in 1887 and briefly describes its contents.
(e) letter from Ian Stewart to Christopher Blunt, manuscript, one folio (recto & verso), on House of Commons letterhead dated from 6 September 1977, thanking CEB for his family's hospitality during their recent visit to Ramsbury. He says that they made good progress on the 10th century and the tables of moneyers need to be included despite their size. He notes that [Nick] Mayhew would be happy to take his Droitwich paper for next year's BNJ [i.e. 1978] and that he has "delivered [Mavis?] Mate to [Michael] Metcalf. He thanks CEB for the two half-groats and wishes him luck with the index. He returns CEB's note on St Peter hoards [in reference to his 1957 joint article with Michael Dolley in the BNJ?], noting that he has taken a copy for himself.
(f) letter from Christopher Blunt to Ian Stewart, manuscript, one folio (recto & verso), dated from Ramsbury on 16 September 1977, saying that he has found three more Shillington coins in the sale of William Ransom of Hitchin in 1925 and giving the catalogue descriptions but adding that they may be [Derek] Allen coins. He also reports on his "very useful meeting with MMA [i.e. Marion Archibald] on the Sylloge", noting that the prospects are improved by her liberation from her [secretary]-ship of the RNS.
(g) letter from Christopher Blunt to Ian Stewart, manuscript, single page, dated from Ramsbury on 12 November 1977, adding another coin to their reconstruction of the Shillington hoard: William II BMC II Norwich Toufie.
(h) letter from Christopher Blunt to Ian Stewart, manuscript, one folio (recto & verso), dated from Ramsbury on 21 December 1977, sending IS a list of the material that he has put together for the research on Droitwich. He mentions that he has received the approval from Dorothy Whitelock and Mrs [Gelling] over something they have put in a note [of one of their papers?]. He also says that he and Marion [Archibald] were wondering how best to present the "circular" types and Edmund – Edgar, explaining the two possibilities that they had in mind, and notes that she is making good progress on the BM SCBI. He then recounts the last meeting of the TT [i.e. Treasure Trove?] committee, expressing concern over the view of Peter Mitchell that the BM was still acting as arbiter in the prices that it gave to finders.
Blunt, Christopher Evelyn
Part of Personal Papers
Three letters from Christopher Blunt to Ian Stewart and three letters from Ian Stewart to Christopher Blunt with two attachments:
(a) letter from Ian Stewart to Christopher Blunt, manuscript, single page, on House of Commons letterhead dated from 13 July 1978, complaining that his work on the Finance Bill has prevented him from writing sooner and explaining that it will not be feasible to accept CEB's invitation to Ramsbury. He nevertheless proposes to see how things are shaping up in September. The letter then continues, in different ink, to suggest that the half-term holiday in October may be longer-term possibility. He says that he is pleased to learn about the progress on the BM Sylloge. He encloses a copy of a paper by Michael Dolley entitled "A possible explanation of Aelfred the Great's abandonment of the concept of periodic recoinage", which he says Christopher Brooke described as "a parody of the academic manner" and he wonders himself "how on earth does one edit that for a general readership"?!
(b) "A possible explanation of Aelfred the Great's abandonment of the concept of periodic recoinage", by Michael Dolley, typescript (photocopy) with additions, annotations, corrections, etc., seven pages on seven folios (recto only), undated but datable to before 13 July 1978 (date of the previous item to which it was attached).
(c) letter from Christopher Blunt to Ian Stewart, manuscript (carbon-copy), two pages on two folios (recto only), dated 19 July 1978, noting the "strange effusion from Michael [Dolley]". He observes that the paper acknowledges that CEB had seen an earlier draft, though if he had, CEB says that MD must have changed a great deal. He cannot think of how to go about editing it.
(d) letter from Ian Stewart to Christopher Blunt, typescript (form letter, photocopy) with manuscript additions, single page, on House of Commons letterhead, undated but datable to before 4 August 1978, when CEB replied to this letter. IS encloses a copy of his paper on "Anglo-Saxon gold coins" for the Humphrey Sutherland Festschrift and thanks CEB for his help with it. He also encloses "a summary of two-line variants and rare types" [from Edmund to Eadgar], which he describes as "very provisional" (next item).
(e) untitled table, manuscript, single page, unattributed and undated but attributable to IS and datable to before 4 August; described in the letter to which is was attached (previous item) as "a summary of two-line variants and rare types"; the column headings suggest that it covers the coinage from Edmund to Eadgar.
(f) letter from Christopher Blunt to Ian Stewart, manuscript (carbon-copy), four pages on four folios (recto only), dated 4 August 1978, thanking IS for the offprint from the CHVS [i.e. Humphrey Sutherland] Festschrift and for the "summary of two-line variants". On the latter, he has jotted a few notes on a separate sheet (i.e. page four). He notes that he has been working on the three-line variants of Eadwig and Eadgar and finds himself increasingly unhappy with some of Michael's idea, explaining why at length.
(g) letter from Christopher Blunt to Ian Stewart, manuscript, one folio (recto & verso), dated from Ramsbury on 14 November 1978, noting that Julia White typed his piece for the ANS and asking IS to make that she charges him for the work. He says that he is "plodding away at the two-line type" and that he has "nearly got the Athelstan cards for the Sylloge in shape for typing.
(h) letter from Ian Stewart to Christopher Blunt, manuscript, single page, on House of Commons letterhead dated from 29 November 1978, thanking CEB for his hospitality at Ramsbury and expressing the feeling that things are falling into place as regards their work on the 10th-century coinage.
Blunt, Christopher Evelyn
Part of Personal Papers
Three letters from Christopher Blunt to Ian Stewart and three letters from Ian Stewart to Christopher Blunt with two attachments:
(a) letter from Ian Stewart to Christopher Blunt, manuscript, single page, on House of Commons letterhead dated from 6 August 1979, enclosing the Droitwich proofs of his joint article with CEB, asking CEB to look them over and considering whether to add a reference to a relevant lot in a forthcoming Spink sale. He says that he enjoyed his stay at Ramsbury and apologises that he wasn't very sociable but notes that the numismatics benefitted, having almost completed a short chapter on imitations. There are three postscripts. In the first, he asks whether CEB sent back the St Peter [coin?], noting that he's very suspicious of it. In the second, he asks whether two coins could be early East Anglian Athelstans. In the third, he says that the Commons library has lost its copy of EHD I [i.e. English Historical Documents, vol. I] and asks to borrow CEB's copy.
(b) letter from Christopher Blunt to Ian Stewart, manuscript, single page, dated from Ramsbury on 10 August 1979, thanking IS for everything that he sent and stating "here is vol. I of EHD". He says that he bought the St Peter coin, which he has determined is clearly a struck piece, having "had it under the binocular microscope" with Marion Archibald. He says that he then took the coin to Frank Purvey, who "carefully and unhesitatingly pronounced it genuine", and asked him to try and get more information on its provenance, which he believed to be East Anglia.
(c) letter from Christopher Blunt to Ian Stewart, manuscript, one folio (recto & verso), dated from Ramsbury on 13 August 1979, confirming that he sent EHD and hoping that it had reached IS by now. He encloses his piece on Howel [sic; recto: Hywel] Dda and asks for comments. He mentions a "fascinating Cnut hoard from North Wales" consisting in 204 coins. He also acknowledges that his acquisition of the St Peter coin before the arrival of IS's letter might have been rash. He recounts his investigations with Marion Archibald and discussions with Frank Purvey, the latter of whom, he notes, "had an interest in authenticity". He says that the Droitwich proofs have gone back and responds to IS's query about two of his coins possibly being early East Anglian Athelstans.
(d) letter from Ian Stewart to Christopher Blunt, manuscript, one folio (recto & verso), dated from St Georg'e Road, London SE1, on 26 August 1979, thanking CEB for sending EHD and asking to keep it until he has drafted the historical introduction. He returns Howell [Hywel?], having taken a copy for himself, but asks whether it may go somewhere outside their 10th-century volume to avoid giving unnecessary attention to the [David] Dykes theory. He notes that Henry Loyn has written about Sitric and Regnald and hopes to "resolve that dating business at the next Sylloge meeting". He encloses a copy of his letter to Stewart Lyon about Edward the Elder, noting that CSSL's text is very difficult to follow in its present form but surely "is on the right lines". He says that he aims to adjust the ex-Brescia Mia text, which is really excellent but needs only slight reogranisation. He hopes that he was wrong about the St Peter coin but is glad that it looked okay under the microscope. He advises CEB, for his records, that he purchased the Edwig Bedford HAR ... ex Bird from Spink and, much more exciting, a broken Edmund, of which he encloses a rubbing. He mentions a certain "Martin", proposing to send Sheil comments on the Scots and CEB on the Saxons. In a postscript, he wonder whether the Forum hoard might have been earlier than 946, because "the Rome III figures show much lower proportions of Edward and Athelstan in relation to Edmund", which suggests that the coins were removed from circulation before the end of Edmund's reign.
(e) letter from Ian Stewart to Christopher Blunt, manuscript, single page, dated from 18 September 1979, enclosing a rough draft of a chapter on imitations and inviting comments. He thanks CEB for the information about Grigard, noting that "its obverse reading is most unusual". He also wonders whether he had asked "about the Lindsay-Martin correspondence", supposing that CEB "will be able to say all that is needed on the Saxon part" while he does the Scottish part.
(f) letter from Christopher Blunt to Ian Stewart, manuscript, one folio (recto & verso), dated from Ramsbury on 28 September 1979, suggesting that IS's Edmund / Grigen is from the same reverse dies as BMC 134, as suspected, and going on the discuss "the two BM coins of Eadred". He also returns to IS an irregular piece that he had given him some time ago. He then mentions an Edgar penny of Winchester that he "didn't much like the look of" because of its "casty appearance", but he found that a similar coin was recorded in 1744, so he is now planning to take it to the BM to look at it through the microscope. Finally, he discusses the "useful Sylloge meeting" and the "useful talk that he had with Christopher Challis" afterwards.
Blunt, Christopher Evelyn
Part of Personal Papers
Five letters from Christopher Blunt to Ian Stewart with one attachment and two letters from Ian Stewart to Christopher Blunt:
(a) letter from Ian Stewart to Christopher Blunt, manuscript, one folio (recto & verso), dated from St George's Rd, London SE1, on 13 April 1980, reporting that he completed the chapter on the Vikings to 927 and promises to send it once it is typed. He notes that he has now incorporated large chunks of CEB's Regnald text and that parts of his Bossall/Regnald paper now appear in the historical introduction, the Viking chapter, the Bossall appendix and the conclusions. After the Vikings, he says, he will focus on the post-939 coinage, including "English bits and Viking II", but he says that he would like to see some of the material before doing anything more on imitations and irregular coinages. He is pleased that CEB acquired the "Heriger" while mentioning that he obtained the Edgar Othelriht from Spink and sent a polaroid to Edinburgh to check on its correspondence with SCBI 602.
(b) letter from Christopher Blunt to Ian Stewart, manuscript, one folio (recto & verso), dated from Ramsbury on 26 April 1980, thanking IS for the photograph of his curious irregular piece of Edgar and for the drawings of the Edinburgh 602 fragment. He says that he heard from Gunstone that [an image of] one of their coins is in the National Portrait Gallery, and he gives some details. He says that he is hoping "to make a very exciting addition" that will be relevant for IS's work on the Vikings 939-954. He is referring to the St Edmund memorial coin that was in Seaby's May Bulletin, which is in fact a "Heming" [i.e. moneyer?], a coin that he discussed in his paper on that coinage for a Suffolk local society journal [i.e. "The St Edmund Memorial Coinage", Proceedings of the Suffolk Institute of Archaeology, vol. 31, pt 3 (1969), pp. 234-255 & pl. 31].
(c) letter from Christopher Blunt to Ian Stewart, manuscript, one folio (recto & verso), dated from Ramsbury on 28 April 1980, informing IS of news from Elizabeth Pirie of a new moneyer for the Anlaf raven type. He also reports that her excavations at Coppergate in York have yielded a small hoard of no more than four coins, "all slightly oxidized and [...] stuck together", but once they were cleaned they appeared "about as good as new". He describes the coins as being two coins of Athelstan and two coins of Anlaf, both raven type, one of the usual moneyer ÆĐELFERD and the other of the new moneyer ODELER, and he says that Veronica [Smart] is satisfied with the name. The rest of letter discusses the coin, the spellings on it and its implications.
(d) letter from Ian Stewart to Christopher Blunt, manuscript, one folio (recto & verso), dated from St George's Rd. London SE1, on 4 May 1980, thanking CEB for the "two letters and such exciting news" and reflecting briefly on the new pieces of information.
(e) letter from Christopher Blunt to Ian Stewart, manuscript, single page, dated from Ramsbury on 26 April 1980, informing IS of further information on Regnald, including a record he had made of one illustrated by [Andrew] Fountaine in 1705 and another example that he has just seen in Camden's Britannia (1695), meaning that they now have two specimens recorded early among the Anglo-Saxon coins. Despite this, he says, "Taylor Combe [numismatist, 1774-1826] did not feel able to accept the type as English in origin or rather produced in England".
(f) letter from Christopher Blunt to Ian Stewart, manuscript, one folio (recto & verso), dated from Ramsbury on 23 June 1980, noting that his collaborations with IS and Stewart [Lyon] have given him much pleasure and that "numismatic excitements have [also] been pouring in from other sources". He refers to news from George Boon about a new hoard, the ongoing research on the Coppergate find and a little parcel mostly of coin fragments that includes an irregular crux Athelstan with the inscriptions +CMRNZ? DERWO and REEDL | + + + | BIAZN, of which he encloses a rubbing (see item (g) below). The are about a dozen lines of discussion on the piece.
(g) coin rubbing, mentioned and discussed in item (f) above.
(h) letter from Christopher Blunt to Ian Stewart, manuscript, three pages on two folios, dated from the Travellers' Club, Pall Mall, London, on 28 June 1980, saying that he has come away from their dinner and discussion of the previous evening much encouraged to continue work on the 10th century. He notes that Henry Loyn has just been elected FBA and mentions that he will look into "what Stewart [Lyon] says about Edward's 'rose' type" before moving on to discuss IS's hoard section [for their 10th-century work] and recommending additions and improvements. There is a one-page postscript that begin (and ends) on the recto of the second folio, in which CEB welcomes the suggestion that CSSL and IS "draft a preparatory historical section [for their book] and to have another separate section at the end with conclusions".
Blunt, Christopher Evelyn
Part of Personal Papers
Three letters from Christopher Blunt to Ian Stewart and three letters from Ian Stewart to Christopher Blunt:
(a) letter from Christopher Blunt to Ian Stewart, manuscript, one folio (recto & verso), dated from Ramsbury on 24 January 1981, saying that Liz Pirie asked him to pass along to IS a photograph of the "splendid Sihtric penny, the only one apparently with sword to left. Because the obverse legend is retrograde, moreover, he wonders whether "the die-maker has simply copied directly from a coin". He discusses the coin over a paragraph before turning to their 10th-century work. He says that he has read through Stewart Lyon's revision of Edward the Elder, noting that it is difficult to for him follow without better illustrations though he has the clear impression that he is making good sense. He says that he has sent him "some trifling comments". He explains that he hasn't done very much work himself because he has been preoccupied in dealing with a large hoard of Roman coins.
(b) letter from Ian Stewart to Christopher Blunt, manuscript, one folio (recto & verso), dated from Baldwin Crescent, London SE5, on 14 February 1981, expressing relief that CEB has found Post-B. [i.e. Brunanburh] and is allowing him to borrow it. He notes that he also has Stewart Lyon's and plans to incorporate notes from both of them. He says that he has completed a first draft of the rewritten chapter on 939-954, though it still needs a lot of tidying up and annotation. He is adding Canterbury and Oxford for Edred but "hesitant about 2T = Stamford for Anlaf", though he does "believe EBR in York". He says he "was glad to see the doubtful St Peters in print" and is now working on Regnald and Bossall. He mentions the meeting between CEB and CSSL about Edward the Elder. He wonders whether CEB has looked at BMC 1142-1165 St Peter and any similar Edward coins in the BM, adding that he likes CEB's idea of a new St Peter hoard, since Walmgate is too late and the Bossall coins too uncorroded.
(c) letter from Christopher Blunt to Ian Stewart, manuscript, three pages on two folios, dated from Ramsbury on 16 March 1981, thanking IS for the draft Anglo-Viking corpus and complimenting him on the vast amount of material it includes. He goes on to comment on the draft in greater detail.
(d) letter from Ian Stewart to Christopher Blunt, manuscript, single page, dated from the House of Commons on 14 March 1981, thanking CEB for his comments on the draft corpus but stressing the important roll that CEB's card index played in enabling him to put the material together. He encloses a copy of the text in provisional form and asks him to comment on it and show it to Marion [Archibald].
(e) letter from Christopher Blunt to Ian Stewart, manuscript, one folio (recto & verso), dated from Ramsbury on 23 March 1981, expressing his delight with IS's work on 939-954 and saying this his arguments are entirely convincing. He encloses "some entirely trivial comments" and a list of suggested illustrations, and then turns to other matters related to their 10th-century project. In particular, he notes that he has completed the moneyers' index, which he describes as a major job but worth the effort. it needs only cross-checking against the lists at the beginning of each section and some tidying up, following the forms suggested by Veronica.
(f) letter from Ian Stewart to Christopher Blunt, manuscript, one folio (recto & verso), dated from the House of Commons on 30 March 1981, thanking CEB for approving so enthusiastically of IS's Viking draft and offering his helpful comments and corrections. Once he has comments from Stewart [Lyon], he will complete the text and get it ready for press before turning to the earlier Viking chapter, which he says will be easier to deal with once the Regnald die-study and Bossall bits are removed. He expresses the hope that they will be able to have a text for the bulk of the volume by the end of the year. He asks whether it would acceptable to use Rome I, II & III for the Vatican, Forum and 1846 hoards, noting that Michael Dolley's use of A & B [for two of them?] effectively rules out any possibility of using A, B & C. He thanks CEB for the invitation to Ramsbury and asks whether he saw the St Edmund half-penny in Seaby. There is an annotation in CEB's hand in the bottom right margin of the verso.
Blunt, Christopher Evelyn
Three letters from Ian Stewart to Christopher Blunt with three attachments
Part of Personal Papers
Three letters from Ian Stewart to Christopher Blunt with three attachments:
(a) letter from Ian Stewart to Christopher Blunt, manuscript, one folio (recto & verso), dated from Baldwin Crescent, London SE5, on 28 August 1980, recommending minor changes to three paragraphs of "admirable" piece and suggesting that only the first one is of any significance. He advises "not to use wording that implies there were no pennies before Offa when the Hongham [?] coins are likely to have been struck". He refers to an enclosure described as "Post-Brunanburh" and says that he heard from Elizabeth Pirie news about the St Peter die from Coppergate.
(b) letter from Ian Stewart to Christopher Blunt, manuscript, one folio (recto & verso), on House of Commons letterhead, dated 26 November 1980, returning CEB's two-page draft of "Proposed order of Norse coins 939-954 in the BM Sylloge (2 plates)" (see item (c) below) with his own proposed arrangement (see item (d) below). He agrees that BMA 319 belongs "under Edgar irregular" and encloses "a few notes on B-F-V equivalents" (see item (e) below).
(c) draft manuscript, two pages on two folios of recycled paper (recto only), entitled "Proposed order of Norse coins 939-954 in the BM Sylloge (2 plates)", unattributed and undated but unmistakably in CEB's hand.
(d) draft manuscript, single page of lined paper, with the heading "This was my provisional order for mini-corpus", unattributed and undated but in IS's hand.
(e) draft manuscript (photocopy?), single page, untitled, unattributed and undated, but in IS's hand, concerning the names of certain moneyers on Viking coins and the interchangeability of the B-F-V.
(f) letter from Ian Stewart to Christopher Blunt, manuscript, one folio (recto & verso), dated from Baldwin Crescent, London SE5, on 12 December 1980, enclosing CEB's text plus two copies, having sent others to Marion [Archibald] and Stewart [Lyon]. He suggests that completion of the book is "now in sight" and notes that his task is to redo the section on the later Vikings. He informs CEB that he has acquired "the BMC Ie by Heremod", which he regards as regular, and an HR2 Odelriht.
Blunt, Christopher Evelyn
Part of Personal Papers
Three letters from Christopher Blunt to Ian Stewart with attachment and three letters from Ian Stewart to Christopher Blunt:
(a) card from Ian Stewart to Christopher Blunt, manuscript, dated from St George's Road, London SE1, on 4 October 1979, thanking CEB for his comments on Wigard and for his generous enclosures. He says that Mark [Blackburn] has sent him "a new draft about the dating, which is getting closer to what is needed". He is pleased to hear of CEB's honourable membership of CIN and excuses himself for the very brief note.
(b) letter from Ian Stewart to Christopher Blunt, manuscript, one folio (recto & verso), dated from St George's Road, London SE1, on 13 October 1979, thanking CEB for the imitations and comments on them. He mentions "the very poor HR2 [i.e. horizontal rosette?] at Spinks" being "ridiculously dear at £50" but says that "it seems to be of interest". He asks whether there are "any Edgar coins of this type by an Othel-- moneyer" and says that he will ask Caldwell for a photograph of Ed. [Edinburgh?] 602, which seems similar. He informs CEB, for his records, that he has an Edgar HR2 (fragment), like Smarmore, and an Eadred HT1 [i.e. horizontal trefoil?] of Gothin, like BMC 48. He asks about an Edward coin with the inscription divided into three segments by points [i.e. pellets?] and notes that "Mark [Blackburn] has produced a dating draft which is getting very close to what is needed", though he wonders whether the Professor [i.e. Michael Dolley?] will agree.
(c) cutting of paper with manuscript note, undated and unattributed but originally attached by paper to the letter from Ian Stewart to Christopher Blunt of 13 October 1979 and with the main body of the note apparently in CEB's hand, describing a "large uncouth [?] penny, thin and pierced", with the obverse inscription +EA:DGARRE presumably around a cross in the centre and the reverse inscription OĐEL | O+O | RIHT in three lines with one cluster of seven pellets (six pellets around one central pellet) above and below. The object is further described as "a very nasty looking coin, but struck and lettering not too bad". There are some annotations apparently in IS's hand.
(d) letter from Christopher Blunt to Ian Stewart, manuscript, one folio (recto & verso), dated from Ramsbury on 24 October 1979, responding to IS's query about "the rather odd Edgar coin of HR2 by [the moneyer] Othelriht" and likening it to Grantley 1099 but determining that it probably is not the same coin. After discussing this coin at some length, he turns his attention to the Edgar coin that IS recently acquired from Spink. IS had wondered whether it could be a coin of Athelstan rather than Edgar but CEB thought it more likely to be of Edgar. CEB says that he recently received correspondence from someone named [Anthony] Freeman, a history schoolmaster who has been doing extensive research of late Anglo-Saxon moneyers and is extending it through to William I. He says that Freeman was much interested in IS's study of the Sussex and Devon mints. He further says that Freeman's work is serious and that he deserves encouragement, explaining that, although a member of the BNS, he is able to attend few meetings and therefore knows few people. He asks IS whether he could get in touch with him, and he gives him the man's address and phone number.
(e) letter from Ian Stewart to Christopher Blunt, manuscript, single page, on House of Commons letterhead dated 31 October 1979, complimenting CEB on his overstrike paper. He asks whether all "Athelstan CCs overstruck on HTs could imply a partial or attempted recoinage", and he thanks him for his comments about Othelriht, wondering whether he might have been a different moneyer from Othelric. He promises to telephone Mr Freeman.
(f) card from Ian Stewart to Christopher Blunt, manuscript, dated from St George's Road, London SE1, on 18 November 1979, saying that he has "a note of a paper by J.H. Pollexfen in NC 1868 (?) on later Scots coinage" and asks CEB if he could give him the title and page numbers. He says that he has finished his first draft of the Historical Introduction, though it needs adjustment before typing.
(g) letter from Christopher Blunt to Ian Stewart, manuscript, one folio (recto & verso), dated from Ramsbury on 20 December 1979, saying that he has been through IS's appendix on the Bossall hoard, which he describes as an improvement on his own account, and he encloses a note primarily of a new provenance for Regnald. He says that he has nearly completed his paper for the January RNS and will send IS a copy upon completion, noting that IS's later dating of the Karolus St Peter suits his proposed dating of Regnald and hopes that IS will make any necessary amendments to his arguments in his revision of the chapter on the 900-927 Viking period [in the 10th-century book]. He says that they have never discussed the presentation of the hoard evidence for the period, which is extensive but includes a lot of hoards that add nothing to the picture for one reason or another. There is further discussion about the hoard evidence and the 10th-century volume.
Blunt, Christopher Evelyn
Part of Personal Papers
Two letters from Christopher Blunt to Ian Stewart and four letters from Ian Stewart to Christopher Blunt with one attachment:
(a) letter from Ian Stewart to Christopher Blunt, manuscript, single page, on House of Commons letterhead dated from 23 January 1978, thanking CEB for his letter of the 7th and the photographs, advising that he has a cast of the sword/hammer type and sending an offprint. He agrees "about the Theodmaer being kept quiet" but suggests telling Seaby & [B...] in confidence. He says that he has been working on imitations for the PG [i.e. Philip Grierson] Festschrift and is feeling very grateful to CEB for his gift of "the Robert de Bethune with Scottish profile". He notes that he will deal with Droitwich once this "is under control". There is a manuscript note in pencil the upper right margin in CEB's hand that reads "Ack 10/2".
(b) letter from Ian Stewart to Christopher Blunt, manuscript, single page, dated from St George's Road, London SE1, on 28 March 1978, sending the bibliography for Scotland and CEB's Droitwich notes, and mentioning a recent coin acquisition. There is a manuscript note in pen the upper right margin in CEB's hand that reads "Ans 4/4".
(c) letter from Ian Stewart to Christopher Blunt, manuscript,one folio (recto & verso), dated from the House of Commons on 8 May 1978, asking whether it would be convenient for him to come down to Ramsbury during the next brief recess, noting that it would be his last chance for a visit for quite some time. He comments that Michael [Dolley] was well behaved at the last SCBI meeting, which leaves him feeling suspicious. There is a manuscript note in pencil the upper right margin in CEB's hand that reads "Ans 9/5".
(d) letter from Ian Stewart to Christopher Blunt, manuscript, one folio (recto & verso), on House of Commons letterhead dated from 24 May 1978, noting that CEB's "comments about Michael [Dolley] are worrying". He describes the "Droitwich comments" as "only a symptom" and suggests responses on various points, noting that the enclosed extracts from Heffers' latest catalogue will suffice to deal with Cheshire Domesday comment.
(e) photocopy of two pages (63-64) [from Heffers' latest catalogue], attached to the previous item, listing the "new county-by-county printing of Domesday Book". The note about the Cheshire volume states that it covers modern Cumbria, Lancashire and much of North Wales, which "are attached to the account of 'Cheshire' in the original text".
(f) letter from Christopher Blunt to Ian Stewart, manuscript (carbon-copy), two pages on two folios (recto only), dated 25 May 1978, taking notice that the upcoming Glendining sale (7 June, lot 304) features a crux type penny said to be from the same dies as SCBI Ashmolean 506 but describing it as "a base metal forgery". He suggests that he could look at the coin when he is in London on the 5th. CEB then expresses disappointment with Michael Dolley over his behaviour, noting that the problem is becoming known in academic circles and has probably cost him one or more of the various posts he has been trying to get.
(g) letter from Christopher Blunt to Ian Stewart, manuscript, three pages on two folios, dated from Ramsbury on 11 June 1978, beginning with the statement that "Michael Dolley is becoming increasingly a bore" and referring to his correspondence with Miss Colman in which she seconds MD's doubts, giving "valid reasons for doing so". CEB then says that he wrote to David Hill who, according to MD, "has his reference to Nautwich being a DB [i.e. Domesday Book] borough, but no reply. By chance, however, he ran into Drigson [sic; recto Dodgson (John McNeal) has written on Cheshire for the English Place-Name Society series and was surprised at the idea that Nautwich might have been a borough since he always understood Chester to be the only DB borough in Cheshire. On the basis of these two judgements, CEB suggests that they retain what they have written but add a footnote, of which he provides a draft as basis for discussion, and once they agree on the form of words, send the revised text back to [Nick] Mayhew. If any further objections to the paper are raised, CEB proposes that they withdraw the paper from the BNJ with a formal letter of complaint. He then recounts that he recently had a telephone call from Peter Berghaus who said that Otto Mørkholm in Copenhagen received a "terrible letter" from [Michael] Dolley complaining about the Irish section of a research study in the mistaken belief that Mørkholm was the editor and asking him to write a formal letter of apology on the subject to the Royal Irish Academy. He says that "Peter thought he must have made some appalling blunder in somehow missing out Ireland" but adds that he was able to tell him that Dykes had the matter in hand and advised him not to write anything to the RIA. He describes MD's behaviour as "intolerable" and says that he how keeps his correspondence with him to a bare minimum.
Blunt, Christopher Evelyn
Part of Personal Papers
Three letters from Christopher Blunt to Ian Stewart and three letters from Ian Stewart to Christopher Blunt with two attachments:
(a) letter from Christopher Blunt to Ian Stewart, manuscript, one folio (recto & verso), dated from Ramsbury on 8 January 1979, writing that being house-bound has enabled him to make good progress on the 10th-century volume and that he expects to have something to show him when he come to visit at Easter. He says that he has written to CSSL [i.e. Stewart Lyon] to ask how he getting on with the Edward the Elder piece and whether he would be able to join them at Easter. CEB then lists the "main pieces" that he still lacks, apparently in reference to particular coin types: (1) the c/bust type Edmund-Edgar and (2) the St Peter coinage. He notes that he is puzzled about Mercia 957-959 because they have more coins than they ought to have. He acknowledges that he needs to get to work on metrology and the hoard evidence, but recognises that the most demanding chapter will be the conclusion, which will need to pull together all the material. He asks for confirmation that IS is doing the saints and when he might expect the draft, expressing his hope "to get the material in sufficiently good shape by midsummer to put it out".
(b) letter from Christopher Blunt to Ian Stewart, manuscript, one folio (recto & verso), dated from Ramsbury on 25 January 1979, discussing financial arrangements for the publication of the East Anglia sylloge and expressing his concern that a loan of about £1500 will be needed to meet the shortfall in funds available for publication. He is worried about how to deal the current situation and says that he has written to Dorothy [Whitelock] and Michael [Dolley] to ask for their views and also asks IS for his. DW agreed that there should be a meeting with [Michael] and [J.M.] Wallace-Hadrill, but would prefer not to come herself. CEB asks IS whether it would be appropriate to arrange the meeting at the House of Commons at a time when both he and Michael are in London, noting that Micheal and Mark Blackburn should now be in Berlin & Dresden but are due back on Sunday.
(c) letter from Christopher Blunt to Ian Stewart, manuscript, single page, dated from Ramsbury on 31 January 1979, enclosing material "for information" and promising to keep IS posted. CEB notes that Michael Dolley has returned from East Germany after what Mark [Blackburn] described as a successful visit. Marks nevertheless said that MD was exhausted and wondered whether "he would get off to Australia on Friday".
(d) letter from Christopher Blunt to Ian Stewart, manuscript (carbon-copy), two pages on two folios (recto only), dated 1 March 1979, informing IS that the BM coin room is closing for two months for "stock-taking". He appraises IS of what he has accomplished, noting that he spoke with [Robert] Carson, who is as upset as anyone about the matter, and explained to him that [the closure?] "would cause great unhappiness, particularly among students from abroad". CEB's impression was that the decision came from the Trustees and not just the Director, and that it arose from concerns over security. He says that he asked Robert whether it would help if he were to write a letter to the Director in the interest of pointing out the sadness that the decision will cause. Robert said that there could be value in such letters, but he did not feel that the decision would be reversed. CEB says that the best they can do is to express their views to the Director.
(e) letter from Ian Stewart to Christopher Blunt, manuscript, single page, dated 10 April 1979, thanking CEB for his hospitality at Ramsbury and noting how much more relaxing it was to think about the problems of the 10th century rather than those of the 20th. He encloses the final section of his of his Vikings draft, which he describes as merely a basis for discussion and will need to be rewritten. He also encloses a copy of a pre-reform part of a paper by Stewart [Lyon]. He says that his overstrike of Edmund is missing from his 10th-century tray, and wonders whether he might have left it with CEB.
(f) letter from Christopher Blunt to Ian Stewart, manuscript, one folio (recto & verso), dated from Ramsbury on 22 April 1979, thanking IS for sending the final part of his Viking contribution and the copy of the pre-reform part of CSSL's 1976 paper, commenting on CSSL's paper and noting that he will meet with CSSL after the upcoming BNS meeting. He says that he doesn't believe that he has IS's Edmund overstrike, at least not if it's a whole coin, but he says that IS did leave with him a cut quarter that IS thought was overstruck on something. That coin is now in the BM and therefore "incommunicado for another fortnight", noting that it should reopen on 5 May.
Blunt, Christopher Evelyn
Part of Personal Papers
Four letters from Christopher Blunt to Ian Stewart and two letters from Ian Stewart to Christopher Blunt with one attachment:
(a) letter from Ian Stewart to Christopher Blunt, manuscript, one folio (recto & verso), dated from Westminster Hospital on 6 March [1980], saying that he had been reading up on Brescia Mia to have something to think about while in hospital for his wisdom teeth. He encloses notes of "a few random thoughts" (see item (b) below) on which he asks CEB's comments.
(b) set of notes of Ian Stewart in two copies (one on yellow paper), manuscript (carbon-copies), on House of Commons letterhead, dated 6 March 1980, signed "IS" and entitled "Viking Notes", with eleven points or questions (attached to item (a) above) [about Brescia Mia?].
(c) letter from Christopher Blunt to Ian Stewart, manuscript, three pages on two folios, dated from Ramsbury on 7 Match 1980, thanking IS for sending his thoughts on "Brescia mia" and noting that it is time for him to rethink his own views on the subject. He says that "Elizabeth Pirie is being pressed to produce a piece on that curious lead object with the Edwig die impressions and is from happy about it". He discusses Pirie's views, the object and his own efforts to advise her at some length.
(d) letter from Ian Stewart to Christopher Blunt, manuscript, one folio (recto & verso), dated from the House of Commons on 17 March 1980, following up on his "Viking Notes" and saying that his ruminations arose from the observation that "the relatively common [...] standard type was not in Rome, but to many (much rarer) Viking coins [...] were", which led him to wonder the whether the standard type were a bit later, "or if Aura & Rathulf were at this stage striking farther south so that their coins, like Arnulf's and Nothe's, entered the Rome hoard before the standard type had penetrated Southumbrian currency.
(e) letter from Christopher Blunt to Ian Stewart, manuscript, three pages on two folios, dated from Ramsbury on 28 Match 1980, returning copies of a paper to IS with a few notes, reiterating his view that one of their main problems concerns the relationship between certain of the "irregular" coinages and "the regular coinage to which they are occasionally die-linked" and dismissing some of the possible explanations. He says that he has gone through his card index, distinguishing between "some thoroughly irregular" coins and others with only slight irregularities. He goes on to discuss coins recently found by metaldetector in Suffolk. He refers the new house with "the very aristocratic address of Baldwin Crescent" and mentions his wife Elizabeth's continued hospitalisation. He notes that Philip's project [i.e. MEC?] had "quite a good reception at the British Academy" but notes that one or two people worried that it may set a dangerous precedent for claims from other museums.
(f) letter from Christopher Blunt to Ian Stewart, manuscript, one folio (recto & verso), dated from Ramsbury on 31 Match 1980, noting that the following thoughts have arisen from "a lot more work on the early Vikings". He mentions the need for coordination between IS's chapter on the subject and his on Regnald, proposes to merge his own piece in with IS's chapter and discusses some of the adjustments needed.
(g) letter from Christopher Blunt to Ian Stewart, manuscript, one folio (recto & verso), dated from Ramsbury on 11 April 1980, writing to report that he has just "acquired the Edgar Heriger with retrograde legend on the name" and noting that "it proves to be the Lockett specimen, 3708a, which die-links with Lockett 3706d by A[smaued?].
Blunt, Christopher Evelyn
Part of Personal Papers
Three letters from Christopher Blunt to Ian Stewart and four letters from Ian Stewart to Christopher Blunt:
(a) letter from Christopher Blunt to Ian Stewart, manuscript, one folio (recto & verso), dated from Ramsbury on 18 June 1981, thanking IS for the extract from the Economist. He says that he "collected the stycas for Eliz[abeth] Pirie", who photographed them, and that he has now left them with Marion [Archibald] for IS together with the flower fragment and Anlaf plus his own Regnald hand type fragment (ex Grantley), which he asks IS to accept, since "it will perhaps fill a gap until you have the same good fortune as I have had as to get a whole one". He notes that there are two more Raven coins of Anlaf in the SCBI text for Norse Kings, providing references but adding that they are unchecked, and asks for the return of his cards on this series. He then turns to "some interesting points" that IS raised about Offa's coins, noting his difficulty of accepting Eadberht as bishop but allowing that the coin of the moneyer Osmod might have come from an obverse die prepared for Æthelheard. He nevertheless says that he "wouldn't be entirely happy about having Offa's coinage start with portrait coins", which he reads as the implication of a suggestion made by IS. In closing, he notes that "Michael [Dolley] turned up to take his medal looking less ill than when we last saw him" and that "he made a very good reply".
(b) letter from Christopher Blunt to Ian Stewart, manuscript, one folio (recto & verso), dated from Ramsbury on 23 June 1981, observing that there is a "snag" in the hoard section. He refers to the surprising number of hoards and suggests that "a certain number of them can probably be omitted, but he notes that this would still leave a large number and thinks that they cannot afford the space. He suggests that "maybe the best solution is to list the hoards and cut the text that follows to a bare minimum" [i.e. by giving less than full descriptions of the contents] and asks for IS's views.
(c) letter from Ian Stewart to Christopher Blunt, manuscript, one folio (recto & verso), on House of Commons letterhead, dated 6 July 1981, thanking CEB for his kind remarks about the Academy and for his support, and adding that he was happy to learn about Philip Grierson's collection. There is reference to plans for coming to Ramsbury and about the typing of manuscripts. There is an annotation in the upper margin of the recto in the hand of CEB to the effect that he answered this letter on 8 July, but there is no letter of this date among IS's papers.
(d) letter from Ian Stewart to Christopher Blunt, manuscript, one folio (recto & verso), dated from Baldwin Crescent, London SE5, on 11 August 1981, thanking CEB for his hospitality, the Regnald [coin?] and his "birthday halfpenny". He expresses his concern that CEB is doing the bulk of the work towards their 10th-century volume but is pleased with the progress. He says that his [separate publication of the] "Regnald-Bossall paper will enable [him] to shorten the first Viking chapter considerably" and that he will be interested in CEB's reaction "to the bits about St Peter and the general arrangement of the York coinages.
(e) letter from Christopher Blunt to Ian Stewart, manuscript, one folio (recto & verso), dated from Ramsbury on 21 August 1981, stating that "typing is such a bore" but wondering whether IS can struggle with his writing. Most of the letter consists in CEB's comments on IS's paper on the Bossall hoard. After that, he asks whether IS has seen the Bonham sale catalogue, 14-15 September, lot 1141, which he describes as the second known half-penny of Edwig and a curious variety of Eadred.
(f) letter from Ian Stewart to Christopher Blunt, manuscript, one folio (recto & verso), dated from Baldwin Crescent, London SE5, on 24 August 1981, thanking CEB for his comments on his Regnald paper, which he has updated taking them into account, and expressing relief that CEB finds his argument acceptable. He says that he has acquired a copy of Smyth II, which contains much of interest but is "rather undisciplined", and has taken an copy for CEB. He hasn't seen the Bonham catalogue but says that he's not competing. He notes that Philip [Grierson] is looking forward to visiting with CEB.
(g) letter from Ian Stewart to Christopher Blunt, manuscript, one folio (recto & verso), dated from Baldwin Crescent, London SE5, on 7 September 1981, beginning with further discussion of Regnald/Bossall before turning to the Repton William the Lion, for which he gives the reading +RAVL: ON ROCE:, "or similar", and briefly discusses the inscription and its variations. He says that he has been reading CSSL [i.e. Stewart Lyon] on Edward the Elder and finds it "terribly difficult to follow (not his fault)". Having worked through the chapter, however, he has been at the early Athelstan coins with two-line inscriptions and suggests that these in most cases can be sorted by style. He suggests adding a postscript to either CSSL's chapter or to CEB's chapter on Athelstan about this. The letter has an annotation in pencil in the upper right margin in CEB's hand that reads "Re Repton William the Lion, Ack 10/9".
Blunt, Christopher Evelyn
Part of Personal Papers
Six letters from Christopher Blunt to Ian Stewart, one with an attachment, plus two notes, and one letter from Ian Stewart to Christopher Blunt:
(a) letter from Christopher Blunt to Ian Stewart, typescript, one folio (recto & verso), dated from Ramsbury on 4 March 1982, enclosing a copy of a letter from Michael Dolley in answer to CEB's suggestion that he and IS use the New History of Ireland (NHI) dating for Regnald, 918-921, and raising a further point. CEB described MD's reply as "typically torturous on the first point" and completely ignoring the second, and he quotes an excerpt from MD's letter as an example. He proposes simply to use the NHI dates for Regnald and to add a brief qualifying footnote. After a few further lines on the subject of MD, CEB mentions a forthcoming visit from Michael Metcalf during which they will discuss the recasting of the Regnald paper and explain the problems that lie in consolidating all of Regnald's coins into one list. There follows discussion of Stewart Lyon's "helpful comments", noting the practical difficulties entailed in meeting one of them. There appears to be one attachment (see item (b) below), though it is not specifically referenced in the letter,
(b) attachment to item (a) above, typescript (copy), single page, unattributed and undated but with the heading "Suggested letter to MM" and the manuscript annotation "Ian" immediately above, asking him to return with comments. In the suggested letter, CEB explains that presentation of the Regnald material is problematic and asks for "comments from a new eye". He says that they wish to take into account the comments of Dolley and Smyth and wonder whether MM would be willing to ask them if copies of their comments to him may be passed to them. Alternatively, he asks whether MM would prefer CEB and IS to ask them directly. He states that their interest is merely to make their paper "as factually correct as possible".
(c) letter from Christopher Blunt to Ian Stewart, manuscript, one folio (recto & verso), dated from Ramsbury on 11 March 1982, reporting that he expects no further trouble with Michael Metcalf after lunching with him at Ramsbury on the previous day, but adding that he did press for a revision of the listing along the lines that he proposed in his original letter. He says that he is revising the paper and will send it to IS for comment when he has finished. There is further discussion of Michael Dolley. CEB hopes that IS will be able to attend the Sylloge committee meeting on the 17th and foreshadows some of the topics for discussion. He also says that he learned from DMM [i.e. Michael Metcalf] about Peter Sawyer taking early retirement and planning to live in Sweden.
(d) letter from Christopher Blunt to Ian Stewart, manuscript, one folio (recto & verso), dated from Ramsbury on 13 March 1982, informing IS that "from obscure remarks made by Michael Dolley it appears that he is out to make mischief at the SCBI meeting on Wednesday over his not having been 'consulted' before we submitted our paper to NC". He mentions several points on which MD disagrees with or doubts or questions or refuses to accept assertions that IS and CEB are making in their paper and the references they are using to support them. CEB proposes to "ignore all this and leave it to him to print if he wants to (and if DMM accepts)".
(e) notes entitled "Regnald paper, note for Ian (14 March 1982), manuscript, single page of lined paper, unattributed but clearly in CEB's hand, raising a few further points on their joint paper and noting that it is otherwise ready to go to DMM [i.e. Michael Metcalf].
(f) letter from Ian Stewart to Christopher Blunt, manuscript, single page, on House of Commons letterhead, dated 2 April 1982, thanking CEB for his letter. He says that he has the nearly finished Regnald/Bossall revision and that he is sending a copy of MD's card (confidentially). He mentions a worry about Hunter [?], says he "will not divulge this, but it is very disturbing". He says that "Stewart [Lyon] also has strong reservations about the [Elizabeth] Pirie text", which "clearly cannot go into the Sylloge". He says that he will write briefly to Powell about it and perhaps share his thoughts with Henry [Loyn?] separately.
(g) letter from Christopher Blunt to Ian Stewart, manuscript, single page (recto only), dated from Ramsbury on 7 April 1982, wondering whether "it would not be wise to omit altogether the reference to the Carlus [?] sword" since it is not really relevant and would obviate potential criticism.
(h) letter from Christopher Blunt to Ian Stewart, manuscript, one folio (recto & verso), dated from Ramsbury on Good Friday [i.e. 9 April] 1982, thanking IS for all he has done to make the Regnald paper "so satisfactorily non-controversial, while sticking to our guns on all essential points", singling out in particular the way he dealt with Dunmore Cave in the footnote. He raises only two points, one "trifling" about an apparent typographical error and "the other of more substance". He says that he read IS's comments on Liz Pirie's Sylloge ideas and wonders what MD will think of them, noting that HEP [i.e. Hugh Pagan] was against and his impression is that CSSL [i.e. Stewart Lyon] was no less unhappy.
(i) letter from Christopher Blunt to Ian Stewart, manuscript, one folio (recto & verso), dated from Ramsbury on 24 April 1982, thanking IS for two letters and enclosing Hall's list of Viking hoards in Ireland. He says that he is very glad to have a photocopy of the Bossall plates and thanks IS "for the further draft chapter" for Philip Grierson's book. He says that he has completed his main index but is waiting for a reply from CSSL [i.e. Stewart Lyon] on one or two Edward points; he has gone to the US on the Concorde, he notes, but he will have copies made in due course. He says that "things are in a terrible state at Teignmouth" [South Devon], with "Michael back in hospital, having, he tells me (and Mary confirms), been tempted to suicide". He expresses sympathy for Mary, Michael Dolley's wife.
Blunt, Christopher Evelyn
Part of Personal Papers
Three letters from Christopher Blunt to Ian Stewart and two letters from Ian Stewart to Christopher Blunt, one with an attachment:
(a) letter from Christopher Blunt to Ian Stewart, manuscript, one folio (recto & verso), dated from Ramsbury on 7 April 1983, noting that [Antony] Gunstone had sent the photographs for his Southern museums volume on which he would like some help and asking IS to looks over the ones that concern Offa's coins since he had CEB's index cards for the Offa coins. He says that he has put his comments at the bottom of Gunstone's list and asks for the return of the photos and list. He reports on Michael Dolley's funeral and names some of the people who attended. He says that he explained IS's absence to the Dolley family and they replied that they had received "a charming letter" from him.
(b) letter from Christopher Blunt to Ian Stewart, manuscript, one folio (recto & verso), dated from Ramsbury on 14 April 1983, thanking IS for his comments on the Gunstone photos and noting that some of the points he made had completely escaped him. He discusses the "puzzling Offa from Southampton" and his struggles to come up with a satisfactory reading of it. He says that he now has photographs of the Lough Ennell coins, observing that the small fragment indeed looks like an Alfred BMC XXI. He notes that there are also "some intriguing St Edmunds (post-Cuerdale)", some "sword 'temple' type coins", which ha says are "probably continental", and about ten small fragments. He describes some unusual characteristics on some of the St Edmunds.
(c) letter from Ian Stewart to Christopher Blunt, manuscript, one folio (recto & verso), dated from Baldwin Crescent, London SE5, on 16 April 1983, thanking CEB for his letter and expressing satisfaction that his notes on the Gunstone coins were helpful. He says that he will be interested to see the photographs of the Lough Ennell coins and comments briefly on CEB's descriptions. There is an annotation in the upper right margin of the recto in CEB's hand to the effect that he answered the letter on 19 April, though there is no letter of this date from CEB among the papers of IS.
(d) letter from Christopher Blunt to Ian Stewart, manuscript, two folios (recto & verso), dated from Ramsbury on 6 May 1983, thanking IS for returning the photographs of the Lough Ennell coins with his comments on them. He says that he has received a copy of [Michael] Kenny's text from Dublin, which he will show to IS later. In the meantime, he says that he wants "to show the temple-type coins to Mark [Blackburn] who has been working on this series for Philip [Grierson]'s great catalogue". He also wants to discuss the St Edmunds with [Hugh] Pagan, who will be visiting him the next weekend. He reports on his successful visit to Chester, which he says has a good deal of 10th-century Anglo-Saxon material from the various Chester hoards. There is discussion of the way some of the hoards were originally handled and of Sylloge politics. He mentions plans for IS to visit later in the summer, Mark Blackburn's recent visit and, in a postscript, a memorial service for Michael [Dolley] in Belfast.
(e) letter from Ian Stewart to Christopher Blunt, manuscript, one folio (recto & verso), dated from the House of Commons on 14 July 1983, enclosing his uncorrected draft on Offa (see item (f) below). The upper right margin carries an annotation in CEB's hand that reads "Ans 26/7", but the papers of IS contain no such reply.
(f) paper entitled "The London mint and the coinage of Offa", typescript (photocopy), 17 pages on 17 folios (recto only), one paragraph per page/folio, unattributed and undated, but referred to in Ian Stewart's letter of 14 July 1983 to Christopher Blunt (see item (e) above), and therefore attributable to Ian Stewart and datable to before 14 July.
Blunt, Christopher Evelyn
Part of Personal Papers
Seven letters from Christopher Blunt to Ian Stewart, two with attachments, and one letter from Ian Stewart to Christopher Blunt:
(a) letter from Ian stewart to Christopher Blunt, manuscript, one folio (recto & verso), dated from Baldwin Crescent, London SE5, on 1 January 1982, sending "various things, but mainly an annotated copy of the Ed-chapters [sic] with various suggestions", asking for its return for reference. He says that he has just received comments on Regnald & Bossall, which he needs to examine in more detail.
(b) letter from Christopher Blunt to Ian Stewart, manuscript, one folio (recto & verso), dated from Ramsbury on 7 February 1982, thanking IS for sending the draft chapter for Philip Grierson's book. He also thanks IS for the copies of the Michael Dolley correspondence, noting that he has behaving in this way for some time. He says that they managed to obtain Dolley's comments on their Regnald paper, explaining that Michael Metcalf initially declined to forward copies of Dolley's comments but later agreed to send the relevant parts. He mentions that Dolley told him of a little piece of information that will help their Regnald argument, but suspects that he hadn't thought through the implications for their paper. There is further discussion about Michael Dolley and his long letter to IS, with CEB wondering what IS plans to do about it. He suggests that a diplomatic approach is likely to prove fruitless unless one is prepared to accept all of MD's arguments.
(c) letter from Christopher Blunt to Ian Stewart, manuscript, one folio (recto & verso), dated from Ramsbury on 9 February 1982, expressing delight with IS's chapter for Philip Grierson's 10th-century work but identifying a few points of fact with which he is not entirely happy. On the verso, he turns to further thoughts on the matter of Michael Dolley and his refusal to allow Michael Metcalf to pass on his comments on IS and CEB's Regnald paper. He makes it clear that he does not wish to engage in any kind of negotiation with MD over the comments, since it may go on indefinitely, and says that unless MM feels that he can send them along, he wants to forget the matter, acknowledging that MD is not well.
(d) letter from Christopher Blunt to Ian Stewart, manuscript, single page, dated from Ramsbury on 11 February 1982, enclosing "the four papers to which Michael Dolley refers in the second page of his letter to [IS] of 2 Feb", which he identifies as:
Blunt, Christopher Evelyn