Item 1970/1 - One letter from Christopher Blunt to Ian Stewart and four letters from Ian Stewart to Christopher Blunt

5 items, paper

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.