Item 1975/1 - One letter from Christopher Blunt to Ian Stewart and four letters from Ian Stewart to Christopher Blunt, one with attachments

7 items, paper

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.