Item 1974/1 - Three letters from Michael Metcalf

3 items, paper

Three letters from Michael Metcalf:
(a) manuscript, single sheet (recto & verso), dated 21 March 1974, acknowledging receipt of the Henry VII typescript and confessing that the "early" chronology proposed by IS, in the light of the Durham evidence and hoard statistics, is the most convincing. MM states that he has drawn up a memo that summarises the arguments for the "early" chronology of IS and the arguments against the one that he used in his typescript. There is a further note, in MM's hand, that he has written to Dr Challis to ask for final suggestions; there are also annotations in IS's hand.
(b) manuscript, single page, dated 25 March 1974, explaining that it may be possible to reconcile Alexander of Bruchsal's appointment [as engraver?] in 1494 with the appearance of characteristics associated with him already in 1493 if he had begun to work in the mint some eighteen months before his appointment as principal. The page is abundantly annotated in IS's hand.
(c) manuscript, single sheet (recto & verso), dated 29 April 1974, thanking IS for the letter and Henry VII annotations. MM says that he has revised the typescript to take account of his points and those of Christopher Challis, discovered a Spanish prototype for the sovereign and worked in the clarification of the "sovereign" pence together with its implications. He is sending the typescript to Christopher Blunt once he receives final clearance from Challis.