A. A. MILNE 1927 HAND-WRITTEN & SIGNED SHORT LETTER (ALS). WINNIE THE POOH INT. A. A. Milne Ephemera,Manuscript Items.

Original note written & initialed by A. A. Milne on Cotchford Farm headed paper sent to the publisher Frederick Muller of Methuen, who published Milne's Winnie-the-Pooh books etc., asking him not to 'pinch' his manuscript introduction. The note reads: Dear Muller, Here you are. Don't pinch the MS. of Introduction. I may want it. Yours A A M The note was part of a small recently discovered archive of original corrected proofs, manuscripts & letters etc. sent between Milne, illustrator E.H. Shepherd and their publisher Frederick Muller. The correspondence, dating 1927 to 1932, concerned the publication of the Winnie-the-Pooh and Christopher Robin titles along with other related material. The collection belonged to the late Leslie Smith, who founded the publishing company Cressrelles. His company had taken over another publishing company that had been run by the family of Winnie-the-Pooh publisher Frederick Muller, leaving Muller's letters in Smith's possession. The letters were found by Smith's children while clearing out their father's loft after his death in November 2023. Page measures 14 x 19cm. Some age-related discolouration and wear including creased corners and small tear to left edge. Rusty staple stain to rear. A unique piece of Pooh Bear Memorabilia! --- Alan Alexander Milne (1882 - 1956) was an English writer best known for his books about the teddy bear Winnie-the-Pooh, as well as for children's poetry. Milne was primarily a playwright before the huge success of Winnie-the-Pooh overshadowed all his previous work. Milne was the father of Christopher Robin Milne, upon whom the character Christopher Robin is based. It was during a visit to London Zoo, where Christopher became enamoured with the tame and amiable bear Winnipeg, that Milne was inspired to write the story of Winnie-the-Pooh for his son. In 1925, Milne bought Cotchford Farm, in Hartfield, East Sussex. Cotchford Farm is a farmhouse building to the southwest of the village of Hartfield, East Sussex, in the High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, in southern England. A. A. Milne, who wrote all of his Winnie-the-Pooh books at the house, often inspired by the local landscape. The fictional Hundred Acre Wood of the Pooh stories derives from Five Hundred Acre Wood in Ashdown Forest in East Sussex, South East England, where the Pooh stories were set. Milne lived on the northern edge of the forest at Cotchford Farm, and took his son on walking trips there. E. H. Shepard drew on the landscapes of Ashdown Forest as inspiration for many of the illustrations he provided for the Pooh books. The adult Christopher Robin commented: "Pooh's Forest and Ashdown Forest are identical." --- As it is sometimes difficult to properly judge the look and condition of an item from the description and photos alone, please feel free to buy knowing that you can return the item post free if you are not entirely pleased with your purchase. Please do not hesitate to contact me should you have any questions. Combined shipping available at cost. Welsh Bridge Books & Collectables is a bricks and mortar shop located alongside the River Severn at Shrewsbury, in a beautiful 16th Century building housing three floors of interesting and eclectic books and collectables for sale. If you're in Shropshire please pop by and say hello!