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Militaria and Political Auction
Lot 1356:
A.A. Milne
ALS 5" y 8" 2p. December 20, 1942
Cotchford Farm, UK File Literary
Author of children’s verses and classics, Milne wrote "Winnie-the-Pooh" and "When We Were Very Young".
A.A. Milne pens about his son Christopher Robin, Catalyst of the "Winnie the Pooh" stories at war in Iraq and wishing he were home Description:
Single page ALS written on verso and recto, note paper, 5" x 8". Edges lightly creased, with one 2mm intact tear. Light foxing to edge of upper and lower edges outside of margins and not affecting text. Dated "20/xii/42" and signed "Ever Blue". Near fine.
A wonderful letter by Milne written to his long time friend, Vincent Seligman (‘Vi"). Milne’s letter discusses Pat, his
"treasure" who was now posted to a RAF just outside of Bristol in the midst of WWII, and his son Christopher Robin who is in Iraq. Milne shows his incredible attachment and fondness towards his son (who he has nicknamed Moon), which is reflected in his comment when he responds to a quote from Christopher: "He (Christopher) writes: " But I am well and happy, or what more can we want?" with Milne’s response as "I want him home again, that’s what!".
The apparent attachment of the father/son relationship shows quite strongly in the letter, yet one feels a sense of melancholy as the reader knows the fleeting warmth in this familial bond was destined to change. In the following years there would be a dramatic shift in the nature of the father/son relationship. It was after the war, when Christopher was in his mid to late twenties that his resentment of his father came to a head. Christopher had tried several iobs but failed to find a niche and held his parents somehow responsible for his plight. He came to believe that his father "had got where he was by climbing on my infant shoulders, that he had filched from me my good name and had left me with nothing but the empty fame of being his son."
It had reached a point of such an emotional barrier for Christopher that he hardly had any contact with his father, and rarely saw him. This is a sharp, hollow contrast to the idyllic ending that one would prefer to imagine for Christopher Robin and A.A. Milne, one where the reader would prefer to imagine instead that "in that enchanted place on the top of the Forest, a little boy and his Bear will always be playing".
The lengthy letter also touches upon WWII, and Milne’s postscript comment that "we’re winning". As transcribed in full:
"Cotchford Farm
Hartfield, Sussex 20/cit/42
Dear Vi.
This is just to wish you and Bobs a very happy Christmas and New Year, and to say how sorry I shall be on Jan 2nd, not to be with you, but I think I am wise not to …
It.
Our Pat (daughter of Mrs. Wilson), our one and only treasure, and now Corporal Wilson of this WRAF has just been posted to an RAF … station, or something, at or just outside Bristol. When I told her that Kirkly was at or near Bristol also, she was pretty excited because she and her mother have always had a great fondness for him, and still talk of his return from here with Kitten in paper bag. Pat is here at the moment looking after us and her mother who has been very ill. She returns to duty (after a fortnight’s compassionate leave to look after us and her mother who has been very will – see above, but I ought to have put her mother first can not on Wednesday; and as she of course, on Wednesday; and as she has been for (illegible) two years at (illegible) and has all her friends there she will be a bit longer at Bristol. Hence the … for … to renew his acquaintances. So I hope he will. I will give you a definite address as soon as I get it: though possibly DADOS can identify the place of means of his spies and informers
Moon has left the Irag desert and is now waist deep in Irag mind (makes them think that all this was the …) He writes : " But I am well and happy, or what more con we want?" I want him home again, that’s what!
Give my Bobs my best love, … and accept a humble salute from a 2/Lt for yourself … (Coo, you should have heard my lecture on Thursday in the Village Hall, Forest Row. A tense hush for an hour – you could have heard a bomb drop)
Ever Blue
P.S. Pat is in the 76th … wing. You know where (illegible) … wing’s are? Just above this (illegible) Nose. This is the 76th. Tell Kirkly to get to it
PPS. Tell Bobs we’re winning"
Mile’s letter was written to Vincent Seligman, who was a German Jew whose family emigrated to London and the United states in the 19th century.
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