Various, No Publisher, [c1917-1922]. Manuscript. Unbound. A great little Conan Doyle archive revolving around the medium Daniel Dunglas Home. Home was a medium greatly respected by ACD but was naturally subject to a lot scrutiny. ACD was a staunch defender of Home. This archive concerns that ongoing dialogue.Â
Comprising:Â
[1] 8pp Tear Sheets for a Strand Magazine article on Home (May 1921). A couple of corrections in ACD's hand. Disbound, with staple rust.Â
[2] 20pp Fair-copy Typed Manuscript of the above incorporating the corrections. A little spotting and rusting from a paperclip.Â
[3] 4pp Typed Manuscript, carbon [with copy noted in hand]. Dated Dec 17th 1929. Likely for magazine publication, perhaps a letter to the editor or similar. In the piece ACD defends Home citing his turning down of large sums of money as strong evidence that he wasn't a crook. Certainly an interesting insight into ACD's opinion of Home and spiritualism in general.Â
[4] 2pp Autograph Manuscript outlining a brief biography of Home. Brief mention of Robert Chambers [not the King in Yellow one] and Michael Faraday [who was sceptical of Home]. The ms finishes with a few Biblical quotes.Â
[5] 2pp Manuscript notes: page references.Â
[6] 1pp (1/2pp!) Manuscript note referencing Home and Chambers.Â
[7] 2pp ALS to George Sims, dated March 6th [1922?] requesting the name and address of a friend who 'had' Home's house. ACD is requesting details as it appears he's trying to counter claims that Home was a fraud.Â
[8] 3pp ALS to George Sims, dated March 12th [1922?], wherein ACD repeats his request. It appears that Sims published something, perhaps refuting ACD's claims, about the supernatural.Â
[9] 4pp ALS to ACD from Mrs Isabel Birmingham [?]. Dated April 17, 1922 - 58th St New York, Kentucky. Discussing ACD's talk at Carnegie Hall and thereafter her own experience with spiritualism. There's a note to the top left of the letter seemingly in ACD's hand.Â
[10] 2pp TLS to ACD from David Gow. Dated 26th June 1917. Referencing spiritualism, specificalyl the Fox Sisters, the Katie King spirit, William Volckman, Mrs Guppy, And Oliver Lodge.Â
[11] 1pp ALS on Windlesham Manor headed paper. Not ACD's hand, perhaps a secretary? Note at the top: "Clodd", presumably the note is about Edward Clodd.Â
[12] 4pp ALS to ACD from a [?] Jones. Dated Jan 1919. The letter recounts to ACD Jones' encounters with Home. Note to the top corner, probably ACD's noting the subject.Â
[13] 1pp TLS to ACD from J. Douglas Bayly, dated 23rd June 1921. Bayly recounts an encounter with Home recounted to him by Lydia Wiseman. Note to cornder, probably ACD's hand noting subject.Â
[14] 3pp TLS to ACD from Vernon Rymer of Bendigo dated 5th November 1920. Again, basically outlining encounters with Home [10990, Hyraxia Books].