T.L.s from John Buchan to Edmund Vale. SIGNED LETTER FROM JOHN BUCHAN TO FELLOW-AUTHOR EDMUND VALE

Thomas Nelson,, 1927. 8vo., single sheet on the printed stationery of Thomas Nelson the publisher (Buchan was a director of this company among several others); dated 6 December 1927; addressed to Edmund Vale at his home address in Bethesda, North Wales; very lightly age-browned but a clear, crisp letter with strong signature 'John Buchan'. The letter is friendly if somewhat imperious in tone ('Dear Vale'). Buchan is glad that Vale's 'railway books are going on well' ands hopes that Vale will be successful in getting his collection of stories published (but evidently not by Nelson). Buchan likes the projected title 'Tapestry Tales' but declines to provide an introduction: 'it would do no good to the book and I really have not a moment to spare'. John Buchan (1875-1940), polymath, writer, statesman and businessman. Suffice it to say that letters signed by him are scarce. Henry Edmund Theodoric Vale ('Edmund Vale'; 1888-1969) was a prolific and successful author and topographer. He wrote many topographical titles for Henry Batsford including 'The Seas and Shores of England' (1936) in the well-known 'British Heritage' series. He produced at least one title for Nelson - the adventure story 'Porth Smuggler' (1926) - and his relationship with Buchan may well stem from this event. Vale's 'railway books' referred to in the letter are almost certainly his much-loved LMS Route Books which include 'The Track of the Irish Mail', 'The Track of the Twenty Fives' and 'The Track of the Royal Scot', all published in the late twenties. Curiously we have been unable to identify the collection of stories referred to by Buchan as 'Tapestry Tales', for there appears to be no book with this title among Vale's considerable and wide-ranging bibliography.