Lot 1643
Barrie, James Matthew. A series of fifteen autographed letters addressed to his friend John Gordan, often responding to invitations, 'You are very kind, and Mrs Gordan also, and I thank you belatedly for your kind invitation. But there is something inside me that has such distaste for all public functions that I almost never attend them...' dated '4 Mar 1903' and later, going further, 'My dear Gordan, I have been swithering as we used to say long ago, trying to get round myself as it were so that I shall say yes to your letter and a very kind letter it is. But it isn't any use. The instinct of self-preservation keeps warning me of what sort of person I am. I am not exactly unsociable but public functions alarm me. It must be many years since I attended one, and I am like this, that I'd wake up appalled for weeks ahead if I had to go to one. Perhaps I should even leave the country the night before. Such being the situation you will forgive me I know for crying off. Thank you very much for your kindness and I wish you would come and see me any time you are in London. Written with my left hand, the other having followed the fashion and gone on strike.' dated 'Oct. 18 1919', 18pp., 1894-1925, most on Adelphi Terrace House notepaper, but the earliest from 133 Gloucester Road, folded, with a further note from Barrie's secretary, dated June 6 [1894] and a telegram, dated 18 May [19]25, and a series press cuttings dated December 1925, noting the death of the recipient, pasted in an album, together with 18 volumes by J.M. Barrie, 8vo (19)
John Gordon (1854-1925) was born in Kirriemuir, Forfarshire and knew fellow villager J. M. Barrie, who was six years his junior, from an early age. He made a career in accountancy, rising to become the sole proprietor of John Gordan & Co., one of the largest accountancy businesses in Yorkshire. He served as Lord Mayor of Leeds 1900-1901.
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