Dear Pudden

[et3]

We have a letter signed, "J. M. Barrie," addressed to "Dear Pudden." 

A most engaging missive, dated, 2nd, Sept. 1931 on letterhead, 3, Hare Court, Temple. E.C., Telephone 1979 Central, Telegrams 6 Temple, the author recounts a "most lovely" dream, wherein he attended a "gorgeous fancy dress party that was held in a place where the sun shone all day and music and revelry went on all night."

Sounds like he made it to California, I live in Santa Monica.

Letter:  http://www.eyesears.org/barrie.html

Any comments appreciated.

I'll tell the story behind this find in future postings.

et3

[andrew]

I'm sorry to say that this letter is a fake. A copy was sent to me some years ago by Sothebys, asking for my opinion. Anyone familiar with Barrie's handwriting - and there are hundreds of examples on this site - will immediately see that this is not his penmanship. Nor is it written in his idiosynchratic style, which is quite unmistakeable. Final proof is that Barrie was not in London on the date of this letter! I seem to remember that the letter was found on a bombsite during the blitz, or so it is claimed....

[andrew]

I'm sorry to say that this letter is a fake. A copy was sent to me some years ago by Sothebys, asking for my opinion. Anyone familiar with Barrie's handwriting - and there are hundreds of examples on this site - will immediately see that this is not his penmanship. Nor is it written in his idiosynchratic style, which is quite unmistakeable. Final proof is that Barrie was not in London on the date of this letter, and had he been so, he would have been writing from his home in Adelphi Terrace.
I seem to remember that the letter was found on a bombsite during the blitz, or so it is claimed....