Description:

Kipling Rudyard

Rudyard Kipling Supports Restoration of Reims Cathedral after WWI Damage

One half page TLS signed by British author Rudyard Kipling (1865-1936) as "Rudyard Kipling" at lower right. Written at Bateman's, Kipling's home in Burwash, Sussex, England, on June 27, 1922. On watermarked cream laid stationery paper with "Burwash / Etchingham / Bateman's / Burwash / Sussex" letterhead. Expected light paper folds, weathering, and minor glue residue along edges recto. Mounting traces verso. Else near fine. 7.75" x 4.875". Ex Ray V. Denslow (see biography below.)

In part, with unchanged spelling:

"I have to thank you very much for your invitation to be present at the Mansion House on July 14th. for the meeting to raise funds for the restoration of the Cathedral at Rheims. I am so very much in sympathy with this object that I much regret that a previous engagement, made some week ago, will prevent my being present…"

Rudyard Kipling, a poet, novelist, and journalist, had established his literary reputation in the 1890s with such works as "Gunga Din" (1890), The Jungle Book (1894), and "The White Man's Burden" (1899). He was the first English language recipient of the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1907. During World War I, Kipling harnessed his writing talent by producing pro-British, anti-German propaganda. His patriotism, combined with the death of his teenaged son John at the 1915 Battle of Loos, made him an impassioned speaker on the subject. Allied propaganda stressed the humanitarian, cultural, and art historical consequences of the German war machine, evidenced by such atrocities as the Belgian refugee crisis, the 1915 sinking of the Lusitania, and the bombardment of Reims Cathedral beginning in 1914.

Reims Cathedral had sustained considerable damage only months into World War I. The French Gothic cathedral, traditionally the site of coronations since the 9th century, had been used by both the Allies and the Axis powers as a military hospital and observation post. Subsequent bombardment damaged windows and sculptures, and burned the timber superstructure and lead roof of the centuries-old cathedral. The images must have been eerily familiar to those we recently saw when Paris's Notre Dame Cathedral caught on fire on April 15, 2019.

Kipling's correspondent, referred to here as "Mrs. Aubrey Le Blond", was Irish-born Elizabeth Alice Frances Main (1860-1934). An inveterate traveler and mountain-climber, the eccentric Main also wrote books. She supported the war effort in various ways, from volunteering at a hospital in Dieppe, to fundraising for the restoration of Reims Cathedral. Reconstruction of the cathedral began in 1919.

Bateman's, Kipling's home between 1902-1936, was located in southeastern England. It was a seventeenth-century stone manor house without plumbing or electricity. Kipling purchased the estate, complete with over 30 acres and a mill, for over £9,000.

Provenance

Ray V. Denslow (1885-1960), a fourth generation Freemason, and internationally renowned Masonic historian, having written over 20 full volumes and 62 booklets on Masonic subjects. He held extensive positions as a Freemason over his lifetime including Grand High Priest of the Grand Chapter R.A.M. of Missouri and as Grand Master of the Grand Lodge, A.F. & A.M. of Missouri. Perhaps his greatest national honor was that of serving as General Grand High Priest of the General Grand Chapter, Royal Arch Masons, from 1942-46. He was Grand Master of the Knights of the York Cross of Honor in 1949; Grand Sovereign of the Red Cross of Constantine in 1943; Grand Chancellor of the Grand College of Rites; Great Prior of the Chevaliers Bienfaisants de la Cité Sainte, U.S.A. in 1952; and Grand Abbot of the Society of Blue Friars at the time of his death. He held almost 100 honorary memberships in Masonic groups stretching from France to the Philippines.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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