Harry Furniss to publisher John Lane, founder of The Bodley Head (1923)

This handwritten letter offers an intimate glimpse into a collaboration between two prominent figures of late-Victorian and Edwardian British print culture: the prolific caricaturist Harry Furniss and the legendary publisher John Lane, founder of The Bodley Head.

The exchange catches Furniss right at the twilight of his career, working on what would be one of his final projects before his death in January 1925.

A Book in the Making

Dated April 10th, 1923, the letter is addressed to "Dear Mr. Lane." In it, Furniss writes:

"I have practically finished this, with the exception of yourself. I think I have got all the interesting facts concerning it. I have been somewhat unlucky in finding – or rather not finding you in Town. Is it possible you could find time next week someday, and I shall go up to meet you."

Given the date and the boxed letterhead note "The Albany," Furniss is actively compiling research and drawings for his book Paradise in Piccadilly: The Story of Albany, which John Lane published posthumously in 1925.

Why "The Albany" Matters

The Albany (now simply Albany) is an exclusive, historic apartment complex in Piccadilly, London. By 1923, it had spent over a century serving as a highly restrictive sanctuary for aristocratic, political, and literary bachelors. Famous residents included Lord Byron, William Gladstone, and Thomas Macaulay.

For a publisher like John Lane—who lived and operated in the heart of London's literary society—and an illustrator like Furniss, documenting the elite, eccentric history of this architectural gem was a major passion project. Furniss was seeking out Lane to ensure he hadn't missed any vital, insider "interesting facts" about the property or Lane's own connections to it before sending the manuscript to press.

About the Creator: Harry Furniss (1854–1925)

Furniss was one of the most famous political cartoonists and illustrators of his era.

The Punch Years: He was best known for his 14-year stint at Punch magazine, where he drew over 2,600 illustrations. His satirical "Essence of Parliament" cartoons spared no one, famously caricaturing William Gladstone with oversized collars.

Lewis Carroll Collaboration: He illustrated Lewis Carroll’s Sylvie and Bruno (1889). The collaboration was notoriously strained; Carroll was so hyper-controlling that Furniss would regularly pretend not to be home when the author came knocking.

A Film Pioneer: Always adaptable, Furniss spent time in America working with Thomas Edison, where he pioneered some of the earliest animated cartoon films around 1914.

The Double Letterhead

The stationery itself tells a geographical story. It features Furniss's late-life residence letterhead, "The Mount, High Wickham, Hastings," where he retired to the Sussex coast. However, because this specific correspondence was entirely focused on his London research, he hand-boxed and wrote "The Albany" right next to his name to emphasize the singular topic of the meeting he was trying to secure.

Tears along the creases etc. Corners bent.
205mm x 55mm

R2,000