^#562 ^Lot 589 Arthur Conan Doyle

ALS signed “A. Conan Doyle,” one page, 5.25 x 7, 15, Buckingham Palace Mansions letterhead, February 8. Letter to Marshall Hall. In full: “We sent out kind thoughts to you twice yesterday—at the Spiritualist Healing service in the morning and at the Club in the evening, when, at my motion, it was enthusiastically carried that we send you a warm message of sympathy. May you soon be with us once again.” In fine condition, with some light mirroring of text and letterhead along bottom blank area and a couple of light edge and corner creases.

This letter’s recipient was Doyle’s friend Sir Edward Marshall-Hall, a famed English attorney with a formidable reputation as an orator. Marshall-Hall became known as ‘The Great Defender’ and successfully represented many people accused of notorious murders; his prowess in the courtroom attracted the attention of Jack the Ripper, who wrote to Marshall-Hall but never took advantage of his legal services as he was never apprehended.