^Lot 540 C. S. Lewis

Influential Irish author and scholar (1898–1963), a former atheist who became an eloquent convert to Christianity, best known for his works on Christian theology (most notably, the ‘epistolary’ story The Screwtape Letters) and for his much-beloved, seven-book juvenile fantasy series The Chronicles of Narnia. TLS, one page, 8 x 5, typed The Kilns, Kiln Lane letterhead, April 13, 1960. Letter of thanks for a sent book. In full: “An attractive looking book, The Best of Fantasy and Science Fiction, arrived here this morning from Messrs. Doubleday, and I gather from the docket enclosed with it that it is a present from you. I am most grateful to you for your kindness, and I look forward to beginning on this feat forthwith.” Pencil notation in an unknown hand at bottom reads, “Contributor? Of a filer not a story Mercury Press had us send.” In fine condition, with a central vertical fold, staple hole to top left corner, and a couple light creases. Doubleday began printing their anthologies taken from the best of the Fantasy and Science Fiction magazine in 1954 and released them sporadically over the following years.