Aiken (Joan, writer, 1924-2004) 6 Typed Letters signed to her publisher Tom Maschler, 6pp., on printed letterhead paper, 4to, The Hermitage, Petworth, 19th July 1991- 8th July 1997, a lively correspondence between the children's writer and her publisher, the odd date stamp, folds; and a carbon copy reply from Maschler, and a copy of the first page of her contract with Cape for her first book, v.s., v.d. (8 pieces)

⁂ An insightful collection from the veteran children's writer: "I feel very apologetic that Quentin [Blake] is being pressured by the BBC into more and more Mortimer and Arabel projects - though of course he is so good they would be nowhere without him - but still I hope The Winter Sleepwalker isn't entirely laid aside." (Blake did indeed illustrate the book, published in 1994.)