WCP4201

[1]

Broadstone, Dorset.

Jan^y. 24th 1903

G. M. Philips¹ Esq.

Dear Sir

I have frequent applications for my autograph & these I never refuse, but of late years the practice has arisen in America, of sending their own books to authors for them to write in. Here I draw the line. The tax upon one’s time & patience in unpackaging such books, writing in them & repacking, amid the large daily correspondence & other work is too much, and I [2] have for some time refused all such applications. Some people charge me with want of courtesy in sending back the books as they came, but it seems to me that the same complaint might be made by the author in not having been first asked whether he would receive & return books sent for that purpose. To me also the whole practice seems a pure fad, since the author’s signature or his [3] letter stuck in the book would answer the same purpose. However, as each book is so written in becomes an advertisement of the author’s conduct, you will I think see that it is unreasonable to ask me to voluntarily subject myself to an increasing inpour of my ^own books upon my already overcrowded study table.

Yours very truly | Alfred R. Wallace [signature]

[4] P.S. You packed the book in such flimsy paper that even the inner cover arrived torn and with holes in the covers! A.R.W.