DOYLE ARTHUR CONAN: (1859-1930) Scottish Author, creator of Sherlock Holmes. A fine A.L.S., A Conan Doyle, on two ...

DOYLE ARTHUR CONAN: (1859-1930) Scottish Author, creator of Sherlock Holmes. A fine A.L.S., A Conan Doyle, on two sides of his personal printed correspondence card, Bignell Wood, Minstead, Lyndhurst, Hampshire, 12th November n.y. (annotated 1926 in pencil in an unidentified hand), to an unknown correspondent, although presumably a literary critic. Doyle commences 'I remember old James Payn when I was his pupil giving me the standing rule ''Never argue with a critic''. I have kept it fairly well (save in psychic matters) and I do not feel galled by criticism for I always feel that if one does the very best one can Time will sort it out and what is worthy will remain & what dies should die', further adding 'Therefore I hardly know why I wrote to you save that it is an interesting point to argue how far a falling off is real or apparent & how far the fresh mind reacts as it used to do.' Doyle continues 'I was conscious at one time that [Sherlock] Holmes was strained & for some years I only wrote one story a year. I can truly say I have never written to order or allowed the money side of it to influence me at all. But I have not felt him strained in this last series of six. Five of these are done, and I will not do the sixth if I have any reason to think there is a real declension. I have my ear on the ground'. In concluding Doyle thanks his correspondent for their 'frank criticism & courteous letter' and remarks 'I should be a fool indeed if I resented what is honestly said'. A letter of good literary content and with a rare reference to Sherlock Holmes. Some very light, extremely minor age wear, VG James Payn (1830-1898) English Novelist & Editor of Chambers's Journal and the Cornhill Magazine. Presuming that the date of 1926 is correct, then Doyle would have been making reference to the final six Sherlock Holmes stories he would write, each of which appeared in The Strand Magazine between October 1926 and April 1927, concluding with The Adventure of Shoscombe Old Place.