BURNE-JONES, Sir Edward Coley (1833-1898). Autograph letter signed ('Mr Burne-Jones') to an unidentified correspondent ('My dear Dolly'), The Grange, West Kensington, n.d., including THREE DRAWINGS IN PEN AND INK SHOWING AN EGG, A CHICK AND A COCKEREL, 4 pages, 8vo, on a bifolium (discolouration to upper margin of pp.2 & 3, and to upper half of final page, affecting drawing of cockerel). A charming illustrated letter to a child. 'I had an egg for breakfast this morning -- Phil ... had two eggs because he is only ½ as big as I am. I am very sorry Gertie's bird is dead -- I like stuffed birds best because they don't die', and concluding with a drawing of the egg he ate, the chick it would have become if he hadn't eaten it, and the fine cockerel it would have grown into a year later. Christie's 2004
My dear Dolly / I like your letter / very much. I like to / have letters. I want / a letter from Katie - / I am very well. I / had an egg for break - / - fast this morning - / Phil (my Phil not / yours)had two eggs / ... I like stuffed birds best because they don't die ... / a year later it would / have been like this / [drawing of a cockerell] / I am your affectionate / Mr. Burne-Jones
Dealer description: "A charmingly-illustrated autograph letter signed "Mr. Burne-Jones," addressed to "My dear Dolly," the young daughter of Joseph William Comyns Carr. Carr was a renowned critic and playwright, an advocate of the Pre-Raphaelites, and one of Burne-Jones's friends and supporters. In the letter, the famed artist describes his breakfast meal, which is illustrated with a drawing of a single egg. He further depicts how, if he hadn't eaten the egg, it would have turned first into a fuzzy, round chick, and then into a large, strutting rooster. He also expresses sympathy for the loss of Dolly's pet bird, saying, "I like stuffed birds best because they don't die." The letter is written and illustrated in a manner similar to those that he wrote to Dolly's friend, Miss Katherine Lewis, which are anthologized in Letters to Katie, published in 1925. Dolly is mentioned in a couple of the letters to Katie, and in the original autograph letter to Dolly, Burne-Jones writes, "I like your letter very much. I like to have letters. I want a letter from Katie." He later mentions, "I wish Katie would make me a picture with plenty of red in it." Letter has been folded into quarters, slightly toned to one quarter and along the top edge on one side, else fine."