1882 C. H. SPURGEON. Group of Three Connected Autograph Letters on the Reformation & Martin Luther.

An absolutely wonderful group of letters from C. H. Spurgeon to Henry Graves [1806-1892]. He was a London printer, print-seller, and publisher. He was also brother the important British engraver, Robert Graves [d.1873] who produced a suite of Reformation plates during the 1830's. It is likely these that Spurgeon is looking for. 

I love the personal insight this little grouping gives. In the three letters, spanning nearly a year, Spurgeon is writing to see if he can collect a group of inexpensive prints related to Reformation history, etc., for a scrapbook he is assembling for his home. Why? So that when people are visiting with children, he can use the images to talk to the kids about the history of God's sacrificial people and their love for Jesus. Knowing that he at this time pastored the largest Independent church in England, and yet was trying to figure out how to take care of and pastor children when they visited his home, that just feels quite beautiful and exposes the enduring simplicity and guilelessness of his faith. 

Letter 1.

Dated to August 21, 1882 in Spurgeon's typical purple ink, 1.5pp. 

"Dear Sir

Perhaps this note may be ridiculous. If so, burn it. I am making a scrap book of pictures connected to the Reformation. Have you any soiled plates which you could let me have at small cost? Perhaps I had better first say - have you any plates at all of the kind I want? The goodness of the print is not an item with me, for I want them to amuse and instruct young people when they stay in the house. 

Thanking you for former kindnesses.

I am, Dear Sir,
Yours truly
C. H. Spurgeon"

Letter 2.

Dated to June 25, 1883 in Spurgeon's typical purple ink, 1p.

"Dear Sir,

No Luther was of no note till his conversion. It [presumably an engraving] represents him & (as I suppose) John of Saxony.

Thanks for the little engraving. Did you mean me to keep it? Fearing you do not, I return it.

I have just got 4 engravings from New York, two about the Huguenots, & two abt the Pilgrim Fathers. Oddly enough, one of them has yr name as publisher. This is a round about way of getting them.

Yrs heartily,
C. H. Spurgeon"

Letter 3. 

Dated to July 13 1883 in black ink. 1p.

"Dear Mr. Graves,

I have ordered the pictures to be returned to you. I hope there will have been no damage of any sort. I am greatly obliged to you for yr supreme courtesy. You have grandly helped me, & I am deeply grateful. God bless you.

Yours heartily,
C. H. Spurgeon." 

Fresh from the family collection of the Graves family, by descent. A bit handled, but complete and really a lovely grouping. Very rare to find a sequence like this. In fact, I don't recall ever having done so.