What a wonderfully interesting little Spurgeon letter. To see more on Spurgeon's controversial relationship with smoking and cigars, see here: Spurgeon's Love of Fine Cigars (romans45.org)
Anything related to this subject is very collectible. The cigarette cards with his quotes are wonderful and we sold some years ago his very rare defense of smoking sermon pamphlet. The final bid was $10,000.00 on the nose!
So it was wonderful to see this lovely letter show up.
2pp in his distinctive purple ink, it is written to his friend, Newman Hall [1816-1902]. Hall was author of the famous work Come to Jesus, one of the most influential salvation works of the day.
"Westwood
Beulah Hill
Upper Norwood
1887 Sep 2.
Dear Mr. Hall
You are the soul of kindness. Do you know the old book you gave me has proved a great treasure! I have fed upon it myself, & have found food for others in it. I have sent you my last new book by this post, & hope you may enjoy it. How I wish I cd make you well!
I wd gladly see more of you, but every day has its own full tale of work, & the time is laid out long before it arrives.
The present of the cigars is a princely one. I shall be bound to think of you very often and very gratefully. The Lord himself be with you, & grant you the desires of your heart.
Yours most heartily,
C. H. Spurgeon"
Very crisp with biographical note at head and binding / tape residue at right edge. Lovely.