Cottingley Fairies
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June 30th - First letter from Arthur Conan Doyle to Elsie Wright

Miss Elsie Wright
31, Main Street
Cottingley
near Bingley
Yorks

Both this and the next are written on stationary imprinted "THE ATHENĈUM, PALL MALL, S.W.1." That address has been stroked out, and "Windlesham Crowborough" has been written in. Thanks to a tip from Ian Miller, we learn that the Athenĉum is a gentleman's club for the "intellectually elite," still in existence in Pall Mall today.

June 30

Dear Miss Elsie Wright

I have seen the wonderful pictures of the fairies which you and your cousin Frances have taken, and I have not been so interested for a long time. I will send you tomorrow one of my little books for I am sure you are not too old to enjoy adventures. I am going to Australia soon, but I only wish before I go that I could get to Bradford and have half an hours chat with you, for I should like to hear all about it. With best wishes

Yours sincerely

Arthur Conan Doyle

Mr Gardner told me about it.