Letter from T. Anstey Guthrie, London, to George Du Maurier, 1884 June 29 : autograph manuscript signed.

Concerning Guthrie's designs for the woodcuts to be used as the initials in his collection of short stories titled "The Black Poodle"; asking for his advice saying "I shall be very grateful indeed to you if you will give me your advice as to the following. As I daresay you know I proposed in a rash moment to design the initials for the 'Black Poodle' & have drawn about half-a-dozen upon the wood - The engraver is Pearson of Bolt Court & I told him that I could not expect him to follow every stroke so long as the general effect was preserved, because I knew that I indicated shade in a rather complicated manner. Yesterday I went up to see the proofs & brought away the two that are cut at present - which I enclose. The designs as drawn were as I need not say not remarkable for any artistic merit but it seems to me that - as was inevitable - any individuality there was about them has been lost in the process of translation & that, as they are now, they will not be any addition to the book - if they do not damage it seriously - I confess I feel alarmed at thinking of them between the same covers as your frontispiece - The only hope I have is that with good ink & thick paper there might be an improvement - What I want you to tell me - & I am sure you will understand that I should not ask you if I did not want your opinion given without any reason whatever - is this - Would you advise me to let them appear at all & do you consider that the best paper & ink would make the general effect appreciably less hard & poor? I am not complaining of course of the engraving - it has been as faithful as possible under the circumstances - but I think the drawings had scarcely enough in them to stand the test of cutting unless that cutting could have been rigidly faithful - which was too much to expect - I would much rather give up the idea of initials altogether than let the book be disfigured by them & I could get Longman & give them up if I had your opinion to back me (though I would not mention it without your permission of course) & upon paying the engraver's expenses. I have not said anything to him yet & shall not unless I hear from you - as I expect that you agree with me - but I do not like to run any risk & I am sure you will advise me for the best;" adding, in a postscript, "Please mention in your letter whether I may quote you & L. as against the initials or whether you would rather not."