Letter from Ivon Hitchens, Petworth, to Thomas Balston, 1953 January 29 : autograph manuscript signed.

Thanking him for his "attention to my seemingly foolish - but really rather necessary inquiry" (i.e. concerning the possible publication of a volume of Hitchen's paintings), noting that he knew that Balston had left publishing, but that he was clearly the right person to tell him all he wanted to know "without danger of committing myself into some enemies hands.", informing him that "Any publicity of the sort" would be unwelcome at present, although he does worry about the passing years and changing fashions in the art world, and remarking "Now I suppose it will be all arts council & metal sculpture, until somebody invents a way of outdoing Nicholson[?] with invisible paint"; expressing his regret that Balston's interest in (Mark) Gertler didn't "bear fruit".