[TENNIS]: BALFOUR ARTHUR JAMES (1848-1930) British Prime Minister 1902-05. T.L.S., Arthur James Balfour, with holograph salutation, one page, small 4to, Pall Mall, London, 7th July 1913, to [Percy W.] Rootham, marked Private in the hand of Balfour's secretary. Balfour thanks his correspondent for their note and adds that he has made arrangements for paying a subscription and further commenting 'Unfortunately, the amendment concerning my constituency, the City of London, came on in the House of Commons at a most inconvenient hour, and, to my great regret, I missed all the early part of the Wilding-McLoughlin match. But I watched the last critical games with the greatest possible interest and delight'. Balfour concludes that he will be abroad on the 25th, 'otherwise I should most certainly attend at Wimbledon'. With a pencil annotation to the foot of the letter and some minor overall age wear and light traces of former mounting to the verso, about VG
Percy W. Rootham - Vice President of the Lawn Tennis Association.
Arthur James Balfour was a regular tennis player for much of his life and served as the first President of the International Lawn Tennis Club of Great Britain.
In the present letter, Balfour refers to the Men's Singles final of the Wimbledon Championships when Anthony Wilding of New Zealand defeated Maurice McLoughlin of America, Wilding claiming his fourth Wimbledon title.