CHANNING MARK: (1879-1943) British Author of thriller and adventure novels, many featuring the Secret Service agent Colin Gray. Series of thirteen A.Ls.S. and one T.L.S., Mark Channing, (and two with his first name only, and one signed with his initials only), twenty pages (total), generally 4to and 8vo, Chelsea & Newhaven, August 1933 – May 1937, all to Eileen M. Cond. In a number of the letters Channing discusses a property he should like to purchase and enquires as to whether his correspondent knows of ‘a timbered 4-6 room cottage which is for sale?’, specifying that ‘it must have a garden in which nightingales sing in nightingale time’ (25th August 1933), further remarking ‘Indeed I was serious about the cottage I am looking for…Please, instead of stopping keeping an eye open, keep open both your kind eyes!’ (28th August 1933), and in other letters he also refers to his work, ‘Have you a Boots’ circulating library near you? If you have, and will ask them for “White Python” they will get it for you. When you have read it, I hope you will let me know whether you like it. It has just gone into its third edition’ (25th May 1934), ‘My next book will be called “The Poisoned Mountain”….Your criticism of “White Python” interested me. I don’t think you’ll find my next novel too fantastic’ (25th March 1935), ‘I am expecting to finish my new book “Indian Mosaic” (a series of pen pictures of the India I knew & loved for 20 years) before Xmas. But…I may, when it is written, decide not to publish it, but to write another novel & let this semi-autobiography simmer, or mature. I do not feel that my readers wd. be much interested….they’d far prefer, I imagine, a tale I’d thought out on the lines of “King Cobra” – wh. story, by the way, has just finished running with Figaro! (Paris).’ (28th November 1935),‘My new book –(semi-autobiographical)- comes out….very shortly. Let me know how you like it, & why so, or not so!’ (7th May 1936), ‘Yes, you sent me your kind opinion of Indian Mosaic, in wh. you said I had not said enough about elephants! But you did not tell me what you wd. like my next “adventure story” to be about. So I have started on a Himalayan adventure with a new hero & heroine’ (16th September 1936), ‘My kitten is exceedingly flattered to receive your message & is sitting on the top half of this sheet of paper, as if censoring all my remarks! Heaven knows when I’ll finish my new book. Haven’t started it yet. I’m too busy trying to “see” it’ (6th October 1936), ‘I have to give a resume of King Cobra very swiftly & describe my previous characters – Colin, Diana….so that the reader who has not read ‘K.C.’ shall understand the background. And believe me, that is a tiresome business. At the 9th attempt I have gotten together a first chapter wh. I fancy will stand.’ (21st December n.y.), ‘The writing of the new novel – a Colin Gray thriller, but not wildly impossible – proceeds, but slowly. It is to be called “Nine Lives” & will (naturally) contain a kitten – my kitten. In the end it – but I won’t spoil the story for you by telling you it in advance!’ (10th December n.y.). Also including a promotional postcard issued for The Poisoned Mountain, featuring a portrait of Channing and various printed texts, signed and inscribed by Channing with his initials, two greetings cards, one signed by Channing and the other by the author on behalf of his cat, and two unsigned candid 2.5 x 4 photographs of Channing standing outdoors, in one of the images holding his cat. Some light overall age wear and a few of the letters with minor paperclip rust stains. G to generally about VG, 19