Ernest Jones, Freud Biographer & British Psychoanalyst, ALS Re: Royal Society

2pp autograph letter signed by influential British psychoanalyst Ernest Jones (1879-1958) as "Ernest Jones" at the center of the second page. Written at The Plat, Jones's cottage and clinic in Elsted, Midhurst, Sussex, England, n.d. Inscribed overall in Jones's hand on watermarked cream laid paper with Jones's address embossed at top. Expected paper folds and isolated discoloration, else near fine. 5.25" x 7".

In this undated letter, Jones wrote friend Thomas Horder, 1st Baron Horder (1871-1955) about recent developments in the medical field. Jones also criticizes the process by which honorary designations are granted in light of his own rejected nomination to the Royal Society.

"My dear Horder

So the cabal succeeded last evening and reaction has once more triumphed. It is a great pity for the profession, but I make no doubt that you are philosopher enough to bear it in the personal sphere. Years ago I ceased to covet honours when I found what 'human' factors operated in regard to them. Curiously enough I made an exception in respect of the F.R.S. [Fellow of the Royal Society] which I believed to be an objective standard. But when recently I was nominated for that honour my backers didn't reckon with Gordon Holmes, that fanatically anti-psychological person, being on the Council. So that was that, + now I know there is no exception.

Yours very sincerely

Ernest Jones."

Ernest Jones was a friend and colleague of pioneering Austrian psychoanalyst Sigmund Freud, who later became Freud's official biographer. Jones's 3-volume opus Sigmund Freud: Life and Work, was published by London-based Hogarth Press between 1953-1957. Jones played a significant role in establishing and legitimizing psychoanalysis in Great Britain, being widely considered as the first authoritative English-speaking psychoanalyst.

Jones's letter recipient 1st Baron Horder was a physician whose patients included every British monarch between Edward VII and Elizabeth II (with the exception of Edward VIII) as well as several prime ministers. The object of Jones's contempt at the Royal Society was Gordon Morgan Holmes (1876-1955), a leading British neurologist who researched war trauma among other topics.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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