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 “there are points which make it quite unique” [MUSG]


Longtime readers of I Hear of Sherlock Everywhere and true fans of Sherlock Holmes on the screen will recall that in the 1960s, Douglas Wilmer was Sherlock Holmes on the BBC television series.

A decade ago, we celebrated his golden anniversary of taking that role, including stories about him riding in your editor's car, The Baker Street Journal Christmas Annual dedicated to him, the grand exhibition in London, and Wilmer's investiture into the Baker Street Irregulars (in 2000, as "The Lyceum Theatre").


As mentioned in the latest edition of "A Most Valuable Institution," the Sherlockian news segment for IHOSE supporters (Substack | Patreon), serious collectors now have an opportunity to acquire a unique set of Wilmer items. These are not rare—they are one of a kind.

Al Gregory is offering four letters written by King Charles III, between 2013 and 2016, when he was still the Prince of Wales. They were sent from Highgrove House, Llwynywermod Carmarthenshire, and Birkhall.

Three of them were to Douglas Wilmer, of whose portrayal of Holmes the King speaks very highly. 

The fourth one was a very warm letter of condolence to Wilmer's widow. 

All are personally signed and marked up by Charles, who penned each greeting, underlined certain words, and signed each "Yours most sincerely".


27th July, 2013
Dear Mr. Wilmer,
It was so kind of you to go to all the trouble of tracking down the Sherlock Holmes D.V.D.'s—in France! I never understood why the B.B.C. is so cavalier about its remarkable archive of such treasures... 
I shall watch these films with the greatest pleasure, and I suspect I shall remember seeing them on the television years ago, when I was much younger, as the moment I saw your face (and Dr. Watson's) on the cover it brought the whole series back to me! 
Thank you so much for your great generosity and I send my kindest possible wishes.
Yours most sincerely,
Charles

14th December, 2014
Dear Mr. Wilmer,
A "little bird" has told me that you will reach a milestone birthday on 8th January, and I did not want to let this pass without sending you my warmest possible congratulations on such a special occasion. 
I need hardly say how enormously touched I was that you should have thought of sending me your marvellous memoirs. What splendid characters you encountered during your career, and how well you have managed to recall everything! I do hope you can take great satisfaction in knowing what immense pleasure you have given to so many people — myself included — in your work over so many years.
This comes with my warmest birthday wishes.
Yours most sincerely,
Charles



12th April 2016
Dear Mrs. Wilmer,
I just wanted to write and say how [terribly] sorry I was to hear the very sad news about your husband's passing. You have my deepest sympathy. I can only begin to imagine what an immense emptiness there must now be in your life and my heart goes out to you all.
I was so very touched when your husband sent me his marvellous memoirs only a couple of years ago and I much enjoyed our subsequent correspondence! His memoirs were such a splendid account of the personalities he had come across during his career, and I was astonished at the way he was able to recall so much detail...
I am glad to say that I can just recall his brilliant portrayal of Sherlock Holmes on television during the 1960s and I shall now make absolutely certain I get a hold of that series to watch it again. I need hardly tell you that I can't help thinking that they did these things so much better in those days!
I cannot bear it that yet another wonderful figure from that remarkable generation has now left us. We are all so much the poorer for his absence and while I am only too aware that this letter is hopelessly inadequate under the circumstances, and will probably be of very little comfort in making your sense of loss any easer to bear, I did so want you to know just how much you are in my special thoughts and prayers at such a heartbreaking time.
Yours most sincerely,
Charles



The four are matted and framed together as pictured above.


Please direct questions and serious offers to Al Gregory at gaslightandfog@verizon.net.



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