June
1, 1977
Dear
Mr Plant,
Please
forgive me for delaying so long to answer to your nice letter with photocopies
and beautiful stamps. I have been involved with many things all at once,
birthdays, a wedding, a graduation and a funeral. The days have just slipped
away.
About
the Chinese pictures, yes, we had their archaeological exhibit here in San
Francisco, and I went to it and bought a catalogue. But you scooped
me with your sharp eye for the chicken head reproduction on the jar. I shall
keep your drawing and the photocopy with my
Chicken in Art collection. And thank you very much for both.
In
a few minutes I shall be looking at the first of the many TV presentations of
the Queen’s Silver Jubilee. This will be the one at the Opera house, with
the Ballet. I’m sure you are having it too. Perhaps we are fellows
Anglophiles? My father was Anglo-Irish, came to Canada and then to the US but
always kept his British nationality. Generations back the family was from
Tiverton in Devon.
Please
let me know if you find out anything about Cochin Bantams in existence in
China or Japan before 1860. If you don’t hear from Peking, try the Librarian
at the University of Tokyo. That’s all the address you need, and I have
found them very helpful.
Sincerely,