DOYLE, Arthur Conan (1859-1930). An archive of correspondence to his personal secretary “Tiny” (Constance Holland), regarding his spiritualism lecture tour to Scandinavia and Holland in 1929.
Comprising 8 autograph letters signed and 1 autograph note signed. Doyle reports to his secretary the “great success” that he is having on tour, selling out shows with as many as 2,000 people in attendance.
“At the time of his death on July 7, 1930, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle had long been established as the world’s best-known and most outspoken proponent of Spiritualism, the belief that the dead are able to communicate with the living through an earthly conduit, or medium. For fourteen years he had devoted the better part of his time, energy and resources to this cause, which he often described as ‘the most important thing in the world.’ He once declared that he would gladly sacrifice whatever literary reputation he enjoyed if it would bring about a greater acceptance of his psychic message, and to those who found comfort and meaning in his beliefs, he was ‘the Saint Paul of Spiritualism’” (The Conan Doyle Estate).
Doyle remained an ardent Spiritualist for the rest of his life, selling out lectures home and abroad, but despite the success of this tour, it would ultimately be his last. Upon returning home to England, Doyle suffered a debilitating heart attack and died several months later. In one of the letters to Tiny, Doyle unknowingly foretells of his heart condition by reciting what his doctor is recommending: “Doctor says I have to take it more seriously. 3 weeks in bed (!)”… although Doyle had always boasted that “since I took up my active work for Spiritualism I have never spent a day in bed” (Our African Winter, Ch. VI).