July 20, 1988

Dear Mr Plant,

The books arrived here in a very good condition and I thank you very much sending these to me. You did a good job in compiling, editing and publishing the articles of the late Mr Compton. I enjoy reading all those articles in the book.

That article of Mr Marshall (Oct 21, 1922) also is very special. His critical notes on the poultry plates of Ludlow are totally right, but Ludlow changes in the external of the fowl, you know this by comparing early work of Ludlow and later work of Ludlow. As so many poultry artist, Ludlow made his plates just as the instructions of the writer of the book. In his time of life the English Game fowl grow higher and higher on the legs to the time the breed was split up in the former type (Old English) and new type (Modern English) the letter being not without Malay blood. Ludlow was not a game breeder and that drawing of 1889 was not his best, but I feel the fault is more to blame his employer. There is a book Lewis Wright’s Poultry  by Dr J.Batty (1983), containing 80 color plates of Ludlow. Half of these are from the first edition of Wright’s famous book of poultry and the others are 25 years later. Comparing the plates one can see differences in the breeds during a short time. Ludlow has his own style in his plates, some parts overdone, too large combs, eyes or crests, bodies angular, but he made the plates as wanted. Later artist made better work; Sewell did a great job and later Schilling and Van Gink.

Thanks to your book I found the color of my own Old English Game fowl. I have black breasted brown reds. Here I enter these in the show under the name Goldnecks. It is difficult to find the right name on rare colors. I gave you earlier comments on your fine book on Chicken bone recoveries.

I do hope it is better with your eyes now, or you can find a reader for my letter. Is there a chance to have a transplant now?

I am very glad with your file of book.

It happens that I have two babies-Cochin bantams (2) from imported eggs only two weeks now but promising birds. By seeing the wings it must be a pair. They are mottled. I never had them earlier. I never was breeding so late in the season, but I have eggs in the incubator. In fact this is too much work for me.

Wishing you the best, sincerely,