Administrative Information

Access Restrictions

There are no restrictions.

Use Restrictions

See the University of Virginia Library’s use policy.

Preferred Citation

Roald Dahl Papers, 1980-1986, Accession #11142, Special Collections Dept., University of Virginia Library, Charlottesville, Va.

Processing Information

These items were transferred from Rare Books, Special Collections, University of Virginia Library to the Manuscripts Division on April 22, 1994.

Scope and Content Information

This collection consists of two manuscripts, an undated autographed black & white photograph, and letters of the Welsh short story and children's author, Roald Dahl (1916- ?). The manuscripts include an electrostatic copy of the corrected typescript of the American edition of The B F G as sent to the publisher's salesman before publication, 47 pages, ca. 1982, and an electrostatic copy of his short story "The Bookseller," 20 pages, appearing first in Playboy in 1986, with an undated letter from Stephen Roxburgh to Kathy Leab, forwarding this copy of "The Bookseller" for her collection of Dahl material.

There are also four letters from Roald Dahl, Gipsy House, Great Missenden, Buckinghamshire, June 11 & 14, September 14, and October 30, 1980, two autograph signed and two typed signed, to Mr. Cranham, possibly the headmaster of Cokethorpe, a private school, concerning arrangements to come and talk to the boys at the school. In the first letter, June 11, 1980, Dahl says, "I never charge a fee and incidentally, you should never pay one. If a fellow is worth having then he is successful enough not to have to take money from children or indeed anyone. If he needs the money he is not worth having."