GERALD MASSEY - AUTOGRAPH LETTER SIGNED 10/25 - HFSID 73511

GERALD MASSEY
The nineteenth-century British Egyptologist writes to a colleague about setting up a lecture, signs name in black ink
Autograph letter signed: "Gerald Massey" in black ink. 4 pages integral leaf, 4½x7¼ folded. October 25, no year. Kingshall, Hemel Hempstead, England. In part: "Dear Mr. Ireland, Since I wrote you the evening of Dec. 11th has been filled in. But I am, to lecture at New Brighton on Friday Nob. 17th and could find you the Monday morning Nob. 20th if you can...It is my only Monday left this side of Christmas. Please try and get me...it is a ne lecture and has not been asked for...With kindest regards to Mrs. Ireland, I am, Yours". Gerald Massey (1828-1907) was an English poet and writer on Spiritualism and Ancient Egypt. As a child, Massey had a gloomy life working in laborious factories with a very poor family, therefore he was easily attracted to Christian Socialism, becoming well-associated with notables such as Frederick Denison Maurice and Charles Kingsley. His education led him to a deep interest in Egyptology, particularly the similarities between their mythology with Gospel stories, and he was a strong advocate of the comparisons between Jesus and the Egyptian god Horus. A promoter of spiritual evolution, Massey believed that Darwin's theory of evolution was incomplete without spiritualism. Massey's writings include the poems "Voices of Freedom and Lyrics of Love" (1850), The Ballad of Babe Christabel" (1854) and "A Tale of Eternity" (1869), as well as books on Egypt such as The Book of the Beginnings, The Natural Genesis, and his most well-known book Ancient Egypt: The Light of the World. Normal mailing folds. Toned. Slightly soiled. Creased throughout. Corners rounded. Small ink stains. Otherwise, fine condition.