[ Sir Allen Lane, publisher. ] Autograph Letter Signed ('Allen Lane') to 'Mr Bailey', describing the 'original concept' behind Penguin Books, and giving his view of 'the book business'.

2pp., 12mo. In good condition, lightly aged and worn. The letterhead, printed in red and black, features the illustration of a phoenix in fire which featured on the covers of some Penguin Books publications of works by D. H. Lawrence. He begins by stating that Malcolm Kelly has sent him Bailey's letter 'with its very flattering reference to me'. He explains that he has 'always regarded the book business as a whole & not as two camps as it were, book-sellers & publishers'. It is for this reason that he 'took the line I did recently against selling our books through super-markets, pubs & petrol stations'. He explains 'the original concept of Penguins': 'that there was a far larger market for good books, well produced at a low [sic] price than the book trade had ever imagined'. He has been satisfied that his theory has been vindicated. He believes that his firm is 'a good example of the team spirit', and that it has been 'fortunate over the years in having attracted as able a group of people through editorial & production to sales without which the results could not have been achieved'.