[Saint Nihal Singh, trailblazing Indian journalist.] Typed Card Signed to W. Macqueen-Pope, querying their possible acquaintance during his years of ‘London journalism’, and the Indian reception of MP’s BBC radio broadcasts. With carbon reply by MP.

From the papers of W. J. Macqueen-Pope (see his entry in the Oxford DNB). Addressed in autograph to MP care of the BBC, and then forwarded to his office, 359 Strand. Pencil annotation by MP. On one side of an unillustrated postmarked printed British ‘Indian Postage’ air mail card with Indian postage stamp. In good condition, aged and lightly-worn. Also in Singh’s autograph is the salutation to ‘Dear Pope’ and the valediction ‘Your sincere / St Nihal Singh ST NIHAL SINGH’. He is addressing MP ‘informally in the belief that you are an old - and esteemed - acquaintance who in the years of my London journalism, gave his working hours to Rothermere Press and his leisure to Shakespeare and used to give me the pleasure of his company now and again’. He continues: ‘SHOULD it be a case of mistaken identity (a phrase that must have often leant from your lips), let me hasten to ensure you that your broadcasts invariably delight us. You often speak of players whom we knew -- some of them in private life as well as on the stage. Your voice as we receive it is clear and pleasant.’ Carbon copy of MP’s typed reply, 9 November 1951: 1p, 4to. Aged and worn, with creasing and wear at foot, but no loss of text. He believes that Singh has him mixed up with ‘T. Michael Pope, who was a journalist and a friend of mine although no relation. I have always worked in the theatre, although for many years now my job therein has been a combination of management and publicity which always brought me into the closest contact with Fleet Street, and I feel sure we met.’ Singh’s postacard has given him ‘great joy. Nowadays I write many books all on the subject of the Theatre. I don’t know whether they ever get to India but if they do, I am sure you would like them.’