DE MORGAN, William (1839-1917) English tile designer. Autograph letter signed. On blue Orange House Pottery, Chelsea, headed notepaper. 4to, one side, January 24 1884. To Vernon Lushington, offering his condolences.

'Dear Mr Lushington - I give way to the first impulse to write to you if only two or three words to say how deeply shocked I am at the sad news I have just heard and how much I feel for you - The world is surely full of misery just now - how gladly I would think that the next generation might be a little happier than mine. Always truly yours William de Morgan.'

With the original black-edged mourning envelope.