The first day of the Society’s 2019 Convention featured a visit to the University of Essex Albert Sloman Library which includes in its private collections the Margery Allingham Archive on loan from the Society.
Delegates were able to view amongst other items the prop Virgin and Child “Sainte-Odile Treasure” from the film of The Tiger in the Smoke, a certificate of recognition, signed by both King George VI and Queen Elizabeth for Margery’s war-work (documented in her non-fiction book The Oaken Heart) and a prize from the Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine for her mystery fiction.
After dinner, Barry Pike concluded the first evening with an illustrated talk comparing the first edition covers of Margery’s novels in the UK and the USA. The general consensus of the delegates was that Pip Youngman Carter’s designs for the UK editions were more evocative of the spirit of Margery’s writing.
