Printed Books & Manuscripts, Autographs & Documents, Maps & Prints, The Bookbindery of Faith Shannon (APR21) Wed, 7th Apr 2021 Lot 212 Estimate: £200 - £300 + Fees Great Train Robbery. Charlie Wilson (1932-1990). 4 Autograph Letters Signed [Great Train Robbery]. Charlie Wilson (1932-1990). English criminal, a member of the Great Train Robbery gang, of which he was the treasurer. A series of 4 Autograph Letters Signed, 'Chas', H.M. Prison Long Lartin, Evesham, 1975-78, all to Paul Schofield and his family, Wilson writes on a variety of subjects, occasionally in a flirtatious manner, and with numerous grammatical errors, in part, ‘I’m very lucky with my inlaws, their smashing! They’re always round my house seeing that my Pat and the girls are alright, and won’t hear nothing bad said about me, so that carn’t be bad, eh?...You said that you’d all like to pop down and see me, but there is one little snag at the moment, its this. I’m a category “A” man, this means that people who wish to come and visit me have to submit photographs and be checked out by the police… As you alreaddy know, Roy [James, a fellow Great Train Robbery gang member] is the only one here with me… if he gets parole he will be the first 30 year man home, and that of course will start the ball rolling, so keep your fingers crossed, eh? … I had a mate of mine who was going to bring Julie Ege up to see me two and a half years ago, he sent a photograph with him and her on it up with my wife and told my Pat to tell me, she told him to leave off, as she has enough trouble with me alreaddy, ha ha’ (6th June 1975), ‘With Roy getting parole it sure did cheer up my family, they were all delighted with the news, but when he went round to see them the day he was out, that was a real booster, my Pat had a little cry…..Roy pops round every week, he was round two weeks ago when he had just collected his driving helmet…..Did you see the article in the daily mirror this week? he’s sitting in a racing car with all of his gear on… Yes you are right about Buster [Edwards, a fellow Great Train Robbery gang member], but I think that things will turn out alright for him in the end. But I carn’t see why he did what he did, stupid wasn’t it? I believe strongly! that at least two more of the T.Rs will be home for christmas or soon after… we’ve had some good comments made by top people, stating that we should get parole, theres nobody than can say our sentences are right, when they are compaired with the Birmingham bomb people’ (13th September 1975), ‘Well, sorry I’ve got to tell you that I wasn’t successful in getting parole in May. But I have submitted a petition to the home office requesting an early review. I will get all the help possible from this prison and I have had somebody who holds a high position! ready to add weight to my cause’ (28th June 1977), ‘I have got parole, the date is December 18th, its still a little way away but at least I know when my sentence ends. I have applied for the hostel and have now in fact been granted it…..I am hoping to get the “Scrubs” but my friend Bruce Reynolds has also got his parole and hostel and starts at the Scrubs in a week or so’ (25th May 1978), a total of 14 pages on official prison stationery, 8vo, accompanied by the original envelopes, plus a long autograph note signed, 'Chas', written to the inside of a folding season's greetings card (featuring a reproduction of an illustration by Wilson to the front), no place, no date, to Paul Schofield and his family, again referring to other members of the Great Train Robbery gang receiving their parole, and a colour photograph of Wilson contained in a presentation card folder, the inside cover signed and inscribed by Wilson Qty: 6.