Reply Card

A ready-made reply-card (photocopy) commonly used as a means of rapid (and pointed) response to the range of unsolicited requests that arrived regularly by post.

Correspondence in 'Invitations Refused' files marked "send card" indicates that this card was sent in reply. The reply-card listed various requests (e.g. "send an autograph" and "cure your disease" and "accept an honorary degree") which Crick regretted being unable to satisfy.

The reply-card acquired, in limited circles, a certain notoriety. Thus, Robert Langridge, writing (22 October, 1964) to ask if Crick would give a seminar at Harvard, began his letter with the following preamble: "I realize that the following request will make me eligible for receiving one of your all purpose cards with a number of the items checked, nevertheless...."