1349534 SMALL ARCHIVE OF LETTERS FROM ALEXANDER WOOLLCOTT AND THE ALGONQUIN ROUND TABLE. Alexander Woollcott, Morris Frank, Leonard Lyons, Moss Hart, George Kaufman, Dorothy Parker.
SMALL ARCHIVE OF LETTERS FROM ALEXANDER WOOLLCOTT AND THE ALGONQUIN ROUND TABLE
SMALL ARCHIVE OF LETTERS FROM ALEXANDER WOOLLCOTT AND THE ALGONQUIN ROUND TABLE

SMALL ARCHIVE OF LETTERS FROM ALEXANDER WOOLLCOTT AND THE ALGONQUIN ROUND TABLE

A unique collection of twenty letters, telegrams and postcards from Alexander Woollcott, Morris Frank, Leonard Lyons, Moss Hart, George Kaufman, and Dorothy Parker. All are personal in nature and show the wit and warmth of the correspondents. Correspondence protected in plastic sleeves; housed in a full green morocco case with gilt tooling and lettering, lined with green cloth and marbled paper;

All VG, with light age toning and creasing as usual; Paper used for telegrams is beginning to become brittle;

1) A postcard in Dorothy Parker’s handwriting directed to Mr. and Mrs. Leonard Lyons, postmarked October 12, 1940 from Sun Valley, Idaho. It reads: “We’re here with Ernest Hemingway and how are you four? Love from us all, Dorothy and Alan”. Small patches of yellowed adhesive at top corners, not impacting readability.

2) A typed letter signed by George Kaufman directed to Leonard Lyons, dated April 7, 1943. Kaufman writes to ask that Lyons make a one-minute war bonds speech at a theatre on the week of April 19th-25th. Kaufman has added a handwritten note at the bottom of the page: “Here’s your chance for a spotlight, Leonard. G.”

3) A telegram from Moss Hart to Leonard Lyons, dated February 19, 1940, informing him that Hart will be leaving Hollywood the following day. “To you I send a fierce kiss and to Sylvia all the passion I can spare.” Minor chipping to lower left corner.

4) A telegram to Mr. and Mrs. Leonard Lyons from Moss Hart and George and Beatrice Kaufman, dated February 10, 1941, inviting the Lyons to a party. Minor chipping to upper right corner and right edge.

5) An autograph letter signed by Moss Hart to Leonard Lyons, undated, written while Hart was working overseas with the USO. Hart writes that most of his stories would not be allowed by the censor, but that the experience has been “fabulous and deeply stirring...and richly rewarding. I’m eleven pounds lighter in weight than when I left New York--but immeasurably heavier in my knowledge of my fellow-man. It’s worth it.” An envelope is included, but is badly torn and undated.

6) A typed letter signed by Moss Hart to Leonard Lyons, dated simply “Sunday.” It reads in part: “Well, thats the damndest check I ever received--it’s like winning in a crooked gambling joint. Imagine a writer getting a check made out to himself for something another writer has written about him! What was the story? And why should I be getting paid instead of you?...Please give me a clue--we return to town September 5th--and you must at least let me buy you a drink or supper with these ill-gotten gains.”

7) A typed letter signed by Moss Hart to Leonard Lyons, dated simply “Wednesday,” referring to an enclosure (no longer present) regarding an exchange of letters with a correspondent Hart describes as “touchy.” An envelope is included in the protective sleeve with this letter and the letter above; as both are written on the same type of stationery, it is unclear which the envelope belongs with. The envelope is postmarked August 28, 1961.

8) A typed letter signed by Alexander Woollcott to Leonard Lyons, dated October 24, 1939, to let Lyons know that Woollcott will be returning to New York shortly. A patch of yellowed adhesive marks the hotel’s heading at the top of the stationery, and there is a smaller patch of darkened adhesive at the right edge, but neither impact the text.

9) A typed letter signed by Alexander Woollcott to Leonard Lyons, dated June 15, 1940, thanking Lyons for an earlier letter.

10) A typed letter signed by Alexander Woollcott to Leonard Lyons, dated April 26, 1941, gently making fun of Albert Barnes’s enthusiasm for showing his art collection to anyone willing to see it; both Lyons and Woollcott received numerous letters from Barnes on the subject. A patch of yellowed adhesive on verso; visible on recto, but not impacting the readability of the letter. Minor damage to verso of letter due to adhesive removal; text not impacted.

11) A typed letter (unsigned) from Morris Frank to Alexander Woollcott, dated May 29, 1936, providing an anecdote for something Woollcott is writing. Small (⅜ in) closed tear to right margin.

12) A typed letter signed by Alexander Woollcott to Morris Frank, dated June 1, 1936, to thank Frank for his letter of May 29th and to say that he looks forward to hearing more from Frank.

13) A typed letter signed by Alexander Woollcott to Morris Frank, dated February 6, 1939, letting him know that Woollcott is sending him three Braille copies of an article Woollcott wrote which was soon to appear in the Atlantic. Staple holes in upper left corner, minor staining from paperclip.

14) A typed letter (unsigned) from Morris Frank to Alexander Woollcott, dated February 14, 1939, thanking Woollcott for the Braille copies of his article. “I cannot tell you how very pleased I was to receive your article in Braille, even before it came out in regular print. Uncle Willi and Jack have been trying to take me off my high horse ever since I came in for I was told about it immediately. Even Buddy [Frank’s guide dog] swaggered around the place.”

15) A typed letter (unsigned) from Morris Frank to Alexander Woollcott, dated July 24, 1939, thanking him for his public support of The Seeing Eye, the training school for guide dogs that Frank founded. Several small (0.25 in or less) tears to top margin.

16) A typed letter (unsigned) from Morris Frank to Alexander Woollcott, dated October 4, 1939, in which Frank invites Woollcott to stay with him in Nashville when Woollcott passes through during an upcoming lecture tour. Minor creasing at edges and corners.

17) An autograph letter signed by Alexander Woollcott to Morris Frank, dated October 8, 1939, informing Frank that Woollcott will be unable to stay with Frank during a planned lecture tour that will take him to Frank’s hometown of Nashville. Light staining from paperclip stain in upper left corner.

18) A typed letter (unsigned) from Morris Franks to Alexander Woollcott, dated March 11, 1940, thanking Woollcott for the gift of several “talking book records.”

19) A typed letter signed by Woollcott, dated August 31, 1942, congratulating Morris Frank on his recent marriage. “And now, thanks to a note dashed off a week ago in New Orleans by a young Nashville naval lieutenant of my acquaintance who enclosed a clipping from the Teneseean [sic], I learn that you are married. Thus the efforts to keep the news of my friends from me are frustrated. I send you both my blessing and hope our paths will cross again soon.”

20) Stapled to the above, a typed letter (unsigned) from Morris Frank to Woollcott, dated September 3, 1942, thanking him for his congratulations, sharing news of the wedding, and updating him on the Franks’ involvement with the war effort. Light staining to right edge.

CX consignment; shelved case 0.

1349534

Shelved Dupont Bookstore

Price: $1,000