Menaker, Esther; Courlander, Harold

OTTO RANK: A REDISCOVERED LEGACY [and] CREATIVITY AS THE CENTRAL CONCEPT IN THE PSYCHOLOGY OF OTTO RANK [Both items inscribed by Menaker to Courlander] WITH ADDITIONAL CORRESPONDENCE [1 ALS, 1 TLS]

New York: Columbia University Press, 1982. First Edition, First Printing. Octavo, xi, 166 pages. In Very Good condition with a Good dust jacket. Dust jacket protected in a new archival mylar sleeve. Jacket is beige with green and black lettering to covers and spine. Volume is in full beige cloth binding, with green titling to spine. Jacket shows moderate wear and age toning, with chipping along the front joint and light soiling. Boards show very light wear. Spine slightly slanted. Text block is very lightly worn along edges. Interior clean. Inscribed by the Menaker in blue ink on front flyleaf: "For Harold Courlander -- / with much appreciation / Esther Menaker / Mar. 1982".

Includes a reprint booklet of Menaker's paper Creativity As The Central Concept in the psychology of Otto Rank from The Journal of Otto Rank Association [Volume 11, Winter '76-'77, Number 2], housed in a new archival sleeve, and two letters sent from Menaker to Courlander discussing the publication process of Otto Rank: A Rediscovered Legacy. The paper is a staple-bound booklet, In Very Good minus condition. Lightly age toned, with splitting at the top of the spine. Inscribed in the top margin of the front page: "For Harold, with very best wishes -- / Esther".

The first letter is a three-page ALS written on a single postcard from Menaker to Courlander, dated "12-15-78". In Very Good condition. In the letter, Menaker first congratulates Courlander on winning his plagiarism lawsuit against Alex Haley, then describes her difficulty finding a publisher for her in-progress book Otto Rank: A Rediscovered Legacy, asking Courlander for help in this matter. Card is lightly age toned, but otherwise undamaged. Written and signed by Menaker in blue ink: "Esther Menaker".

The next letter is a 2-page TLS, also from Menaker to Courlander, dated "Jan.7.1979". In Very Good condition. In this letter, Menaker thanks Courlander for offering to "pave the way" for her at the Columbia University Press. Post-script indicates the included reprint booklet of Creativity As The Central Concept was sent to Courlander alongside this letter. Pages are lightly age toned, and bear Menaker's sparse pen corrections. Signed by Menaker in blue ink: "Esther".

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1407594

Special Collections - Upstairs

Price: $400

NOTES

These items are each inscribed by clinical psychologist, professor, and author Esther Menaker to Harold Courlander -- himself a prolific and much-awarded novelist, folklorist, and anthropologist specializing in African, Caribbean, and African-American cultures. The included letters evidence Courlander's close relationship with Menaker, and demonstrate Courlander's role in the publication of the Menaker's book Otto Rank: A Rediscovered Legacy; the letters show it was Courlander who provided Menaker with an introduction to the Columbia University Press, who would eventually publish the book. This copy of the book, acquired from Courlander's personal library, was signed in direct appreciation of Courlander's help.