FOUR TYPED LETTERS, SIGNED (TLsS) from Derleth to Wilson and five carbon copies of typed letters from Wilson to Derleth. Plus a carbon of a typed manuscript by Wilson eulogizing Derleth. The Derleth letters are all on small sheets with personal or Arkham House letterheads, the earliest dated 26 September 1968 and the latest 21 October 1970. They concern various matters, including the book reviews that Wilson was writing at the time for THE MAGAZINE OF FANTASY AND SCIENCE FICTION. The most interesting perhaps is the last, with Derleth evidently replying to an earlier question from Wilson about Clark Ashton Smith's "virtual retirement so early in the game. The solution is relatively simple, though his widow -- for some reason I cannot fathom -- does not wish to admit it. About nine years before his death Smith suffered the first of a series of strokes, and he seems to have been incapable of much writing ..." Derleth speculates that his widow was worried that critics might attribute Smith's decision late in life to get married to the same weakened state of mind! "He had steadfastly kept from marriage before that, despite some tempestuous love affairs." The Wilson carbons are on letter-size paper, and run from 21 May 1970 to 13 July 1971, discussing mostly Arkham House projects. Also present is a short typed letter signed on Arkham letterhead from then-manager Roderic Meng to Wilson, dated 15 January 1974, asking if he had done the artwork for the jacket of THE WATCHERS OUT OF TIME (he hadn't; it was by Herb Arnold). The manuscript by Wilson, reminiscing fondly about his association over the years with Arkham House as a collector, reader and collaborator, is three and a half pages long, on four sheets of pulpy letter-sized paper, with deletions and minor corrections in felt-tip marker. Two of the Derleth letters are on pulpy paper that is now browned (the other two are on bond). All but one of the Wilson carbons were on pulpy stock that is now browned but not brittle. Otherwise, the letters are in very good to fine condition. (#140950).
Price: $450.00
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