Charles D. Hornig ... January 20, 1934

Text of recent auction

RARE Holographic Postcard H.P. LOVECRAFT to Charles D. Hornig (Editor The Fantasy Fan), January 20(?), 1934, "JOHN HAY MEMORIAL LIBRARY, Brown University, Providence R.I." Signed "HPL" UNPUBLISHED, Includes ARROW & NOTATION By Lovecraft Pointing To Court Behind Library Where HPL Lived (Samuel B. Mumford House, 65 Prospect St.), His Last Place of Residence


H.P. LOVECRAFT LETTERS & POSTCARDS: Truly a magnificent H.P. Lovecraft item. For those that know the Old Gent, they understand what a great epistolarian he was. In fact, one would find it difficult to find someone of any note that wrote as many letters as Lovecraft. Experts believe that he wrote over 100,000 letters during his lifetime, many of great length (a 50,000 word, one-hundred page letter was not unheard of). It is also surmised that fewer than 10,000 of the letters still survive. Of those, a vast majority are held in Brown University's H.P. Lovecraft collection at the John Hay Library (the Subject of this Postcard!). In fact, their aggressive acquisitions program for Lovecraft's manuscripts, letters, and postcards was (and is) so intense, that few remain in the hands of private collectors. Some believe that less than two hundred letters and postcards are still left in private hands, of these, few rarely show up for sale. Considering that writing (postcards and letters) was Lovecraft's favorite form of communication, and that each communication is a thoughtful tome in and of itself, an actual letter or postcard can be considered the cornerstone of a Lovecraft collection. We here at Arkham Books now offer that very cornerstone. Since letters typically run into the thousands ($4000.00 and up is quite common for a one or two pager), a postcard is a more affordable way to own a piece of Lovecraftian history. In the last six years on Ebay and at various Rare Books Shows we have sold two letters and a number of postcards, and they go quick (moreover, because of Brown University's voracious acquisition program, they are getting much harder to find -- a worn out cliche, but oh so true!) The postcards typically go between $900 and $1500, depending on the number of words (the highest price we have received for an HPL holographic postcard, was $1750.00 at World Horror Con 2008, and it had been written to weird tale author E. Hoffman Price). This will be the highest we have ever offered a postcard for, due to the association value. It is one that I had intended on keeping in my collection (buried with? Lovecraftian, no?), but medical bills seem to be a bit more pressing at the moment. As of this writing, we also have a less expensive card up in our Ebay store.


ADDRESSED TO: This postcard was written to Fantasy Fan Editor Charles D. Hornig. Hornig started The Fantasy Fan when he was just 17 years of age, in September of 1933, so this postcard is dated the same month and year. Two of Lovecraft's stoires were first published in the fanzine: "The Other Gods" (the third issue, November 1933) and "From Beyond" (in the tenth issue, June 1934). Moreover, and most significant, is the fanzine/magazine began a serialization of Lovecraft's essay on "Supernatural Horror in Literature," incorporating corrections and slight revisions to the text that appeared in The Recluse. Lovecraft maintained a fairly regular correspondence with Hornig, offering support, ideas, and corrections. Lovecraft's suggestions are frequently taken up with mechanical details concerning literary business, showing Lovecraft as conscientious and sometimes obsessive. Lovecraft scholar S.T. Joshi, in his book "H.P. Lovecraft A Life", wrote this about The Fantasy Fan: "This is, canonically, the first 'fan' magazine in the domain of weird/fantastic fiction, and it inaugurated a very rich, complex, and somewhat unruly tradition--still flourishing today--of fan activity in this realm."

THIS POSTCARD: This postcard is postmarked January 20 (?), 1934 at 7:30pm (most likely dropped off late at night by Lovecraft on one of his famous nighttime walks through the streets of Providence, where he was an oft seen shadow in the dark). I put a question mark next to the 20th, as the postmark is a bit light, and over Lovecraft's writing, so that is what it appears to me (could possibly be the 29th). Also, I am only about 95% sure on the 1934, as it has the same issue (since Lovecraft moved into this home in 1933, after January, I am pretty sure 1934 is the correct date). Has the one cent Ben Franklin stamp of the day, complete with HP Lovecraft DNA on the reverse side (yes, you too can clone Mr. Lovecraft -- a concept right out of Re-Animator ... or sort of). Oddly, the postmark is from Providence, Rhode Island (odd, because typically the postcards we have seen are postmarked from the Brown University Station -- perhaps there is some pattern to Lovecraft's mailing madness). One LOONNNGGG paragraph and approximately 198 words (I counted them, as with all of Lovecraft's writing, it is so diminutive and he uses every space possible, this is a give or take of 10 words -- the address is not counted in that 198 -- ALSO, there are 15 words, plus one arrow, on the front of the card). The content is unpublished.

POSTCARD LOCATION: Easily, the coolest HPL postcard we have seen or sold! Image on the front of the postcard is the John Hay Memorial Library in Lovecraft's beloved Brown University. Ironic, as this library would become the number one repository of Lovecraft's work, and easily has the premiere collection in the entire cosmos on the Ol' Gent from Providence. Lovecraft lived in relative obscurity, save for a few close friends, would be rolling in disbeliefe in his current Swan Point residence if he were to to know that the very Library that he worshipped and looked out his window to see each day, now rests much of its fame on the Starry Wisdom and Knowledge of HPL! What makes this card truly Cyclopean, is that Lovecraft's final residence, 65 Prospect Street (also known as the Mumford House), was right behind the John Hay Library--so close that Lovecraft claimed that from the kitchen of the Mumford house he could look into the stacks of the library!

65 PROSPECT STREET, LOVECRAFT'S FINAL RESIDENCE, THE SAMUEL B. MUMFORD HOME: On the front of this postcard, in the left margin, HP Lovecraft has drawn an error pointing to a location right behind the Hay Library. He has added the note "Entrance to the quaint court where I live." This was the entrance to 65 Prospect St., the final residence of Lovecraft, from 1933 until his death in 1937. The house still exists, but in 1959 was moved (the pictures included are from its current location). The John Hay Library was named after the Brown University graduate who was Assistant Secretary of State to Abraham Lincoln, and Secretary of State under President McKinley and Theodore Roosevelt. It's address was, and still is, 10 Prospect Street where it has been since 1910. Among many things, it is most noted for housing the world's largest collection on H.P. Lovecraft and his work.


LOVECRAFT'S HOME IN "THE HAUNTER OF THE DARK": As HP was oft to do, he made use of his surroundings for his stories. In "The Haunter of the Dark" he described this home as the home of Robert Blake. The following quote from the story describes this home: "Young Blake returned to Providence in the winter of 1934-5, taking the upper floor of a venerable dwelling in a grassy court off College Street—on the crest of the great eastward hill near the Brown University campus and behind the marble John Hay Library. It was a cozy and fascinating place, in a little garden oasis of village-like antiquity where huge, friendly cats sunned themselves atop a convenient shed. The square Georgian house had a monitor roof, classic doorway with fan carving, small-planed windows, and all the other earmarks of early Nineteenth Century workmanship. Inside were six-paneled doors, wide floor-boards, a curving colonial staircase, with Aram-period mantels, and a rear set of rooms three steps below the general level. Blake’s study, a large southwest chamber, overlooked the front garden on one side, while its west windows—before one of which he had his desk—faced off from the brow of the hill and commanded a splendid view of the lower town’s outspread roofs and of the mystical sunsets that flamed behind them..."

CONTENTS INCLUDE: The most notable comment, is obviously the aforementioned comment and arrow from the front. In the other margin of the front (right) he has written: "I live next door to this building." Easy to see how fond HPL was of this library. HP also maentions that he couldn't get in touch with "you" (Hornig) while in New York (Hornig lived in New Jersey, and HPL had hope to get out to see him). HPL continues, "...but I was utterly swamped by engagements (it happens that a large majority of my friends live in the N.Y. area..." (which of course, were many of the Weird Tales authors he had cultivated friends with while living in New York City--Frank B. Long, et al.). HPL also mentions the Library, mention that he lives "...in the university section ... the college library (see over) ...is a quiet old town like Elizabethtown--I thing you'd find it quite at home here!" (Hornig lived in Elizabethtown, New Jersey.) HPL also makes mention of where he lives, almost in tones from a weird tale: "I live almost on the crest of the preciptous hill which separated the residences from the ???? district--in the university section, next the college library" Does invite Hornig to visit him in Providence. (Quotes are as exact as I can make them, but sometimes Lovecraft's writing style is difficult to decipher ... at least for me, I am sure S.T. Joshi could have it done in seconds!). Signed "Best wishes, HP" (Not HPL as normal, rare for just HP).


CONDITION: Overall, nice condition. Each of the corners have a minimal bump, but none actually go into the writing/text. Back side (the one written on) has a touch of dust soiling, but most of the writing is clear and free from rubbing. The postmark is a bit smudged (see the scan), and more than half of the postmark is included in with Lovecraft's writing. Protected in a hard plastic sleeve.

$2100 ask

Lovecraft to Smith (1934)

At $1450.00, this one will pinch the wallet. But interesting. Note provenance of previous 1988 purchase, California.

Souvenir Folder of Nantucket, Mass. --- signed By H P Lovecraft to Clark Ashton Smith ( Postcards / Post Cards )

Sellers notes: a souvenir fold-out booklet of various views of nantucket, MA., post card size with images on both sides, a Very Good+ copy, postmark is stamped Nantucket and dated 1934, 2 original 1 cent stamps on folder, addressed in Lovecraft's hand to Clark Ashton Smith's Auburn California address, signed on the inner flap of the folder by Lovecraft, the signature reads, " Yrs for the Ebon Tide -- Ech-Pi-El --, in a plain brown envelope which was used by an earlier seller to keep the folder safe, included is an original bill of sale dated 1988 from one of the most respected SF/Fantasy booksellers in California, a very nice item, in spite of the thousands of hand written letters and such forth that HPL penned in his lifetime, signed material remains elusive, this is particularly nice as he uses his KALEM Club moniker and of course this being addressed to CAS makes this even nicer - - Bookseller: Leonard Shoup (Burlington, ON, Canada)

1934 HPL Post Card at Auction

This just in (and I will keep it pinned o the top of the page for a while, too)
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Hey Chris,

We have another Lovecraft but this one should go much cheaper.

http://www.rrauction.com/bidtracker_detail.cfm?IN=606


Bobby
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Description
ALS signed “H. P.,” on the correspondence side of a 3.5 x 5.5 picture postcard of the Providence County Court House, no date, but postmarked August 4, 1934. Postcard to Howard Wandrei in New York.

In full: “Hail Spawner of Daemons! Am harboring a guest of honor whom I believe you are not unacquainted. Have just produced an ice-cream famine at Maxfields & a general famine at Jakes (has Donald told you about these centers of…) & now absorbing scenic impressions. Now by the shore at Buttonwoods. Hope you’ll get over to these parts before you flash away towards the sunset!” Also signed at the conclusion, “Greetings out of the dark from the unknown, but not malefic. James Morton.” In fine condition. Pre-certified PSA/DNA and RRAuction COA.

H. P. Lovecraft in THE NATIONAL AMATEUR (Dec. 1934)

H. P. Lovecraft in THE NATIONAL AMATEUR (Dec. 1934)

December 1934 issue of THE NATIONAL AMATEUR (Volume 57, Number 2)

Includes a column by Howard Phillips Lovecraft titled "Verse Department" (signed "Howard P. Lovecraft") that is three quarters of a page long.

Stapled wraps, 22 pages, in very good condition.

April 1934 Lovecraft Ephemera

1934 March Fantasy Fan

Description and condition: This is Volume 3 #1 from March 1934 of the classic fanzine published by Julius Schwartz. Contains material by Schwartz, Forrest J Ackerman, Ray Palmer & others. The front cover is somewhat worn around the edges & along the spine, the rear cover is detached & chipped around the edges.

1934 Fantasy Fan #16

This is issue #16 from December 1934 of the classic fanzine published by Charles D. Hornig. It contains one of Robert Bloch’s earliest pieces, THE LAUGHTER OF A GHOUL, as well as material by H. P. Lovecraft, Clark Ashton Smith & Duane Rimel.

The Fantasy Fan of August 1934

The seller states: An original vintage August 1934, Vol. 1 #12 issue of the early science fiction, digest-sized fanzine, “The Fantasy Fan” edited by Charles D. Hornig. Inspired by the professional fantastic themed magazines of the era (“Amazing Stories”, “Astounding” and “Weird Tales”) this 16 page issue features current news by Julius Schwartz (later of DC comics fame) and Mortimer Weisinger and Part 11 of “Supernatural Horror in Literature” by the great H.P. Lovecraft making it a rarity for H.P. Lovecraft collectors. The magazine is complete but because of the fragile nature of the browning pulp paper there are several chips out, none of which effect the text of the articles.

January 1934 Fantasy Fan

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An original vintage January 1934, Vol. 2 #5 issue of the early science fiction digest-sized fanzine, “Fantasy Magazine” which was edited by Conrad H. Ruppert, Julius Schwartz (later of DC Comics fame), Raymond Palmer, Mortimer Weisinger and Forrest J Ackerman who would go on to later edit “Famous Monsters of Filmland” magazine. This issue contains Part 1 of “The Vortex World” by Raymond Palmer, “An Experiment with Time”, a short story by Forry Ackerman and Francis Flagg (creator of Buck Rogers), Edmond Hamilton on himself, reviews by Schwartz of the Universal James Whale classic, “The Invisible Man” and by Ackerman on an unproduced Paramount sf film of the future to be titled “Frigidaired for the Future”. Magazine contains 36 pages, slick paper cover and back cover with pulp paper interior pages and is in overall good/very good condition with back cover chipped and detached. An early sf magazine for collectors of “Amazing Stories” and “Weird Tales”.

February 1934 Fantasy Fan

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No Lovecraft in this issue to my knowledge, but he would have read it.
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An original vintage February 1934, Vol. 2 #6 issue of the early science fiction digest-sized fanzine, “Fantasy Magazine” which was edited by Conrad H. Ruppert, Julius Schwartz (later of DC Comics fame), Raymond Palmer, Mortimer Weisinger and Forrest J Ackerman who would go on to later edit “Famous Monsters of Filmland” magazine. Inspired by the professional magazines of the time, such as “Amazing Stories” and “Weird Tales”, this issue contains Part 2 of the Raymond Palmer story “The Vortex World”, “Scientific Hoaxes” by Schwartz and Milton Kaletsky, “The Ether Fibrates” by Weisinger, and “Scientifilm Theme Songs” in which Ackerman suggests the utilization of popular songs of the time with then current sci-fi and fantasy films and a long review of the Fredric March version of “Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde” by Forry Ackerman. This 36 page magazine is in very good condition.

August 1934 Fantasy Fan

The seller (hollywoodmovieposters) states: An original vintage August 1934, Vol. 1 #12 issue of the early science fiction, digest-sized fanzine, “The Fantasy Fan” edited by Charles D. Hornig. Inspired by the professional fantastic themed magazines of the era (“Amazing Stories”, “Astounding” and “Weird Tales”) this 16 page issue features current news by Julius Schwartz (later of DC comics fame) and Mortimer Weisinger and Part 11 of “Supernatural Horror in Literature” by the great H.P. Lovecraft making it a rarity for H.P. Lovecraft collectors. The magazine is complete but because of the fragile nature of the browning pulp paper there are several chips out, none of which effect the text of the articles.

October 1934 Fantasy Fan

These are getting prettys rare these days.
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The seller (jwhitebooks) states: The OCTOBER 1934 issue (Dedicated to H. P. LOVECRAFT) of the fanzine THE FANTASY FAN, Volume 2 Number 2 (Whole Number 14), featuring:
Our Readers Say (H. P. LOVECRAFT, Richard F. SEAFIGHT, Robert NELSON, Fred John WALSEN, Duane W. RIMEL, Bob TUCKER, R. H. BARLOW, H. KOENIG, J. Sam SMART, F. Lee BALDWIN)
Within the Circle (by F. Lee BALDWIN)
Supernatural Horror in Literature (part 13, by H. P. LOVECRAFT)
The Favorite Weird Stories of H. P. LOVECRAFT (courtesy of H. KOENIG)
Weird Whisperings (by SCHWARTZ and WEISINGER)
Fungi From Yuggoth (I. The Book; II. Pursuit, by H. P. LOVECRAFT – these verses have never before been published)
Beyond the Wall of Sleep (by H. P. LOVECRAFT)
Editor, Charles D. HORNIG (137 West Grand Street, Elizabeth, New Jersey)
A NEAR FINE-FINE copy, slight darkening around the edges. Digest-sized.

A Day in the Life of Lovecraft: 7 October 1934

{To Barlow} Saw cinema of Treasure Island last week - splendid atmosphere of 18th century & the sea!

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17 August 1934 (USA) release date, so Lovecraft took about 6 weeks to get around to seeing this. Here are vintage images that Lovecraft might have seen in magazine ads and show scenes from the movie. One wonders that Lovecraft would be all that enthralled with the sea, but the 18th century would have set his imagination aglow.

HPL Christmas Card to Barlow (1934)

Back in Dec. 2007(see post: click) we saw where this postcard sold for about $550. Appreciation! Now it's for sale at $850.00 If you click the images they should expand in a new window to large size.

September 1934 Fantasy Magazine

Lovecraft to Barlow on 25 September 1934, "I suppose you know there will be a tale by Merritt - "The Drone" - in Leedle Shoolie's September Fantasy."

From (epegana) the seller:

"FANTASY MAGAZINE" - September, 1934 - Second Anniversary Issue
Edited by Julius Schwartz
One of the classiest fanzines of its day "Fantasy Magazine" had few equals (only "The Fantasy Fan" comes to mind as the single surpassing example). Every issue was printed from type that Conrad Ruppert laboriously set by hand...unbelievable!This is your typical excellent content-ed issue with contributions by the "unquestionably" popular fantasist of the day A. Merritt - with an original short story entitled, "The Drone"; Donald Wandrei is present with a tale entitled "The Chuckler" and there is a self-interview of Murray Leinster by Will Jenkins. Note: the installment of "Cosmos" is not present.The interior paper of this issue is better than very good but as you can see from the scan the spine is chipped.

A Day in the Life of H P Lovecraft (31 August 1934)

[To Barlow] And what a place is Nantucket! Utterly marvellous {sic} - perhaps the most completely preserved bit of the elder world in America today. And to think I never saw it before ... wholde networks of cobblestoned streets with nothing but colonial houses on either side - narrow, garden-bordered lanes - antient belfries - picturessque waterfront - everything that the antiquarian could ask!

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I added a few images from post cards of the 1920's and 1930's, slightly before the time that HPL saw Nantucket.

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Lovecraft Drawing and Pickman's Model

"PICKMAN'S MODEL" TYPED MANUSCRIPT (TMs) on fifteen sheets {Two SHOWN} of letter-size paper, typed on rectos only, with "H. P. Lovecraft / 10 Barnes St. / Providence, R. I." at upper left corner of first leaf. First or second carbon, several handwritten corrections. Undated, but estimated at 1926. Accompanied by a signed original drawing by Lovecraft of Pickman's model dated 28 July 1934. Written in early September 1926; published in WEIRD TALES, October 1927. Some wear and closed tears at edges. old mailing folds. Provenance: Barlow / Derleth Papers. $7,500.00

Rare Barlow Diary and Memoir Surfaces

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The auctioneer has these notes: (Lovecraft, Howard Phillips). Barlow, Robert H[ayward]. "WIND THAT IS IN THE GRASS: A MEMOIR OF H. P. LOVECRAFT IN FLORIDA, THE" [memoir]. TYPED MANUSCRIPT (TMs), seven leaves of letter-size paper, typed on rectos only, with partial AUTOGRAPH MANUSCRIPT DRAFT (AMs) of same essay on versos of three of these sheets. Together with MANUSCRIPT DIARY, 19 leaves, written on both sides, kept by Barlow to record details of Lovecraft's 1934 visit to Florida. "'The Wind That Is in the Grass' is the reminiscence of Lovecraft that Barlow wrote at the invitation of Arkham House as a contribution to their MARGINALIA (1944). The precocious thirteen-year-old Barlow struck up a correspondence with Lovecraft in 1931 based on their shared interest in weird literature, and the two developed a warm friendship over the last six years of Lovecraft's life. During that time the Providence native (28 years older than Barlow) spent two extended periods of time (six weeks and ten weeks) with Barlow and his family at their home in De Land, Florida. This improbable friendship -- almost impossible to imagine taking place today -- was no more unusual than many other aspects of this most improbable man. It put HPL in that professorial, avuncular role he craved -- though he never treated the boy with condescension. Indeed, Howard himself still felt in some ways like an adolescent whose achievements had not caught up with his dreams. Friendships with youngsters and amateur writers put Lovecraft at ease. But Barlow himself strikes one here as a writer of no small talent. His memories take strength from the mundane details of daily life shared over an extended period with Lovecraft, an experience that may have been unique among Lovecraft's associates (including his wife!). We read about lazy afternoons rowing on the lake, playing with the cats, late nights talking about weird tales or watching HPL maintain his formidable correspondence, listening to Howard relate his dreams over late-morning coffee ('thick with sugar'): '... once of how he was a magician standing on a cliff over the ocean sending balls out into space and guiding them back, some of them returning with the scars and mosses of seas and spaces unknown.' The low-key tone makes Barlow's piece all the more poignant. "Barlow's diary recording events from Lovecraft's first visit in 1934 reads in places like the work of a teenager trying to sound more mature than he is, a Boswell to Lovecraft's Johnson. Elsewhere it is unselfconscious and charming, loaded with gossip about authors and stories. The diary was supposedly reprinted by August Derleth in SOME NOTES ON H. P. LOVECRAFT (1959), but, as Joshi and Schultz point out in their edition of Lovecraft's letters to Barlow (O FORTUNATE FLORIDIAN [2008]), Derleth took considerable liberties with the text. The version reprinted in O FORTUNATE FLORIDIAN includes later additions and slight changes made by Barlow himself (including a somewhat different version of the 'balls' dream mentioned above). The unedited diary itself therefore represents a third text, valuable as a document of the raw first impressions of the sixteen-year-old. "Lovecraft named Barlow his literary executor, but the boy was muscled aside by the Arkham duo of Derleth and Donald Wandrei. Barlow met a tragic end, committing suicide at the age of 33 when he was threatened with exposure of his homosexuality." - Robert Eldridge. The leaves of the essay typescript have some light rumpling and faint rust stains from a old paperclip, but are generally very good or better. The diary is partly disbound, lacks rear cover and has rust marks on front cover from old paperclip. Provenance: Barlow / Derleth Papers. (#114492) $3500.00

Barlow & Lovecraft Corrected Typescript

{1 December 1934 in a letter this brief, tantalizing remark is listed: ...shall be interested to learn more about "The Summons". O Fortunate Floridian, p. 192. - CP)
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The auctioneer states the following: (Lovecraft, Howard Phillips) Barlow, Robert H[ayward]. "SUMMONS, THE" [short story]. TYPED MANUSCRIPT with extensive autograph corrections by both Barlow and Lovecraft, on seven leaves, three of which are holograph. Incomplete text comprising folios 7-8, 11-15. "The Summons," written circa 1934, was published in THE CALIFORNIAN (Fall 1935, volume 3, number 2) and reprinted in EYES OF THE GOD: THE WEIRD FICTION AND POETRY OF R. H. BARLOW (2002). It obviously is derivative of Lovecraft and the WEIRD TALES school, but more impressionistic, its vagueness softening whatever impact its imagery might have had. Barlow's large sprawling hand contrasts vividly with Lovecraft's compact and rapid script (which, contrary to his own disparaging remarks, is neither minute nor indecipherable). Most of the edits are in Lovecraft's hand, including the wholesale rewriting of several sentences and paragraphs. Very good. Provenance: Barlow / Derleth Papers. (#114493) $1500.00

Fantasy Magazine September 1934 Second Anniversary Issue w/ Julius Schwa

In a 25 September 1934 letter to Barlow, HPL said, "... I suppose you know there will be a tale by Merritt - "The Drone" - in Leedle Shoolie's {Julius Schwartz} September Fantasy."

Lovecraft was an avid follower of this magazine. Some rare interior shots included below.





FANTASY MAGAZINE Sci Fi Fanzine 1934 Julius Schwartz

The seller states: Fantasy Magazine – The Digest Of Imaginative Literature September, 1934 Second Anniversary Issue. Magazine features such notable names as Julius Schwartz (Editor), Mortimer Weisinger (Associate Editor), and Forrest J. Ackerman (Scientifilm Editor) who not only produce the digest, but also contribute stories!....Incredible, even has the subsciption insert!!! How many of these do you think still exist? Magazine is complete and is in VG condition (no interior damage).....just has handling wear….nice supple page quality.....pages are not loose even though it looks like some pages are hanging out.... item is just very delicate. ($299.00)