Another Lovecraft Postcard to Charles Hornig Surfaces

Previously the ebayeum offered a Lovecraft-to-Hornig 1934 postcard. (click here).

Maybe you'll be one of the lucky ones to purchase this?

Details as offered by seller (arkhambooks):

RARE Holographic Postcard H.P. LOVECRAFT to Charles D. Hornig (Editor The Fantasy Fan), Postmarked September 26, 1933 from Providence, Rhode Island, Signed "HPL"

Truly a magnificent H.P. Lovecraft item. For those that know the Old Gent, they understand what a great epistler 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 out of the ordinary). It is also surmised that fewer than 10,000 of the letters still survive. Of those, a majority are held in Brown University's H.P. Lovecraft collection. In fact, their agressive acquisitions program for Lovecraft's letters and postcards was (and is) so intense, that few remain in the hands of collectors. Some believe that less than two hundred letters and postcards are in 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 to the public, that very cornerstone. Since letters typically run into the thousands ($4000.00 and up is quite common), a postcard is a more affordable way to own a piece of Lovecraftian history. In the last three years on Ebay and at various Rare Books Shows we have sold two letters and a handful 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 last postcard we sold (to weird tale author E. Hoffman Price) for $1350.00 just several weeks back at World Horror Con.

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. Two of Lovecraft's sotires 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 somehwat unruly tradition--still flourishing today--of fan activity in this realm."

THIS POSTCARD: This postcard is postmarked September 26, 1933. It is postmarked from Providence Rhode Island at 7:30 pm (so one can imagine the old man from Providence out on one of his late night walks in his favorite place on earth, dropping this postcard off). The postcard features Faneuil Hall and Custom House Tower, Boston, Mass. (Lovecraft had stacks of penny postcards that he would pick up while traveling and then use to send to friends). One paragraph features approximately 82 words. The content is unpublished.

CONTENTS INCLUDE: Lovecraft comments that he just read the first issue of the new ASTOUNDING (Science Fiction Pulp Magazine), and "not so bad for pulp stuff, but essentially mediocre from a literary point of view". HPL starts with a comment about the piece he had submitted to Hornig: "trust the article will reach you safely, and that you'll find it interesting." He offers his service as a proof reader. Also that he is looking forward to the second issue. Signed "Best Wishes, HPL".

Bill & Sue-On's ERBzine

This Fantasy Worlds chapter on Lovecraft may not be directly ERB-related, but on the other hand, Lovecraft collaborated with E. Hoffman Price on a Randolph Carter story. E. Hoffman Price collaborated with Otis Adelbert Kline on a Dr. Morgan Universe story and Kline's Doctor Morgan universe arguably is the same place as the Burroughs Universe.

Or, how about this: Randolph Carter, Lovecraft's recurring protagonist, is modeled in part on, and inspired by John Carter. A John Carter is actually named as a character from 17th century New England in the Case of Charles Dexter Ward (where Randoph Carter is also mentioned), implying that the two may be related. Burroughs John Carter is ageless, so he might well be the same John Carter from Charles Dexter Ward.

more here (click) ...

Rare Item: The Ghost (W Paul Cook)

Rare item surfaces @ starting bid of $75.00.

THE GHOST Issue #5 July 1947. Final issue of this short lived amateur journal created by H P Lovecraft circle member W Paul Cook. Includes material by Cook, E Hoffman Price, Rheinhart Kleiner, Edward H Cole, H. C. Koenig on his weird fiction collection & more. Very scarce fan publication. Pieces lacking from spine, tears to oversized cover edges with few small chips, printed on good rag content, quality paper which but for a couple light bends is VG well preserved.

Lovecraft's Legacy: Rare Acolyte (1945)

Item sold for $67.00 !! Amazing!! (Yep, Chrispy lost this auction, too.) Darrell Schweitzer stated: THE ACOLYTE #11, Summer 1945. Rare and very important fanzine, focussed on the LOVECRAFT CIRCLE, published by Francis Towner Laney and Samuel D. Russell. Contributing editors include Lovecraft correspondents Duane Rimel and F. Lee Baldwin. Of greatest Lovecraftian interest is an article, "Interlude with Lovecraft" by Stuart Morton Boland, which I do not think has ever been reprinted. Boland describes corresponding with Lovecraft while he (Boland) was investigating pre-Columbian archeology. Lovecraft asks about Mexican gods that might fit into his Mythos. August Derleth seems to have actually followed up on this. If Boland's claims can be verified, there's a nugget of a good scholarly article here. Also, "Criteria for Criticism" by Laney (who was one of the most intelligent and articulate fans of the period), "A Scientifictional History of the Future" by Elmer Perdue (which rather absurdly tries to work out the history of the future from pulp SF), a column by "Weaver Wright" (Forrest J. Ackerman). There is a letter from E. HOFFMANN PRICE which is of very great interest, because he describes his first-hand impressions of both ROBERT E. HOWARD and H.P. LOVECRAFT.
Alas, this is not one of the world's great copies. It is stable rather than good. It was brittle at the edges and has been repaired with non-yellowing tape to arrest chipping. The last page is particularly affected. At one point a chip reaches into the text and damages two words (which from context are obviously "of the"). Laney used poor quality paper, which doubtless makes this magazine even rarer, because few copies have survived. The pages are actually quite supple. This is good enough to xerox from, as long as you are careful not to crease it.

Lovecraft's Legacy: 1945 (Acolyte)

Information provided by the seller: (Starting Bid $14.95) THE ACOLYTE #11, Summer 1945. Rare and very important fanzine, focussed on the LOVECRAFT CIRCLE, published by Francis Towner Laney and Samuel D. Russell. Contributing editors include Lovecraft correspondents Duane Rimel and F. Lee Baldwin. Of greatest Lovecraftian interest is an article, "Interlude with Lovecraft" by Stuart Morton Boland, which I do not think has ever been reprinted. Boland describes corresponding with Lovecraft while he (Boland) was investigating pre-Columbian archeology. Lovecraft asks about Mexican gods that might fit into his Mythos. August Derleth seems to have actually followed up on this. If Boland's claims can be verified, there's a nugget of a good scholarly article here. Also, "Criteria for Criticism" by Laney (who was one of the most intelligent and articulate fans of the period), "A Scientifictional History of the Future" by Elmer Perdue (which rather absurdly tries to work out the history of the future from pulp SF), a column by "Weaver Wright" (Forrest J. Ackerman). There is a letter from E. HOFFMANN PRICE which is of very great interest, because he describes his first-hand impressions of both ROBERT E. HOWARD and H.P. LOVECRAFT.
Alas, this is not one of the world's great copies. It is stable rather than good. It was brittle at the edges and has been repaired with non-yellowing tape to arrest chipping. The last page is particularly affected. At one point a chip reaches into the text and damages two words (which from context are obviously "of the"). Laney used poor quality paper, which doubtless makes this magazine even rarer, because few copies have survived. The pages are actually quite supple. This is good enough to xerox from, as long as you are careful not to crease it.

Lovecraft's Legacy: 1944 (W Paul Cook)

Item just noted. These items come and go in and out of collector's hands, so it's nice to see glimpses of them. They make great history. Despite these brilliant and creative people having lives of their own, it's still fascinating that HPL plays a tangential part of their careers. He seems to flit ina nd out of people's lives like a ghostly character in one of his stories.

This one is interesting becasue of Hoffman's article on Farnsworth Wright, who by now was probably really sufering from his illness.

***

GHOST, THE. July 1944 (number 2). Edited by W. Paul Cook.
Bookseller: Currey, L.W. Inc. ABAA/ILAB(Elizabethtown, NY, U.S.A.) Bookseller Rating:
Price: US$ 350.00 [Convert Currency] Quantity: 1
Shipping within U.S.A.:US$ 4.00 [Rates & Speeds]

Book Description: [North Montpelier, Vermont: W. Paul Cook], July 1944 (number 2), 1944. Large octavo, single issue, printed wrappers. W. Paul Cook, an important member of the Lovecraft inner circle, and an ardent member of the amateur press movement, issued five numbers of this periodical between Spring 1943 and July 1947 (making it a defacto annual). The fifth number was not distributed, and none of the numbers were offered for sale. The magazine was devoted to weird literature and featured fiction, poetry, essays and, in one number, a short play. Most of this issue comprises "Book of the Dead Chapter 1: Farnsworth Wright" (pp. [5]- 17), a long article by E. Hoffman Price on Farnsworth Wright and WEIRD TALES, and "The Sphinx" (pp. [19]-41), a play by Samuel Loveman, "Cook's final major publishing effort was THE GHOST. Five issues appeared from 1943 to 1947, each containing fifty pages that emphasized Lovecraft and collectors. It contained almost every type of verse, fiction, biography, and literary reminiscing, turning it into one of the rarest, most sought- after bits of Lovecraftiana." - Warner, All Our Yesterdays, p. 16. Quite a valuable source of information. Pavlat and Evans, Fanzine Index (1965), p. 49. Clute and Grant (eds), The Encyclopedia of Fantasy (1997), p. 804. A bit of light wear to spine panel, still a fine copy. Quite scarce. (#102133). Bookseller Inventory # 102133

Cache of Adolphe de Castro Letters: Part 3

Chrispy did not get to purchase this since it went for the stratospheric $77.00. !!!

1946 LETTER SIGNED WITH INITIALS EHP FROM PULP FICTION WRITER E HOFFMAN PRICE TO WRITER ADOLPHE DE CASTRO. IN THIS LETTER HE WRITES ABOUT PROJECTS PAST AND PRESENT. AT THE END OF THE LETTER HE WRITE ABOUT HITLER READING ONE OF HIS STORIES WITH A JEWISH HERO IN IT AND DIES IN A "FROTHING FURY".

E Hoffman Price Letter (1946) to Adolphe de Castro

Seller States: 1946 LETTER SIGNED WITH INITIALS EHP FROM PULP FICTION WRITER E HOFFMAN PRICE TO WRITER ADOLPHE DE CASTRO. IN THIS LETTER HE WRITES ABOUT PROJECTS PAST AND PRESENT. AT THE END OF THE LETTER HE WRITE ABOUT HITLER READING ONE OF HIS STORIES WITH A JEWISH HERO IN IT AND DIES IN A "FROTHING FURY".

(Final sell price: $77.00. Starting bid was $9.99 !!)

A Bit Afield, But E Hoffman Price to de Castro on Hitler

1946 LETTER SIGNED WITH INITIALS EHP FROM PULP FICTION WRITER E HOFFMAN PRICE TO WRITER ADOLPHE DE CASTRO. IN THIS LETTER HE WRITES ABOUT PROJECTS PAST AND PRESENT. AT THE END OF THE LETTER HE WRITE ABOUT HITLER READING ONE OF HIS STORIES WITH A JEWISH HERO IN IT AND DIES IN A "FROTHING FURY".

Rare Autographed Postcard: To E Hoffman Price

{Only $1450.00 starting bid. -CP}

RARE Holographic Postcard H.P. LOVECRAFT to Author E. Hoffman Price, July 7, 1934, Christ Church Where Washington Worshipped, Alexandria, VA Postmarked Providence, Rhode Island
Truly a magnificent H.P. Lovecraft item. For those that know the Old Gent, they understand what a great epistler 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 out of the ordinary). It is also surmised that fewer than 10,000 of the letters still survive. Of those, a majority are held in Brown University's H.P. Lovecraft collection. In fact, their agressive acquisitions program for Lovecraft was (and is) so intense, that few letters remain in the hands of collectors. Some believe that less than two hundred letters and postcards are in still left in private hands, of these, few ever show up for sale. Considering that writing (postcards and letters) was Lovecraft's favorite form of communication, and that each epistle 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 to the public, that very cornerstone. Since letters typically run into the thousands ($4000.00 and up is quite common), a postcard is a more affordable way to own a piece of Lovecraftian history.
This postcard was written to Weird Tales and Horror author E. Hoffman Price, Arkham House contributor, Author, and stalwart friend of Lovecraft. Price corresponded extensively with Lovecraft (as did many of his contemporaries). This postcard is postmarked July 7, 1934 (or so it appears to be a "7", the postmark is partially obstructed by HPL's writing). It is postmarked from Providence at 6:00am (or so it appears, again, Lovecraft's extensive writing obstruct parts of the postmark). Postmark is from Providence, Rhode Island. The postcard is of "Christ Church where Washington Worshipped. Alexandria, VA." (No doubt picked up on one of Lovecraft's excursions.) One LOONNNGGG paragraph and approximately 250 words. Moreover, there is an additional note below Lovecraft's "Greetings and alutations from the green and serpent haunted sea to Malik Taus ..." Signed "B". Price has added a note (or so I believe, and was told it was Price) that "Second signature probably "B" = Barlow " (for RH Barlow, friend of Lovecraft, and literary executor -- they also had a few story collaborations). The content is unpublished.
HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE:
A Typical Opening Lovecraftian Flourish: "Greetings, O Right Hand of Sulliman ...."
Lovecraft also mentions the San Francisco area that Price Lives in, the Gates of an Old Mission and the Friars; Chinese Delicasies; Price's plan for a MA and PhD; A Two-Day Trip Lovecraft took to Virginia (where the postcard was no doubt acquired): Charleston, Richmond, and Fredericksburg; Philadelphia where he saw Poe's House; and more.
The card is signed in one of Lovecraft's favorite renditions of his initials, Arabic: "E'ch-Pi-El".
Truly a gem. With this, we offer a lifetime Certificate of Authenticity. Lovecraft postcards are become more and more rare, and soon, they just won't show up. (We have seen two on Ebay in the last year or so, one did not sell, and one--that we offered--sold for $950.00 (in October 2005)).

Lovecraft Letters Archived at Univesity of Minnesota

University of Minnesota, Twin Cities. Elmer L. Andersen Library. Special Collections & Rare Books
*
The collection consists of 5 holograph postcards (Aug. 31, 1934 to Sept. 2, 1926), 10 holograph letters (Aug. 14, 1934 to Aug. 14, 1935), 1 typescript letter (Jan. 16, 1936), one chain letter (typescript and holograph, undated), one typescript letter signed by August Derleth (April 21, 1968). The letters and postcards are written to Fred Anger from Lovecraft, mostly from his home in Providence, Rhode Island. They relate to their common interests in writing weird fiction and issues relating to publishing their work. Transcriptions of the materials have been made and are available in the archives.
*
The microfilmed collection contains correspondence exchanged between Howard Phillips Lovecraft and Edgar Hoffmann Price on literary matters, between October 3, 1932 and November 11, 1937. Price is believed to have donated the original letters to the U.S. Military Academy at West Point.

Lovecraft's Legacy: 1972 (HPL, A LOVECRAFT TRIBUTE)

{This is a rather obscure item of Lovecraftiana but it is not 70 years old as far as I can tell. In fact if one goes to one reads this, "summer of 1972, and the first printing of 35 numbered hardbounds and 1000 self-covered volumes was sold out by summers' end. In September 1972, 500 copies of a 2nd printing were ordered, since the printer would only hold the plates for 6 months. These do not qualify as a 2nd edition, just as second printing because the only changes were two removals: the $3.00 on the top of page 2 and the note at the bottom of page 3 as to the 1000 limited print run.". (More, click here.) So, according to the editors, there were a few more than 2000 copies printed in 1972.}

The seller staes in part:
H P L : A tribute to Howard Phillips Lovecraft. (1890-1937). Entire contents copyright by Meade & Penny Frierson. All rights, including translation into other languages, reserved. This booklet is a non-commercial publication, published in the United States of America. No subscriptions; no future issues are planned. The artwork, articles and poetry are intrepretations and commentary upon such and acknowledgment is given to ARKHAM HOUSE, Publishers, Sauk City, Wisconsin...(the rest is about copyright and reproduction rights). so this is a 1 shot magazine or fanzine. {see notes above - CP} PUBLISTED IN A LIMITED EDITION OF 1000 COPIES INCLUDING 35 B0UND COPIES WHICH ARE NUMBERED ON A SPECIAL PAGE. 144 pages, magazine size. Mint, no marks, no tears, no stains, even the staples are not rusted. Maybe the white is not absolutely perfect but this mag is 70 years old. Some of the art credit: Steve Fabian, Tim Kirk, Dany Frolich, Herb Arnold. Some of the articles Robert E. Howard, James Wade, Hert Arnold, J Ramsey Campbell, Stuart Schiff, John L. McInnis III, Robert Bloch, Frank Belknap Long, E Hoffman Price, Fritz Leiber, George T. Wetzl, more.

Lovecraft's Legacy: 1975 (Whispers)

Whispers Vol. 2, No. 2-3 (June 1975) Double-Issue Stuart David Schiff (Editor)
Stuart David Schiff, Fayetteville, NC, 1975. Perfect Bound Wraps. Book Condition: Near Fine. First Edition. 8vo - over 7¾" - 9¾" tall.
Cover art by Frank Utpatel.
Solid contents include: One Day in the Life of H.P. Lovecraft by Frank Belknap Long; An Autobiographical Letter by Robert E. Howard; A Letter to H. Warner Munn by Farnsworth Wright; Story-writing, a letter from H.P. Lovecraft; Anthropology, Folkways of Fandom by E. Hoffman Price. Also, fiction by Fritz Leiber, Carl Jacobi, Hugh B. Cave, Henry Hassee, Manly Wade Wellman, Karl Edward Wagner, Joseph Payne Brennan. Poetry by James Wade, Mary Elizabeth Counselman, L. Sprague de Camp, H. Warner Munn. Art by Virgil Finlay, Denis Tiani, Lee Brown Coye, others. 132 pages!

Lovecraft's Legacy: 1999 (Weird Tales & Announcement of New HPL Story)

THE FANTASTIC WORLDS OF H.P. LOVECRAFT (1999, edited by James Van Hise) is 8 1/2 x 11, 192 pages with a full color wraparound cover by Robert Knox. Normally sells for $17.95. This paperback book examines Lovecraft's life and work from many perspectives, including a detailed examination of his career as a pulp writer. Will Murray has also provided an all-new 7,500 word article which reveals that a 1932 E. Hoffman Price story is a previously unknown Lovecraft collaboration, an assertion supported by extracts from Lovecraft & Price correspondence. There are also articles by August Derleth, S.T. Joshi, Peter Cannon, Donald Burleson, Ben Indick, Rusty Burke, Robert Weinberg and others. This book also includes some Lovecraft letters not included in the five volume SELECTED LETTERS. Artwork is also prominently featured here, with illustrations by Dave Carson, Ray Capella, Robert Knox, Allen Koszowski, Steve Fabian and Lovecraft himself. Plus there are ten illos reprinted from WEIRD TALES.
CONTENTS:
[1] HPL: Pulphound by Will Murray,
[2] Story Writing by HPL,
[3] Some Self-Criticism by H.P. Lovecraft,
[4] Lovecraft As An Illustrator by H.P. Lovecraft,
[5] Lost Lovecraftian Pearls: The 'Tarbis' Collaboration by Will Murray,
[6] Lovecraft In Astounding Stories by Robert Weinberg,
[7] Humour Beneath Horror by Donald Burleson,
[8] Lovecraft, Blackwood And Chambers: A Colloquium Of Ghosts by Will Murray,
[9] Howard Phillips Whateley? by Stanley C. Sargent,
[10] HPL: Problems In Critical Recognition by Peter Cannon,
[11] Weird Tales In Retrospect by August Derleth,
[12] A Weird Tales Lovecraftian Art Gallery,
[13] HPL Visits New YorkÐAnd Runs Screaming! by James Van Hise,
[14] Roots of the Miskatonic by Will Murray,
[15] In Search of Arkham Country I by Will Murray,
[16] In Search of Arkham Country II by Will Murray,
[17] An Allen Koszowski Art Folio,
[18] R.H. Barlow And The Recognition of H.P. Lovecraft by S.T. Joshi,
[19] Myths About Lovecraft by August Derleth,
[20] A Look At Lovecraft's Letters by S.T. Joshi,
[21] The Lovecraft/Robert E. Howard Correspondence by Rusty Burke,
[22] Chronological Listing Of H.P. Lovecraft Photographs: Where Reproductions Have Been Published by John Haefele,
[23] The History of the EOD by Ben Indick,
[24] A Pre-Lovecraft Cthulhu Dreamer by Leon L. Gammell,
[25] "Memory" adapted by Eric York, [26] Rusty Chains by John Brunner,
[27] MODERN LOVECRAFT FANDOM AFTERWORD: Amateur Affairs by Hyman Bradofsky

Pickman's Model published in Weird Tales

October 1927 issue of WEIRD TALES with C. C. Senf cover art depicting a scene from The Dark Lore with stories by:H.P. Lovecraft- Pickman's Model, Nictzin Dyalhis- The Dark Lore, Edmund Hamilton- The Time Raider Part 1, E. Hoffman Price- Saladin's Throne-Rug, Robert E. Howard Verse-The Ride of Falume, Donald Wandrei- The Red Brain.

On 22 October 1927 HPL wrote Wandrei, "The Red Brain appealed {to Farnsworth Wright} greatly. " (1) As early as 29 January HPL wrote (2), "That Red Brain ... yes - Wandrei has had glimpses ... outside!" Previously, Wandrei had entitled this "The Twilight of Time" and before that "In the Hundred Billionth Aeon" which he wrote (3) when he entered University at about age 17.

Interestingly, Lovecraft is still not considered Cover material, and takes second place to Seabury Quinn. You know that galled him !!

1. Mysteries of Time and Spirit, p. 174
2. p. 19
3. p. 29,30

Sex and Rockets: Book About Jack Parsons Mentions Lovecraft

Chrispy just came back from Borders and saw a cool book called Sex and Rockets (*) about Jack Parsons. He was a research scientist at CalTech and who co-founded the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, but at night he explored Aleister Crowley's magic. He was closely associated with L Ron Hubbard who (it is claimed) absconded with both Parson's wife and money after taking copious notes on the eldritch meetings at Parsons' house. These (allegedly) formed the basis of Dianetics and Scientology.

Parsons house was a stop over by many science fiction writers of the early (post Lovecraft) generation, such as a young Ray Bradbury.

But this is the HPLblog !! so what dod they say about Ech Pi El ?

The juiciest notes on HPL are fleeting. Many know that HPL met the red-headed L Ron Hubbard through Frank Long and that is mentioned. We also learn that Hubbard knew (or at leats knew of) Crowley and perhpas Lovecraft was introduced to Crowley more or less directly (and not through just a book).

E Hoffman Price is claimed to have stated that he (Price) introduced Lovecraft to the occult. That probably is the most controversial allusion about HPL in the book. (**)

* Sex and Rockets: The Occult World of Jack Parsons, John Carter, 2004, Feral House (isbn 0922915970). Review and excerpts Here. The three pertinent pages are listed as 60 (E Hoffman Price), 105, and 109. Frank Belkanp Long is briefly mentioned, and so in The Colour Out of Space.

** Lovecraft met Price through "Two-Gun Bob" Howard in 1932 and spent days talking to him (25-1/2 hours in one setting). This was in New Orleans. By 29 September 1933 Lovecraft decided that Price was a "hack" and argued vehemently that he (Lovecraft) was not a popular writer who could "pour out" stories like "human dynamos". Lord of a Visible World, Joshi & Schultz, Ohio University Press, 2000.

Lovecraft Letter to E Hoffman Price, 1934 Part IV

The front of the postcard shows the church made famous by Washington's attendence. The postcard front is shown here. Chrispy has also appended two other pieces of backgorund. A painitng, done quite after the fact, of Washington at the church, and also a scene of inside the church. Lovecraft the antiquarian would might been excited over such Federalist scene - and perhaps his keen imagination would have brought it to life.

Lovecraft Letter to E Hoffman Price, 1934 Part 3

Autographed postcard by HPL on Ebay. You have toi love Ebay for its time-traveling abilities. Better than H. G. Wells' time machine.

The offering is accompanied by this text:


RARE Holographic Postcard H.P. LOVECRAFT to Author E. Hoffman Price, July 7, 1934, Christ Church Where Washington Worshipped, Alexandria, VA Postmarked Providence, Rhode Island

Truly a magnificent H.P. Lovecraft item. For those that know the Old Gent, they understand what a great epistler 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 out of the ordinary). It is also surmised that fewer than 10,000 of the letters still survive. Of those, a majority are held in Brown University's H.P. Lovecraft collection. In fact, their agressive acquisitions program for Lovecraft was (and is) so intense, that few letters remain in the hands of collectors. Some believe that less than two hundred letters and postcards are in still left in private hands, of these, few ever show up for sale. Considering that writing (postcards and letters) was Lovecraft's favorite form of communication, and that each epistle 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 to the public, that very cornerstone. Since letters typically run into the thousands ($4000.00 and up is quite common), a postcard is a more affordable way to own a piece of Lovecraftian history.

This postcard was written to Weird Tales and Horror author E. Hoffman Price, Arkham House contributor, author, and stalwart friend of Lovecraft. Price corresponded extensively with Lovecraft (as did many of his contemporaries). This postcard is postmarked July 7, 1934 (or so it appears to be a "7", the postmark is partially obstructed by HPL's writing). It is postmarked from Providence at 6:00am (or so it appears, again, Lovecraft's extensive writing obstruct parts of the postmark). Postmark is from Providence, Rhode Island. The postcard is of "Christ Church where Washington Worshipped. Alexandria, VA." (No doubt picked up on one of Lovecraft's excursions.) One LOONNNGGG paragraph and approximately 250 words. Moreover, there is an additional note below Lovecraft's "Greetings and salutations from the green and serpent haunted sea to Malik Taus ..." Signed "B".

Price has added a note (or so I believe, and was told it was Price) that "Second signature probably "B" = Barlow " (for RH Barlow, friend of Lovecraft, and literary executor -- they also had a few story collaborations). The content is unpublished.

HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE:

A Typical Opening Lovecraftian Flourish: "Greetings, O Right Hand of Sulliman ...."
Lovecraft also mentions the San Francisco area that Price Lives in, the Gates of an Old Mission and the Friars; Chinese Delicasies; Price's plan for a MA and PhD; A Two-Day Trip Lovecraft took to Virginia (where the postcard was no doubt acquired): Charleston, Richmond, and Fredericksburg; Philadelphia where he saw Poe's House; and more.
The card is signed in one of Lovecraft's favorite renditions of his initials, Arabic: "E'ch-Pi-El".
Truly a gem. With this, we offer a lifetime Certificate of Authenticity. Lovecraft postcards are become more and more rare, and soon, they just won't show up. (We have seen two on Ebay in the last year or so, one did not sell, and one--that we offered--sold for $950.00 (in October 2005)).

Lovecraft Letter to E Hoffman Price, 1934 Part 2

Amazing offering on Ebay. Now you can see the cramped handwriting of the master in all its splendiferous indecipherability. Imagine getting a letter like this!

Lovecraft Letter to E Hoffman Price, 1934 Part 1

Very special offering on ebay! For easier viewing of this ephemera, here are snippets of HPL's writing.

Here we see, "Greetings, O Right Hand of Sullivan", "young friend Belknap", and "Saw Poe's house".

... to be continued ...