Lot 1019 email save

Jack London Signed Letter

Sign In to see what this sold for

Title: Typed, Signed Letter from Jack London to T. Werner Laurie
Author: London, Jack
Description: Single sheet bond paper, 12 lines, typed, on recto only. 11x8½London writes to one of his English publishers regarding "Before Adam": "Mr. T. Werner Laurie, Dear sir: - In reply to yours of Dec. 15. I have no copies of your Colonial edition of BEFORE ADAM. Will you please send me one copy of the Colonial edition of BEFORE ADAM. I wish to have it in my collection of my own books. Also, when you bring out the 2/- edition of BEFORE ADAM in the spring, will you kindly send me a copy of that edition for my shelves. I am sorry to say that MARTIN EDEN is already arranged for in England. Now you offer me £50 for the 6d. or 7D. rights in BEFORE ADAM. As I remember it, Nelson & Sons, who brought out such an edition of WHITE FANG, paid a cash advance to me of £200, and, later on, even sent me additional royalties. Now, if this edition you have in mind is to be an edition brought out by Nelson & Sons, I think I should be justified in expecting a better arrangement. On the other hand, if you are attempting this cheap edition of BEFORE ADAM yourself, in consideration of the conflict you had with The Macmillan Company in the matter of the Colonial edition, I should be willing to let you have the 6D/ or 7D. rights in BEFORE ADAM for £50------but in this event I should ask that £50 by immediately forwarded to me. Sincerely yours, Jack London." A very faint pencil note across the top of the sheet is apparently the publisher's response: "I am afraid I could not offer more than £50 cash for Adam outright (?) & could not say at present whether I should buy it myself or endeavor to sell it. Lost Face." At bottom of letter, also in pencil is the directive "send free & return this."
Heading: Place Published: Glen Ellen
Publisher:
Date Published: 3695