American Historical Ephemera & Photography

CANNAN, Gilbert (1884-1955). British novelist and dramatist. Handwritten play script for Gloves: A Layment of the Eternal Duel with autograph letter signed ("Gilbert Cannan") to "My dear Mrs. Isaacs." Hotel Lafayette, New York City, 22 Feb. 1920. Letter, 1p., play script, 11pp., 8 x 10 in. (folds, some corner/edge wear including few light chips, residue from paperclip on top edge, stain on last 2 pages).

DAVIS, Owen (1874-1956). American dramatist, wrote 200+ plays, including The Great Gatsby, Jezebel, and The Good Earth. Autograph letter signed ("Owen Davis") to "Mr. MacGowan." 987 Madison Avenue, [New York City], 14 September n.d. 1 1/8p., 5 3/8 x 8 1/2 in., on "Owen Davis" letterhead (light folds). Davis discusses various plays, noting towards the end of the letter, "...after this I'll probably write a lot of bad plays - but at least I won't know it at the time."

FAULKNER, William (1887-1962). American writer and Nobel Prize laureate. Possible written postmark removed from envelope with "Plaza" imprint on reverse side. 2 1/2 x 3 7/8 in. overall (soiling, smudges, edge/corner wear). 

EATON, Walter Pritchard (1878-1892). Author, wrote The Idyl of Twin Fires. Autograph letter signed ("Walter Eaton") to "My dear Mrs. Isaacs." Twin Fires, Sheffield, MA, 1 January 1922. 1p., 8 1/2 x 11 in., on "W.P. Eaton" letterhead (folds, with light soiling at folds, light corner/edge wear). Eaton writes, "...tell me what 'Expressionism' in drama is." 

AUSTIN, Mary (1877-1922). Member of the executive committee of the American Center of P.E.N. NYC (Booth Tarkington, Pres.). Typed letter signed ("Mary Austin") to "Mr. MacGowan." New York, 29 April n.d. 1p., 8 1/2 x 11 in., on "P.E.N." letterhead (light fold, light edge/corner wear). Letter discussing P.E.N.'s second International, which was ending with a performance of Abie's Irish Rose, a play first performed May 23, 1922. A reference is made to May Sinclair, a British suffragist.

RIGGS, Kate Douglas (1856-1923). American author of Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm and Penelope series. Married to S.B. Wiggins and George C. Riggs. Autograph letter signed ("Katie Douglas Riggs") to "Mr. [Arthur] Guiterman." 145 West Fifty-eighth Street, [New York City], 19 October n.d. 2pp., 5 x 8 in. (some toning, corner/edge wear including loss to top right corner of page 2). She describes printed material as "so stale and flat and perfunctory," and asks to meet with Mr. Guiterman, who has "style" and "individuality." 

HOWELLS, W.D. (1837-1920). Author, editor, and critic. Clipped signature ("W.D. Howells"). 4 3/8 x 1 7/8 in. (light vertical fold through center, slight residue on verso). 

PAGE, Thomas Nelson (1853-1922). Novelist, diplomat, and lawyer. Autograph letter signed ("Thos. Nelson Page") to "James Carleton Young, Esq." 1759 R Street, Corner, New Hampshire Avenue, [Washington, DC], 1 November 1904. 1p., 5 3/8 x 6 3/4 in. (light fold, light corner/edge wear). Page thanks Young for a book a poems he sent him. 

ANDREWS, Mary Raymond Shipman (1860-1936). Writer of Abe Lincoln Short Stories. Card signed and inscribed ("Mary Raymond Shipman Andrews"). [December] 1914. 4 7/8 x 3 1/4 in. (minimal toning). Christmas greetings from Andrews. 

GALE, Zona (1874-1938). Novelist. Typed letter signed ("Zona Gale") to "Kenneth MacGowan." Portage, WI, 27 April 1924. 1p., 8 1/2 x 11 in. (light folds, minor spotting, light corner/edge wear). 

THOMAS, Augustus (1857-1934). American playwright. Typed letter signed ("Augustus Thomas") to "Mr. MacGowan." New York City, 4 December 1920. 1p., 5 3/8 x 8 1/2 in., on letterhead with "Augustus Thomas" blind stamp (light folds). Letter in which he says he is complimented by Mr. MacGowan's wish to print his views on apparent change in play construction in the Globe. [With:] Typed letter signed ("Augustus Thomas") to "Mr. MacGowan." New York City, 11 January 1921. 1p., 5 3/8 x 8 1/2 in., on letterhead with "Augustus Thomas" blind stamp (light folds). Letter in which Thomas states, "I am highly gratified at your wish to have me write for the Globe, but there are two obstacles, first a great pressure of work, and second a sterilizing ignorance on the subject." He added a "third excuse...a real unwillingness to invade the critical field or to comment upon the current work of my colleagues."

GLASPELL, Susan (1876-1948). Playwright. Autograph postcard signed ("Susan Glaspell") to "Dear Miss. Isaacs." New York City, 7 May 1919. 5 1/2 x 3 1/4 in. (crease through center). Note to Edith Isaacs at Theatre Arts Magazine in which Glaspell says she will send copies of the plays from Provincetown. [With:] Typed letter signed ("Susan Glaspell") to "Mrs. Levy." New York, 9 February n.d. 1p., 8 1/2 x 3 3/4 in. (light folds, some toning, light corner wear). Note to Isabelle Levy regarding royalties for performance of Close the Book, a 1918 play at the Provincetown Playhouse. 

Together, 14 items.