TLS signed “Margaret Mitchell Marsh,” two pages, 7.25 x 10.5, personal letterhead, July 23, 1947. Letter to Mrs. George W. Johnson of the Johnson Printing Company, in full: “Thank you so much for writing me that you had derived pleasure from ‘Gone With the Wind.’ I appreciated what you said. I am glad to answer your inquiries about how the sale of ‘Gone With the Wind’ was made to the movies. I do not believe, however, that it will be of much assistance to you in your problem, as I have never met any writer who handled things the way I did. The Macmillan Company published my novel and, as I was receiving a number of offers for the screen rights, I asked The Macmillan Company to act as my agent and manage the sale of the motion picture rights for me. The Macmillan Company sold ‘Gone With the Wind’ to Mr. David Selznick, who produced the film from it. So, you see, as your material has not yet been published, you could not proceed in the same fashion I did.
You asked, ‘Does each studio send out purchasing agents?’ I never heard of any studio sending out purchasing agents of any type. In fact, I am informed that the very opposite is true. I am told that the studios purchase no unpublished manuscripts or material, unless it is scenarios by writers employed in and by the studios for this exact purpose. If your material had been published as a short story, an article, a novel, a non-fiction book, a play, you would have better chances to sell it to the movies. The reason for this is that the motion picture companies have been victimized by unscrupulous people for so many years that in self-protection they must refuse to read or purchase unsolicited and unpublished manuscripts. These unscrupulous people have sent in manuscripts to the movies and afterwards brought suit against the producing film companies, claiming that films were based upon their unsolicited manuscripts.
I do not know how to advise you, as I know less than nothing about literary agents. However, I am sending you a page from the Saturday Review of Literature which, I notice, has some agents’ advertisements. I do not recommend any of these people, for I know nothing about any of them. I cannot tell you how much they charge for reading fees or if they charge anything at all. I do not know whether they are helpful and honest people or racketeers who will keep asking you for more and more money. I am afraid I am not very helpful, certainly not as helpful as I would like to be, but the only thing I can do is tell you what little I know.” Includes the referenced newspaper clipping. In fine condition, with two light blocks of toning to the first page. Accompanied by the original mailing envelope.
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