ALS, one page both sides, 8.25 x 10.5, [February 1930]. Handwritten letter to lawyer Milton S. Leidner, a collector who evidently desired to obtain all of Ernest Hemingway's first edition books. In part: "My first book was Three Stories and Ten Poems published in Paris in, I believe 1922, by Contact Editions…The 1st In Our Time was published by Three Mountains Press…these have both been out of print for some years—The other books are the Liveright In Our Time—Torrents of Spring—The Sun Also Rises—Men Without Women—and A Farewell T. A.—These with the pamphlet you speak of, (which by the was has a funny history)—They wrote me and asked me for a story and I sent it telling them it was the only Mss. I had and would they please return it to me—They only paid me $10.00 for the story on a tale they were doing it as non-profit venture etc. and last year in Chicago in the Walden Bookshop—I found the Mss. of the story with my letter asking them to please send it back as it was only one I had—which they had sold!—Both Mss. and letter. I'm afraid it was a racket after all—Anyway good luck to you and if you get all the first editions you'll have more than I have!" In fine condition. A remarkable letter, offering both a handwritten Hemingway bibliography up to 1930 and a humorous anecdote on the merciless book trade.
Past sales history: Christie's East, Catalogue of Modern Literature: The Property of a Private Collector, December 5, 1996.
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