Ellery Queen was one of two brainchildren of the team of cousins, Fred Dannay and Manfred B. Lee. At the beginning, "Ellery Queen" the author was marketed as a secret identity. Ellery Queen (actually one of the cousins, usually Dannay) would appear in public masked, as though he were protecting his identity. Even after the cousins' identities were disclosed, their novels continued to be published under their now-famous pseudonym. Lot of two items. TLS, signed “Manfred B. Lee,” one page, 7.25 x 10.5, Ellery Queen letterhead, March 13, 1947. In part: “Mr. Dannay and I are notoriously camera-shy…The few pictures of us were taken by LIFE or newspaper photographers…through your journalistic connections you might be able to procure one of these; in which case we would be only too happy to autograph it and mail it back to you. But we warn you it would look more like a refugee from a Rogues’ Gallery than a portrait of two respectable mystery writers!” Second is an ALS, signed “Fred Dannay,” one page both sides, 7.25 x 10.5, Ellery Queen’s Mystery Magazine letterhead, October 13, 1959. Dannay writes to “Don” about Jorge Luis Borges’ Death and The Compass. In part: “Now, about ‘Death and the Compass,’ I see why you are so attracted to this story. It has a brilliance - chiefly of concept.” In fine condition, with edge toning, unobtrusive pencil notations in the top border. R&R COA.
