Black Colossus

Edition: Limited

Book condition: Fine

Jacket condition: No Jacket

Book Description

Manuscript, 1933. Original manuscript. [c.1933]. Ribbon-copy typescript, fifty-one 8 ½ X 11-inch leaves, typed double space. Inscribed in ink at top of first leaf: "To R. H. Barlow with the best wishes of [signed] Robert E. Howard." Staple holes in margins of all leaves, last leaf has a very short tear with creasing in margin (not affecting text), leaves tan but NOT brittle, otherwise in near fine condition. Foliated and complete. Each leaf is contained in an archival clear plastic "L" sleeve and housed in a handsome portfolio with ribbon tie. Provenance: The manuscript was obtained by August Derleth from the estate of Robert H. Barlow, sold by Derleth to Robert Meracle in 1970, sold my Meracle in 1999 to the collector from whom Barry R. Levin obtained it in 2008. With a photocopy of August Derleth's letter of 21 November 1967 offering the manuscript to Meracle, a signed letter of provenance from Robert Meracle dated 5 / 7 / 99, and a signed letter of provenance from Barry R. Levin dated May 22, 2008. Thus giving us an unbroken chain of provenance back to Robert H. Barlow to whom the manuscript was inscribed. Conan the Barbarian's creator Robert E. Howard is undoubtedly the rarest and hardest modern fantasy author's autograph to obtain. Most known surviving examples of his autograph are in pencil. Here we have a Conan story signed and inscribed in ink. Howard died before any of his Conan stories could be printed in book form making this signed Conan piece especially important. One of the most important modern fantasy manuscripts ever to have come on the market.. Signed by Author. Limited. Unbound. Fine/No Jacket.