Search Results: Indiana Writers from Charles Agvent

Indianapolis, 8 April 1881. Letter. Recipient's name cut out of letter, otherwise Near Fine. A one-page AUTOGRAPH LETTER SIGNED (ALS) with his initials on 5-1/2" x 8-3/4" Indianapolis THE JOURNAL stationery to Charles T. Scott. In full: "Your letter and contents is here--the letter before me, and the latter in my pocket, where, I'm sorry to say, it can't remain for a permanent visit. However, all is as well with me now as I could wish, considering justly how little I deserve. I did 'bang up' at Terre Haute, and 'brought down' not only 'the house,' but a brace o' girls it would soothe your eyes to see. Hope to be able to show you their pictures by the time you next come over. Am just out of coal again, and the room's as cold as an unlined coffin with the lid off. Ven my bruttah, who iss lots money vaint, come fon Pittsburck I vill see you lattah, J.W.R." With the original envelope addressed in Riley's hand with the notation "J.W.R. Personal."

Indianapolis, 8 April 1881. Letter. Ink smudged in several places, some soiling. Very Good with dark ink. A four-page AUTOGRAPH LETTER SIGNED (ALS) in full on 10-1/4" x 6-1/4" personal stationery folded into four panels to book reviewer William McCormick regarding his review of Tarkington's novel THE TURMOIL and reviewing in general. In part: "I feel peculiarly grateful to you; my feeling about reviews is that a reviewer reviews himself as well as the book he is estimating. Most reviews seem to me to reveal more of the reviewer than of the book. How many, many for instance, shout of egotism; the reviewer being in labor from the outset to demonstrate that he is the knowing fellow, the author a faltering apprentice, or worse! Your review made me grateful because it was kind enough to see at what pains I had been to write 'decent prose.' Such matters are usually overlooked because--I cannot help but believe it--because the great majority of reviewers have no perspective of prose texture. They do not… Read More

Framed Photograph. Near Fine and a handsome presentation. Scarce 5-3/8" x 7-7/8" original photograph of Riley matted and framed some time ago to an overall size of 10-3/4" x 13-1/4". Fine portrait of the bespectacled Indiana state treasure SIGNED "Yours truly, James Whitcomb Riley" at the base of the photograph, the signature very slightly covered by the mat. Not examined out of the frame but the photograph appears not to have any defects.