For those who do not know the works of HP Lovecraft, he was like EA Poe of the 19th century, and the Steven King of the 21st century, who lived in the 20th century. Recently my friend, who owns perhaps the best rare bookstore in America, brought to my attention that he had some postcards that he bought in the 70s, from HP Lovecraft. He’s recognized from San Francisco to New York City as the best in his rare collection of books and other things like that, and I’ve known him for a long, long time. Anyway, I usually don’t do what I’m going to do, but I share this postcard with the public, because it has a lot of old writers. The story and its content are written below, along with its date, etc.
Postcard: HP Lovecraft to Clark A. Smith
(Dated April 19, 1927)
The History: The Postcard was purchased by Dennis L. Siluk, 12/8/2005, from Tom Strausky, who purchased it in the 1970s from Roy Sequins (sp?). The postcard is signed by: HP Lovecraft; W. Munn (poet / writer) and P. Cook (editor / publisher); all were associated with ‘Weird Tales’ magazine. The people mentioned in the postcard: George Sterling: poet and friend of Jack London, novelist; HP Lovecraft: fantasy / horror writer, similar to Edgar Allen Poe; Ambrose Pierce: reporter, short story writer, poet; and also a friend of CA Smith. B. Lang: ‘Weird Tales’ poet / writer; Wandrei: poet / writer of ‘Weird Tales’; Gulpin: writer; CA Smith: novelist / short story writer / poet; he also wrote for ‘Weird Tales’; all mentioned on the postcard.
Content of the letter as I perceive it and have interpreted it: the Postcard
To: Clark Ashton Smith Box 385, Auburn, California.
Another conclave! Wandrei and Belhuap are back in their respective skies, but the spirit of reunion is still on earth. I have said the Anthology of New Braithwaite[England;¿RobertBraithwaite)Contieneunamuybuena(or:Burning)aprecioporsutrabajodeSterlingDebobuscarloEscuchédegalpinúltimamenteyestáentusiasmadoconsuversoenfrancésEnmipróximoadjuntarésulistadeenmiendaslingüísticasexpertas”[England;RobertBraithwaite)Anthologycontainsaveryfine(or:Fiery)appreciationofyourworkbySterlingImustlookitupHeardfromgalpinlately&he’senthusiasticaboutyourFrenchverseInmynextI’llenclosehislistofexpertlinguisticemendations?”?[Inglaterra;¿RobertBraithwaite?)Contieneunamuybuena(o:ardiente?)aprecioporsutrabajodeSterlingDebobuscarloEscuchédegalpinúltimamenteyestáentusiasmadoconsuversoenfrancésEnmipróximoadjuntarésulistadeenmiendaslingüísticasexpertas”[England;RobertBraithwaite?)Anthologycontainsaveryfine(or:fiery?)appreciationofyourworkbySterlingImustlookitupHeardfromgalpinlately&he’senthusiasticaboutyourFrenchverseInmynextI’llenclosehislistofexpertlinguisticemendations”
Dennis L. Siluk
