Allen Ginsberg. ALS: "I can't sign ex libris cards which are not in my own library--it confuses things. I signed the card. Other books are easy to order or locate from City Lights Publisher . . . ." 1 page, 8vo, written on verso of Benedetto's letter to him. [San Francisco, September] • Joseph Heller. TLS: "What a lovely idea you have in the autographed deck of cards! I've done my best . . . ." 1/2 page, 12mo, personal stationery. Np, nd • Thornton Wilder. ALS: "Enclosed please find the card and the bookplate. Please don't show this to your friends for a while, because I am old and of deteriorating eyesight . . . ." 1 page, small 8vo, personal stationery. Hamden, 15 June • James Clavell. ANS, "JamesC," in the blank space at bottom of Benedetto's letter: "Spread the Word--IF you enjoy it! [concerning his book Tai-Pan]. 4 lines, 4to. Np, [July] • Katherine Ann Porter (2). Brief ALS: "I love this darling cat. I am an . . . admirer of the entire feline race. Where can I find this for my own books?"; TLS: ". . . I am not just a cat lover but a cat worshipper. I have had a long life of the most beautiful friends of my favorite race of all creatures . . . . I put my name and then I put Remembering Skipper or Lucifer or Jupiter or Sweet William and on and on through the ages of my whole life . . . ." Each 1 page, oblong 16mo or 8vo. Np; College Park, 9; 17 June • Thomas Tryon. TLS: ". . . At the moment I'm hard at work on an exciting new book, but I don't want to give away anything yet. . . ." 1/2 page, 4to, personal stationery. New York, 19 June • William E. Barrett. TLS, "WBarrett": ". . . THE LEFT HAND OF GOD has been, through all the years, my most popular book. . . ." 1 page, 4to, personal stationery. [Washington], 14 July • Paul W. Gallico. Brief TLS. 1/4 page, 4to, personal stationery. Antibes, 20 June • Victoria Holt. TLS, expressing pleasure at having signed the Queen of Spades. 1/2 page, small 4to, personal stationery. London, 26 June • James Kirkwood. TLS, giving performance schedule for Your Cat is Dead. 1/4 page, 4to. Np, nd • Ira Levin. ANS: ". . . The deck of cards is a fine idea." 1 page, oblong 16mo. Np, nd • Helen MacInnes. ALS, explaining that her brief reply is due to demands of her new novel. 1 page, small 8vo, personal stationery. East Hampton, 18 July • John McPhee. ANS: "Thank you." 1/2 page, 12mo, "New Yorker" stationery. New York, nd • Mary Renault. TLS, complaining of when autograph seekers seem not to have read her books. 1 page, 4to. [Cape Town], 7 August • Sidney Sheldon. TLS, hoping Benedetto's niece enjoys the signed playing card and book plate. 1/2 page, 4to, personal stationery. Np, 28 May • Mary Stewart. ALS, hoping niece will enjoy completed pack of cards and for another suspense story. 1 page, 4to. Edinburgh, 31 July • Joseph Wambaugh. ANS: "Best regards," written on verso of bookmark. 1 page, 2 1/2x7 1/2 inches. [San Marino], September.
With--Small group of correspondence relating to Benedetto's collection, including a retained copy of Benedetto's letter to P.G. Wodehouse, and several letters to Benedetto from secretaries or spouses of unavailable authors. Together 8 pages, 4to or smaller. Vp, 1975-81.