MENCKEN HL Four items Signed in full or Mencken Two Autograp

Sale 2461 - Lot 256

Price Realized: $ 1,500

?Final Price Realized includes Buyer’s Premium added to Hammer Price

Estimate: $ 700 - $ 1,000

"I DIDN'T ADVOCATE MURDERING THE IGNORANT" MENCKEN, H.L. Four items Signed, in full or "Mencken": Two Autograph Letters and two Typed Letters, to various recipients, on the ignorant, slang, prohibition, Theodore Dreiser, and other topics. Together 6 pages, 8vo or 4to, "Smart Set" or "American Mercury" or personal stationery; generally good condition. Two with the original envelope. Vp, 1922-45

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ALS, to Claire Williams: "You rather misunderstand my position. I didn't advocate murdering the ignorant; all I advocate is opposing them vigorously as soothsayers and law-makers. . . . Let them stick to their proper business and place." New York, [5 April 1922] TLS, to Ruth Williams, explaining that he cannot give an opinion about two works as he has not read them. New York, 11 December [1924] TLS, to biographer William E. Woodward ("Dear Woodward"): "No matter what you may do or say, you are doomed to reach the pearly gates with 'debunk' hung around your neck. In . . . 'The American Language,' I report that you disclaim the ownership of the word. . . . If there is any revision . . . I'll probably have to tell the truth . . . ." Baltimore, 10 August 1945 ALS, to "Dear George": ". . . The drier New York gets, the wetter Baltimore gets. I have, within one week, laid in . . . a gallon of prime applejack, and 175 bottles of ale. An Italian ship in port last week is said to have landed 200 cases of vermouth. Some liqueurs for me are now on the high seas. . . ." Np, nd.