Anderson, Maxwell; [Avery, Laurence G. - Editor]

Dramatist In America: Letters of Maxwell Anderson, 1912 - 1958 [Inscribed by Gilda Anderson to Horizon Books Publisher Ben Raeburn with a Handwritten Letter]

Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina Press, 1977. First Edition, First Printing. Hardcover with Dust Jacket.

A touching Association Copy of the letters of playwright Maxwell Anderson. This copy was inscribed by his widow, Gilda Anderson, to Ben Raeburn (Publisher of Horizon Press). It includes a poignant handwritten letter from Gilda thanking Raeburn for 'two Berenice Abbott books' and referencing a reciprocal gift.

Key Features:
+++ The Inscription: Inscribed on the half-title: "For Ben / How much I wish you could have met the man who wrote these letters - Gilda Anderson / Christmas '87."
+++ The ALS (Autograph Letter Signed): Includes a separate 5.5 x 8.5" handwritten note on personal stationery to "Pearl and Ben." In it, Gilda thanks them for their support during a "difficult time" and mentions receiving books by Berenice Abbott (whom Horizon Press published), illustrating the close-knit circle of New York’s artistic elite. [Full transcription available upon request.]
+++ Provenance: From the estate of Ben Raeburn, legendary publisher of Horizon Press.
+++ Content: The definitive collection of letters from the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Key Largo, The Bad Seed, and High Tor, edited by Laurence G. Avery.

Condition: Very Good Book / Good Dust Jacket] -- The book is tight and clean with sharp corners. The dust jacket is unclipped but shows wear, including rubbing to the edges and some chipping at the spine ends (see photos). The spine of the jacket is sunned/faded. The interior inscription and loose note are crisp and legible. Dimensions: 6 x 9.25 inches; 324 pages.

While Maxwell Anderson died in 1959, his third wife and widow, Gilda Oakleaf Anderson, maintained his legacy. This volume connects the Anderson estate to Ben Raeburn, a titan of mid-century publishing. 

The accompanying note is particularly interesting for its mention of Berenice Abbott, confirming Raeburn's habit of gifting his own high-quality art books to friends. The inscription ("Wish you could have met the man") reveals that despite Raeburn's prominence, he and Maxwell Anderson likely never crossed paths professionally, a regret Gilda sought to remedy through this gift.

Keywords: Maxwell Anderson, American Theater, Playwrights, Ben Raeburn, Horizon Press, Association Copy, Literary Letters, Gilda Anderson, Berenice Abbott, 20th Century Drama.

Item #21473
ISBN: 0807813095

Price: $85.00