An Autograph Letter, Signed, Dated Jan 21, 1901.
NP, 1901. A single sheet, folded, to give four 8 x 5 inch pages. The letter is on pages 1 and 3 only, pages 2 and 4 (the versos) being left blank. Entirely handwritten, starting with her home address: "Mason Croft / Stratford-on-Avon." A short letter, addressed simply to "Dear Sir" in which Corelli states that while she does not normally grant interviews, she is happy to do so on this occasion, "as the New York Times has been considerably misled with regard to me" and she would be glad to clear up the error, and explains the times etc. that would suit her for a meeting. Marie Corelli (1855-1924), was an enormously popular British writer of often occult-themed fiction, whose novels are considered by some to be minor classics of supernatural fiction. Her books had a wide readership - including Gerald Gardner who had four of her novels in his library - and Aleister Crowley, who refered to her in several book reviews. Some foxing - heaviest on the first page. Someone had clipped out "Sincerely yours / Marie Corelli" at the end of the letter, but evidently thought better of it and reattached it with tape. In the process a half-inch by two inch blank strip was lost from the bottom edge beneath the signature. A horizontal crease across the centre of both leaves from being folded into an envelope. AS IS. Item #58894
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