Letter Writers Alliance

Edward Gorey's Illustrated Letters

As seen over on Brain Pickings, there is a new book called Floating Worlds: The Letters of Edward Gorey and Peter F. Neumeyer. In addition to being a book of correspondence featuring "everything from metaphysics to pancake recipes", the book also shows Gorey's illustrated envelopes.

Maria Popova's review said it best,"Floating Worlds is as much a powerful personal memoir of an unusual friendship as it is a priceless cultural treasure containing the spirit and legacy of one of the twentieth-century’s most unique, influential and prolific creators."

Let me try to tell you how much I love this. First, I'd have to explain how Edward Gorey is one of my biggest influences and heroes. Then, I'd have to convince you of how much I love mail (which I attempt to do here every Monday, Wednesday and Friday). Finally, you'd have to combine those things. That is how much I love this. 

Letters of Note,The Book

Our friend and fellow letter-lover, Shaun Usher, the curator behind the phenomenal Letters of Note has a book proposal for you all. He wants to take his wonderful website and translate into a tangible form for us to enjoy. This is his plan:

A large coffee-table volume of 400 pages, with 200 letters, each of them reproduced in facsimile with an introduction by me and a transcript of the text. Unbound’s plan is to produce a physical object of great loveliness: cloth bound, using thick, uncoated paper: something that gives you the experience of holding and reading the actual letters themselves. As well as being a good read, it will make a lovely gift. It’s being printed in Germany where they understand these things.

Many of the letters will have appeared on the site but I'm holding some of the best back. The main thing is that it will be an eclectic mix of the humour, seriousness, sadness and brilliance that make up our lives. Here’s a random selection of what I hope you’ll find inside:

• * Hunter S. Thompson’s furious memo to a film executive that starts 'Listen, you lazy bitch…'


• * Steve Martin’s 'personalised' form letter to a fan


• * The letter of a Kamikaze pilot to his two young children, written the night before his mission


• * A 9th century form letter from China used to apologise for having drunk too much at a dinner party


• * A memo about some of the surprising candidates for Star Trek: The Next Generation


• * William Safire’s memo containing a speech for president Nixon to deliver if the Apollo 11 mission failed and the astronauts were lost.


• * A heartbreaking series of letters from a 31 year-old women with dementia desperately trying to contact her husband from a German asylum in 1909


• * Aldous Huxley's wife Laura giving a moving account of her husband’s death to his brother Julian in 1963


• * A fan letter from Stanley Kubrick to Ingmar Bergman in 1960


• * A letter from Albert Einstein to a theologian describing God as a 'human weakness'


• * The remarkably polite correspondence between Marge Simpson and former First Lady, Barbara Bush

And more hopefully! You can help support Shaun's endeavour through Unbound. There are various levels and at the 75£ level, you get a Letter Writers Alliance membership in addition to a bunch of other awesome stuff. We're proud to be involved with this project and we hope you'll consider it as well.

{Creative Commons image from the Flickr stream of Patrick Q}

Philately Goes Rogue: Review of “The History of Mail Bombs” by Dale Speirs

{The following review was written by L.W.A. Member Liz G. Liz sends great mail, and she also reads great books. Thanks again for the review! -Donovan}

  Well, everyone-- he’s done it again. Gaining newfound momentum within the past year--via the Wreck & Crash Mail Society’s 2010 publication of his book, The History of Mail Bombs: A Philatelic & History Study--it would seem as though the Dale Speirs underground oeuvre has, finally, taken itself to receiving the widespread fanfare (and rightful acclaim) it deserves. Speirs’ prolific, highly varied career--he juggles the hats of longtime zine editor and mail artist, which is to say nothing of his archival and editorial work for the Calgary Philatelic Society--has recently taken a interesting, albeit philatelic, curve. Last fall, at the American Philatelic Literature Exhibition in Richmond, VA., Speirs was awarded the Vermeil medal for The History of Mail Bombs. It was that philatelic literary triumph of his which led to my ultimate reading--and rereading--and rereading. It’s a book that won’t leave you bored--or lacking in any detailed information. This is a minefield of dinner-table conversation; use to your advantage.

   Speirs unfolds, for the duration of 128 total pages, a highly precise and starkly thorough account of letter and parcel bombs, along with their corresponding postal history. The motives we find behind these ostensibly innocent postal disasters begins, he notes, with their curious inception into the historical framework of 18^th century Danish society. Since then, the rationale claimed for their creation has varied wildly.

    Interestingly, he notes that a report, made in the mid-nineties via the U.S. Postal Inspection, reports a varied slew of susceptibility factors, intended to warn those would-be-parcel-bombed souls. These factors include (but, certainly, aren’t limited to) extortion, revenge, love triangles, terrorism, and business disputes. Whether the rigged explosive in question was found to be hidden within an envelope or package, Speirs’ narrative details, exhaustively, the intriguing historical occurrences of these parcel bombs. Most interestingly (to me, anyway): any salvageable philatelic-exhibition material, left in the aftermath of all parcel bomb’s wake, have been (and will continue to be) largely negligible in scale. A variety of hand-stamped labels and markings, left by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service after confiscation, are the closest tangible collection materials available.

    You can contact the Wreck & Crash Mail Society at their website, or via publication editor Ken Sanford, at kaerophil@gmail.com. Write to Mr. Speirs at Box 6830, Calgary, Alberta, Canada T2P 2E7. (Copies of his amazing zine, Opuntia, are available for $3 postpaid).

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Reminder to all members: RSVP #6 goes on sale TOMORROW at 6pm CST.

NPR on Thank You Notes

NPR has an nice piece up on John Kralik, the author of 365 Thank Yous:The Year a Simple Act of Daily Gratitude Changed My Life. There is an audio piece {naturally, this IS radio} but there's also a text interview and excerpt from the book. Additionally, Mr. Kralik shares his tips on thank you note writing.

1. Focus on the other person.  First, find their address, and write it out yourself on the envelope.  Where are they living?  What did they go through to give you this gift?  When is the last time you did something like that for them?

2. Think beyond material gifts.  What about the person who serves you coffee every day?  What about the doctor who saved your life, the Good Samaritan who found your wallet, the teacher who takes an interest in your child, the special friend who listens to you, the person who loves you.

3. Mention the gift itself, hopefully in a positive tone, so they know you got it, and are not confusing them with someone else.

4. Write a sentence or two explaining how the gift is changing or simply improving your life.

5. If the gift isn't right for you, don't ask where the gift was purchased so you can exchange it.  You can get value out of any gift, if only by donating to charity.

6. Think of ways you failed to thank the person in the past and remind the recipient how important a friend they are.

7. Don't make jokes unless you know the recipient has a good sense of humor, and you are sure they will get the joke in the way that it was intended.

8. Keep the thank you short and simple on a 3" x 5" note card, minus fancy frills. That way, there's no room for anything except your gratitude.  Replace thank-you e-mails with handwritten notes. With a handwritten note, a piece of you will be in the same room with the person to whom you write.

9. Try writing a first draft, perhaps in a spreadsheet. Not only will you benefit from the second draft, but you will always have a list of the most generous people in your life, and the reasons why you should be thankful for them.

10. Write a lot of thank-you notes. You'll get better.

It is coming up on two weeks after the holidays. Have YOU written your thank yous yet? And thanks to Adam Schwartz of WFIU for the email about the piece. Perhaps I'll send him a note.

Introducing Ashley {and her review of The Englishman Who Posted Himself and Other Curious Objects}

I am consistently impressed by the bloggery {is that even a word?} of L.W.A. member Ashley. So impressed, in fact, that I told her I wanted her to be our Washington D.C. correspondent {and that I also wanted to crib some of her more postal-focused entries to share with you.} Graciously, she deigned to grant my request, so I can now give you Ashley's review of The Englishman Who Posted Himself and Other Curious Objects, a book I recieved for my birthday. Having read it myself, I agree with her summation and comments.

Enjoy,

My copy of John Tingey’s The Englishman Who Posted Himself and Other Curious Objects finally arrived!  While I’m happy that the New Yorker’s book blog picked up on this mail art gem, it also meant the title was back-ordered for ages a few weeks.  Completely and utterly worth the wait.  I simply loved, loved, loved this book. Not only is W. Reginald Bray a fascinating character- a true English Eccentric- but Princeton Architectural Press put together an incredibly beautiful book. The illustrations bring the text to life and gave me loads of creative ideas.

This is neither a detailed history of early mail art nor a traditional biography of Bray.  While there were time I could’ve used a bit more detail or general historical context, I expected just what I got- a lushly illustrated book with interesting bits of text.  It’s a short book- most of the pages are dedicated to illustration- but one that I’m sure I’ll come back to for inspiration. Maybe if Bray’s star rises a bit more in the popular consciousness we’ll get a longer, more historically-oriented book about him.  For now, I wouldn’t trade a single image for more text about his life, era, or the poor postmen who had to decipher his address games.

I suggest that you read this book post haste and/or when you’re feeling a bit puckish.

Writing Antiques Book Giveaway

The lovely Shire Classics sent me another of their new books to review. This one is all about the sundry bits and pieces that used to accompany the act of writing before all this funny business with ball point pens. From quill pens and blotters to penwipers and ink bottles, stamp holders, pen nibs and more! Just look at those wonderful lap desks. The whole volume was like an enormous "Donovan Wants" list. Fortunately, the book was rather slim because there's no way my wallet would survive trying to add all of this to my collection. If this seems like something you'd like to know more about, WRITING ANTIQUES is a nice starting resource.

Through some happy mix-up, I was sent two copies of this book; so I'm giving one away! Leave a comment with your L.W.A. member number and your favorite writing antique. I'll select a winner at random a week from now.

 

UPDATE: The contest is now closed and Kim, L.W.A. member #000984 was our chosen winner!

Shire Books Review

A while back I did a post on Shire Books and the historical guides they publish. They saw my blog entry and offered to send me some of their books for review. "Oh, yes, please!" I said. Before I knew it, copies of Picture Postcards, British Postcards of the First World War, and The Victorians & Edwardians at Work had arrived in my mailbox.

Each has a very pleasing size, perfect for tucking into a bag for easy reference or pleasure reading. The newer book designs with perfect binding and the half-and-half covers are so superior in my eye to the older versions that, although Picture Postcards is an excellent book, I just can't enjoy it as much as the other two. Plus, I can't ever find it on my shelf due to its lack of a spine.

I learned a lot from each of the books, which only drives home further the importance of letter {and postcard} writing. It is physical documentation of our lives. Without the cards showing the women working the coal buckets, the knowledge of their inclusion in that industry may have been lost.

I feel confident recommending these books to anyone. Not only are they informative, they're beautiful. They make a handsome inclusion on any letter-lovers {or other collectors, as they offer so many wide-ranging titles} shelves. Even cats like them.

Yours Ever

It's been very stamp-oriented around here lately, but, by-and-large, we here at the L.W.A. are mostly interested in the contents of the envelope rather than the envelope itself. My father often writes to me on yellow legal pad sent in white business envelopes with American Flag stickers and I love them just as much as any of the other letters I receive even if they don't make as much of a splash on Flickr.

Letters, much like books, should never be judged by their covers, but that isn't a problem for Yours Ever by Thomas Mallon. The cover is a perfect lure for an lover of letters. Nor does the book disappoint. From the flap copy:

"Yours Ever explores the offhand masterpieces dispatched through the ages by messenger, postal service, and BlackBerry. Thomas Mallon weaves a remarkable assortment of epistolary riches into his own insightful and eloquent commentary on the circumstances and characters of the world's most intriguing letter writers. Along with confessions and complaints and revelations sent from battlefields, frontier cabins, and luxury liners, a reader will find Mallon considering travel bulletins, suicide notes, fan letters, and hate mail- forms as varied as the human experiences behind them."

I really enjoyed reading this book. It was full of information without being pedantic or feeling trivial. I marked many parts in the book {you can see my little flags in the photo} which I wanted to remember. I very much enjoy how Mr. Mallon introduces each chapter and interweaves the old systems of communication with the new ones. I wish there were more letters from everyday people in the book rather than "celebrities", but all-in-all it's a fascinating look into what the front cover calls "the human experience."

I received a copy of Yours Ever as a holiday gift, but Random House also offered me a copy for review. We're holding a contest for that copy. Leave a comment with your favorite famous letter writer and we'll pick a winner at random on Friday, April 23d. 

 

P.S. UPDATE: The winner is commentor # 14: Krissy! Thanks everyone. {Winner chosen by Random.Org}

Shire Publications

Shire Publications has recently come to my attention. According to their About page, they focus on "bringing together experts and enthusiasts, Shire has continually sought to fill the gaps in published material, providing affordable non-fiction paperbacks that reflect the interests and passions of ordinary people everywhere. In its 47 year history the company has published over 1000 titles, covering a broad and eclectic range of subjects rarely, if ever, published elsewhere."

In April, the book at left will be released. Bristish Postcards of the First World War contains"Postcards sent by men on the front, and to them by their families, are among the most numerous, and most telling, surviving artefacts of the Great War. They tell us much about attitudes towards the war, and provide a great insight into men’s lives, and into the thoughts and emotions of those left behind. Very different in their illustration, and in their writing, between the beginning of the war and the end, postcards provide a social history of the war in microcosm. Illustrated with a wide range of postcards, this is a fascinating look into the response of the British people to the horrors of the war."

 The PDF catalog also listed a book on the Post Office in Britain to be published in June. While there was no information on their site yet, I found a link to it through Random House. From their site: "The local post office has a special place in the social history of Britain. This book provides an historical overview of the development of this public institution - from 'letter receiving house' to familiar high-street presence. It outlines the range of services post offices have provided over time - from stamps, pensions and postal orders, to airmail, savings certificates, dog and TV licences. Highlighting the 'heyday of the GPO' during the 1930s, 40s and 50s, the author recalls childhood memories of post office counters selling stamps and sweets, the weekly pension lines, and the friendly local postmaster. It constitutes a celebration of a very British institution now threatened by modern-day forces."

Shire Publications does a lot of history books that I want, including an older one on post boxes and one on postcards. Based on these older books, I am so pleased with the redesign of their covers. In searching their website for things I might like, I came across a blog post requesting written mail! If you feel so inclined, please write to:

Joseph McCullough
Shire Publications
Midland House
West Way
Botley
Oxford
OX2 0PH

Always First Class

The lovely Lois Barry sent us her book Always First Class a few months ago. It came at just the right time for me. I was going through a bit of a letter-writing slump and then this arrives to give me the creative kick in the ass I needed.The book contains oodles of things in just over a hundred pages. Letter writing facts, wonderful quotes about letters, even instructions for making ink (according to Cyrus the Great, 600 BC). Want more? Well, there are also excerpts from letters between famous people, artwork involving letter writing (such as Cassatt's The Letter), and inspiration for what to say and send in a letter/package. All in all, I think this a content-rich thin book that is good to have on the shelf for when one is feeling a bit stuck when responding to a letter or even getting the energy to write a letter. There is no way you will be able to read this and not want to send out a slew of letters at once.

~Kathy