Large archive of John Updike material from Lord John Press, including correspondence, proofs, manuscripts and ephemera, in four leather binders, 16 manila envelopes and a cloth chemise.
The lot contains well over a hundred pieces of correspondence from Updike to Herb Yellin, proprietor of Lord John Press, dating from 1975-2005, including at least 60 full page letters on various sizes of stationary, and many more note cards and postcards, both typed and handwritten, all signed, many with original mailing envelopes. The decades of Updike's correspondence to Yellin provide a fascinating and educational window into their literary partnership, as well as the minutiae involved in producing the handsome Lord John Press volumes of Updike's works. Much of the correspondence centers on the business of the press, but at times Updike becomes more conversational, and occasionally shares his thoughts on other writers in the Lord John Roster (Oates, Cheever, etc.) Yellin initially was an avid collector of Updike before eventually became his publisher. Herb Yellin started Lord John Press in 1978, its goal to publish signed limited editions of significant American authors. The press eventually came to be considered by many to be one of the most important small presses of the 20th century. Yellin's close personal relationships with many significant writers resulted in an impressive number of unique, collectible, signed limited edition books by some of modern literature's biggest names - Stephen King, Ray Bradbury, John Updike, Eudora Welty, and Joyce Carol Oates among them. In addition to the correspondence, the lot also includes:
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A large collection of ephemera, containing broadsides (one being a poem addressed to Shillington High School, which he attended), newspaper clippings, photographs, signed checks, interview transcripts, among other miscellaneous items.
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Copies of the John Updike newsletter (edited by Yellin) with Updike's corrections and comments.
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A number of original typewritten poem manuscripts, and at least one written in hand.
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An assortment of hand corrected proofs (some with numerous versions) of Updike's works published with Lord John Press, including: A Soft Spring Night in Shillington, Humor in Fiction, Love Affair & Two Poems, and Concerts at Castle Hall, as well as an assortment of typewritten introductions and prefaces to various works, with handwritten corrections
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Original typewritten manuscripts of The Beloved and Getting the Words Out with hand corrections.
Condition:
Most letters with original mailing folds, some toning, etc. to pages, at least two pieces of correspondence have become attached to the inner cover of one of the leather binders and may be difficult to separate without some damage occurring; all material is in very good or better condition, most of it near fine or better.