PBA Galleries

2 volumes. xvi, 422, (2); viii, 414 pp. Illustrated with b/w photos. (8vo) original sea-green cloth with titles in gilt. Pictorial jackets. First American Edition.

Presentation copies, each inscribed on the front free endpaper, "For Harvey Taylor, Sincerely, Charmian London," with additional inscription below, "To Leonard Aldis (?), Sincerely, Leonard Taylor, Literary Manager, Estate of Jack London, January 1932." Laid in is a photo portrait of Jack London aboard the Snark, mounted on a sheet of paper with typed note, "(This seems to be the most appropriate photograph to be used with POPPY CARGO. A good impression can be had from any newspaper morgue)". In the 1930's, Harvey Taylor served as literary agent for Charmian and for the estate of Jack London, though on a less formal basis than he presumed. He was also apparently conducting a long-range flirtation with the decidedly older Charmian, whom he had met only a few times in California before moving to New York. He did manage to sell "Poppy Cargo" - the revision of Jack London's "Tar Pot" - but he proved somewhat incompetent and certainly untrustworthy, and the relationship was severed. Very interesting association copies.