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III
Presentation Copies
Of particular importance to scholars is Cabell's collection of some 750 presentation copies containing 577 heretofore unreported letters. They are from such people as Sinclair Lewis, H. L. Mencken, Ellen Glasgow, Stephen Vincent Benét, Hugh Walpole and George Jean Nathan, to mention but a few.
Cabell treated his books as miniature filing cabinets, placing letters as well as other memorabilia in them. He began this practice early in life and continued it until his death. When he was young he carefully tipped in the letters, photographs, caricatures and so on. Often he would meticulously fasten the letter to the front pastedown endpaper and the envelope to the back, as he did for correspondence from F. Scott Fitzgerald. In later years, however, he simply laid the letters in. The following samples indicate the kinds of things one finds in Cabell's books. Letters are addressed to Cabell unless otherwise indicated; ALS indicates signed autograph letter, TLS signed typed letter:
- Cabell, James Branch. Some of Us: An Essay in Epitaphs. New York: Robert M. McBride and Co., MCMXXX.
- Autograph: James Branch Cabell, / his book
- ALS: From Frances Newman, Atlanta, Georgia, 1927, 3pps. ALS: From Theodore Dreiser, n.p., 30 March 1934, 1p. TLS: From Seward Collins, New York, 28 April 1930, 1p. TLS: From Sinclair Lewis, Washington, D. C. 13 Jan. 1920 1p. TLS: From Sherwood Anderson, Marion, Virginia, 6 March 1934. 1p. TLS: From Joseph Hergesheimer, Rockbridge, Alum Springs, Virginia, 27 Aug. 1921, 1p. TLS: From H. L. Mencken, Baltimore, Maryland, 8 Aug. 1930, 1p. Laid in: Assignment of copyright for A Note as to Sinclair Lewis, to Cabell from The American Mercury, 29 Sept. 1930. Laid in: Agreement between McBride and Co. and Cabell to publish Some of Us, 12 June 1930. Laid in: 4 typed, corrected in autograph, slips of corrections and emendations for Some of Us.
- Clark, Emily. Innocence Abroad. New York and London: Alfred A. Knopf, 1931. Autograph: For James Branch Cabell / in gratitude and admiration / from Emily Clark. / February 1931, the tenth birthday of / The Reviewer, whose story he helped to / make worth telling. ALS: From Amélie Troubetzkoy, Albemarle, County, Virginia, 15 July 1921, 4pps. ALS: From Frances Newman, Atlanta, Georgia, 12 Dec. 1920, 4pps. ALS: From Julia M. Peterkin, 1112 West Ave., Richmond, Virginia, Saturday, 1p. TLS: From Ellen Glasgow, Castine, Maine, 22 Aug. 1933, 3pps. TLS: From Du Bose Heyward, Henderson, North Carolina, 27 April 1932, 1p. Laid in: Telegram from Carl Van Vechten, New York, 14 April 1932, 1 line. Laid in: Newspaper clipping regarding Cabell and Julia M. Peterkin. Laid in: Newspaper clipping regarding Preface to the Past. Laid in: Newspaper clipping regarding Innocence Abroad. Laid in: 2 pieces of minutiae.
- Howells, William Dean. The Sleeping Car. Boston: James R. Osgood & Co., 1884. Autograph: Thomas Branch from his son C. W. Branch, April 3rd / 85 ALS: From Howells, New York? 5 Nov. 1909, 2pps.
- Nathan, George Jean and others, eds. The American Spectator Year Book. New York: Frederick A. Stokes Co., MCMXXXIV. Autograph: Property of / James Branch Cabell ALS: From Eugene O'Neill, Sea Island, Georgia, 29 Oct. 1934, 1p. ALS: From Theodore Dreiser, New York, 7 April 1937, 1p. ALS: From Ernest Boyd, New York, Saturday, 2pps. TLS: From Nathan, New York, 8 Aug. 1932, 1p. Laid in: Certificate of ownership of 8 shares of stock in The American Spectator; dated 7 Oct. 1933. Laid in: Statement for royalties for Nathan from Frederick A. Stokes Co., Publishers from 1 Jan. 1936 to 1 Jan. 1937. Pasted in: Newspaper clipping regarding Nathan and others.
- Viereck, George Sylvester. Roosevelt: A Study in Ambivalence. New York: Jackson Press, Inc., 1920. ALS: From Viereck, New York, 17 Feb. 1920, 1p. TLS: From Theodore Roosevelt, The White House, Washington, D. C., 2 Nov. 1905, 1p. Pasted in slip on which is printed: With compliments of George Sylvester Viereck.
Often these complimentary copies bear lengthy inscriptions, as do many of the editions from Sinclair Lewis, H. L. Mencken, Hugh Walpole, Ellen Glasgow, Joseph Hergesheimer, Thomas Beer, and others. These inscriptions are of two types: first are the brief sentiments or appreciative comments followed by the signature of the sender. Volumes bearing such material are, of course, valuable to the collector of first editions, but to the scholar they have little or nothing to say. Much more important to the latter are books containing comments which reveal an author's attitude toward his works. A number of volumes in the library fall into this category. The following are examples:
- Glasgow, Ellen. Life and Gabriella: The
Story of a
Woman's Courage. Garden City, N.Y.: Doubleday Page and Co.,
1916.
Bp. Autograph: James Branch Cabell
Autograph: James Branch Cabell, / with cordial greeting, / Ellen Glasgow
/
"God offers to every / mind its choice / between truth and / repose."
216ALS: From Glasgow, 1 W. Main St., Richmond, Virginia, n.d., 2pps. Laid in: Newspaper clipping regarding Glasgow.
- Hergesheimer, Joseph. Quiet Cities. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, MCMXXVIII. Autograph: James Branch Cabell Autograph: Joseph Hergesheimer / Dear James / Here are the cities / I live in and to which we / two have the secret key / for / James Branch Cabell / June twenty-fifth / 1928.
- Mencken, H. L. A Book of Calumny (First Printed as "Damn"). New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1918. Bp. Autograph: James Branch Cabell Autograph: Dear Cabell: / Hidden in this / book / deep down, are / one or two genuinely / lofty thoughts. / H. L. Mencken / 1921.
- Sterling, George. Beyond the Breakers and Other Poems. San Francisco: A. M. Robertson, 1914. Bp. Autograph: For / James Branch Cabell / this valuable work on / Natural History. / George Sterling. / San Francisco, / Feb. 9th 1920. ALS: From Sterling, San Francisco, California, 4 June 1921, 2pps.
- Sterling, George. The Caged Eagle and Other Poems. San Francisco: A. M. Robertson, 1916. Bp. Autograph: Dear Mr. Cabell: / Please / don't read the "war-poems!" / Your admirer, / George Sterling, / San Francisco, Feb. 9th, 1920. ALS: From Sterling, San Francisco, California, 14 August 1921, 3pps.
- Van Vechten, Carl. The Merry-Go-Round. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, MCM-XVIII. Bp. Autograph: James Branch Cabell Autograph: For James Branch Cabell / These tarnished wooden horses. / Carl Van Vechten / Nov. 27, 1923. / New York
- Walpole, Hugh. The Duchess of Wrexe, Her Decline and Death: A Romantic Commentary. New York: George H. Doran Co., 1914. Bp. Autograph: THIS / IS / FALSE . . . / Almost all through — / To James Branch Cabell / from Hugh Walpole / April 6, '20.
- Walpole, Hugh. Fortitude; Being a True and Faithful Account of the Education of an Adventurer. New York: George H. Doran Co., 1913. Bp. Autograph: This is crude but genuine _____ / To James Branch Cabell / from his friend / Hugh Walpole / April 6, '20.
- Walpole, Hugh. The Secret City: A Novel in Three Parts. New York: George H. Doran Co., 1919. Bp. Autograph: The only part of this book / is in Background / To James Branch Cabell / from / his friend / Hugh Walpole — / April 6, '20.
Cabell's library, then, is of central importance to scholars of modern literature. His directions to future editors, inscriptions in source books, and the numerous manuscript sheets and letters as well as the books in his working library are essential to editing and understanding the man and his work. Also the presentation copies, containing hundreds of letters and inscriptions, comment in penetrating detail on a myriad of modern authors. His library preserves a large segment of material relevant to the complete study of modern literature.
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