DERLETH, August (1909-1971). Typed Letter Signed to the Editor of Adventure Magazine. Sauk City, WI:  4 February 1944. Letter on white half-sheet of Arkham House Publishers stationery. Approximately 6 x 8 1/2". Addressed "Dear Mr. White:" to Kenneth White, editor of Adventure Magazine. Signed "Sincerely, [manuscript in pink pencil] August Derleth [typed] August Derleth for ARKHAM HOUSE". This letter is requesting permission for reprinting two stories by Henry St. Clair Whitehead (Seven Turns in a Hangman's Rope and The Black Beast) which had appeared in Adventure Magazine, who apparently still had the rights. [And:] carbon copies of two typed letters on thin paper from Kenneth White to August Derleth, and the other is to T. Connolly of The Butterick Co., stating that he (White) has no objection to allowing Arkham House to reprint the two stories mentioned above. Offered with the July 15th, 1931 issue of Adventure Magazine, in which Whitehead's story, The Black Beast, first appeared (lightly rubbed, else fine).

In 1946, Arkham House Publishers issued West India Lights, a collection of stories by Whitehead; it is unclear if these two stories were in that collection (they are not listed in the Contents, but they may have been inserted under different titles).

Derleth letter with two vertical creases, rubbing, toning, and pencil note in unknown hand. Carbon copies toned, creased. All three letters stapled together at upper corner. Near fine.