DAVID P. ABBOTT

Kansas Psychic Gene Dennis’ Personal Copy of David P. Abbott’S Occult Draft of Wonder Girl: An Investigation of the Famous Kansas Phenomenon C1930s

Seattle, Washington. Softcover. On offer is a fabulous piece of American occult history, being the personal copy of a draft of David P. Abbott’s Wonder Girl: An Investigation of the Famous Kansas Phenomenon, belonging to the subject of the then-unpublished book, Gene (Eugenie) Dennis (1904-1948). Written in pencil, the cover of the draft document reads “Property of Gene Dennis Important Do Not Destroy” and “Gene Dennis Liberty Theatre Seattle, Wash”. This copy was likely in Gene’s possession while she was living in Washington and performing at her husband, John Grey Von Herberg’s (1877–1947) theatres. The document itself is a typewritten draft of Abbott’s 62-page book, covering his own investigation into Dennis and her powers, which he undertook in the early 1920s. He includes very specific recollections of conversations with Dennis and of her demonstrations of her powers. This small book was published in 1992 by Walter Graham, though it is unclear as to where one might now acquire a copy. Tipped into the manuscript are a small photo of Dennis, a couple clipped news articles about Dennis’ successes as a clairvoyant, a letter thanking Dennis for her work, and a one-page typed document written about Dennis by Dick Reed, which refers to her as “world’s greatest psychic”, summarizes all the work she’s doing and tells a short story (possibly rooted in truth? ) about a lover Dennis took who was shot. BIO NOTES: Eugenie (Gene) Dennis was discovered to be a psychic as a child by a local tailor in her Kansas town. At age 16, Dennis became well-known after a newspaper article in the Minneapolis Star presented her as a mind reader who had found missing items among other things, including oil. David Phelps Abbott (1863-1934) , an author and magician who investigated psychics, invited her to visit him to test her powers. Abbott and Dennis remained friends and he remained involved in her career. He wrote Wonder Girl about his tests of her powers. The name Wonder Girl was said to have been given to her by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. She was also known as “the girl who amazed Einstein”. In 1935, Dennis secretly married the wealthy (and much older! ) Washington theatre owner, John G. Von Herbert. Together they had five children: Denny, Jay, Jensen, Jeannie and Virginia. Von Herbert died in 1947 and sadly, Dennis died only three months later in 1948 at the age of 44. This manuscript would make a remarkable addition to the collection of any 20th century American occult researcher or collector, or anyone interested in mediums, psychic phenomenon or female performers in the Roaring 20s and throughout the Great Depression. This soft-cover manuscript measures 10.0 inches by 8.5 inches and contains 76 pages. It is 82% complete. The cover is in good condition as is the binding. The pages are in good condition as well. The ephemera varies in condition with the newspaper clippings showing ++ signs of age. The manuscript is typed. Overall G. ; Manuscripts; 8vo 8" - 9" tall; 76 pages. Good with no dust jacket .

Katz Fine ManuscriptsProfessional seller

Book number: 0012234

Catalogue: 20th Century Manuscript

Keywords: Medium Experience

ALBERT FREDERICK ARTHUR GEORGE, GEORGE VI

1936 Facsimile Signed Letter by George VI, Former King of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

England, 1936. Non-Book. On offer is a facsimile Signed Letter of Albert Frederick Arthur George, George VI (1895-1952) Measuring 8 x 10-1/4 inches, this typed letter facsimile signed on King George's Jubilee Trust letterhead and dated July 1936. Very good condition. The letter was sent as something of a cover letter, along a copy of the first King George Jubilee Trust annual report (the report is not on offer here). BIO NOTES: George VI, King of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (1936-1952) and emperor of India (1936-1947). He acceded to the throne on the abdication of his brother Edward VIII and won enormous popularity by his dedication to his duties, especially during World War II.; Letters; 8vo 8" - 9" tall; 1 pages; Signed by Author. Very Good with no dust jacket .

Katz Fine ManuscriptsProfessional seller

Book number: 0012338

Catalogue: 20th Century Manuscript

Keywords: British Royalty Nobility Royal

MAX JOSEPH ASTUCK

1942 Diary and Extensive Ephemera Collection of a Pennsylvania Man Who Worked As a Weaver and Served in the Us Army During Wwii

Pennsylvania, United States, 1942. Hardcover. On offer is a delightful collection that includes the diary of a WWII soldier from Pennsylvania, and an extensive amount of accompanying ephemera that tells the story of the man behind the uniform. The diary belongs to Max Joseph Astuck (1915-2001). Astuck was born to parents John and Mary in Easton, Pennsylvania. He had two sisters and lived his entire life in Easton. He worked as a weaver for the Victor Bilota Belting Company. Astuck served in the US Army during World War II from July, 1941 through April, 1945. There is no available evidence that Max ever married or had children. The centrepiece of this collection is Astuck’s diary, in which he records his service in the army from January to July of 1942. From the accompanying ephemera, we know that Max was attached to the Army Air Corps, 14th Transport Squadron, based at the time in Augusta, Georgia. In his diary, Max records his daily life on duty, the mail that he receives from home and letters he has sent. He notes his duty shifts as well as other duty-related items. These include fairly rapid promotions He was drafted on July 23, 1941. On Feb 9, 1942 he was promoted to Corporal and not quite a month later, to Sergeant. He finished the war as a Sergeant. He notes his changes in pay as well. In 1942, much of Max’s work consisted of driving duties and he also notes flights he was able to take. He recounts many trips he took driving a truck. Some excerpts follow: "Got letter from home and one letter from Louis Gumiko and got some envelopes from home and a negative. Wrote one home. Made corporal" [Feb 9]. “Wrote a letter home and worked all day. Went to Ilana's house and met a girl named Bumble Bee and kissed her. Received a letter from home" [April 7]. “Big Convoy. Left Augusta at 9: A. M. Arrived at Fort Bragg 10: P. M. Drove all the way” [May 24]. “Packed all my clothes and turned in my locker to supply room. Received a letter from Joe Edmonds from Baltimore Maryland” [May 22]. “Drove truck all day hauling army equipment to railroad cars and worked all night. Received a letter from home. Packed all my clothes. Ten months I’m in the army” [May 23]. “Drove truck on Pope Field Hangar line. Got payed today, got $74.54. Made out a money order for $75 for father back home. Received letter from Frank Young. Send Victor and Sylvia home and a a pillowcase” [July 9]. The accompanying ephemera adds significant depth and richness to this simple diary. Included in the ephemera are many photographs. Lots of the pictures are of young women he obviously knew as inscriptions include “Love Ginny”, Love, Edith” and “Love Eileen” and others. There are also photos of older people, apparently family members. Two other images show aircraft that obviously flew in and out of airfields where he worked. One picture is almost an archetypal picture of a military truck mechanic, cap brim turned up, bent over the engine compartment of a Willys MB – the famed ‘jeep’ of the U. S. Army. Many of the photos are inscribed on the back. There are receipts from the Air Corps Tailor Shop at Pope Field as well as a Quartermaster Laundry list. There are newspaper clippings and some artwork. Of particular interest is a furlough pass dated April 10, 1942 granting him a two pass to visit Augusta, Georgia (where he knew a young woman) and two military driver licences. One is dated March 23, 1944 and was issued in England. This confirms that Astuck was in England during the preparations for Operation Overlord – the Normandy Invasion. This is not an exhaustive list of the ephemera. The three pages of names and addresses and a short list of birthdays Astuck has included in the back of his diary can be cross-referenced with names attached to the ephemera for a deeper insight into Astuck’s world. For a historian, it is an excellent example of the minutia of daily life for troops in support roles For a social historian, it illustrates through words and pictures what one aspect of life was like in those early war years. The diary is a 5-year diary and it approximately measures 5.25 x 4.0 inches. The cover is a pebbled leather and is in good condition. The binding is intact but it is loose. There are 365 pages and all are intact and in good condition. There is a closure strap and buckle. The handwriting is legible. Although it is a 5 year diary (1942-1947) there are only entries for January to mid-July, 1942.; Manuscripts; 8vo 8" - 9" tall; 365 pages; Signed by Author. Good with no dust jacket .

Katz Fine ManuscriptsProfessional seller

Book number: 0012257

Catalogue: 20th Century Manuscript

Keywords: Labourer Sargeant 2

ELIZABETH HAZEN BEARD (NEE SHERBORNE OR SHERBURNE)

1948 Journal of Written Lectures on Literature, Covering Famous Massachusetts Authors and Analysis of Children’S Literature

Worcester, Massachusetts, 1948. Hardcover. On offer is an interesting journal kept by a very well-read woman in mid-century Massachusetts. The journal belonged to Elizabeth Hazen Beard (nee Sherborne or Sherburne) (1909-1993). She was born in Worcester, Massachusetts to parents Mary Alicia Hazen and WIlliam Frances Sherborne (Sherburne) , where she lived her entire life. She attended Milford High School and then Massachusetts College of Art and Design. She married Sidney Beard, a tool maker, and together they had two sons, David and William. This journal has multiple components, though its main focus is on Beard’s literary interests. Though census data indicates that Beard did not have a career outside of the home, it seems she was part of a literary society or other academic club. In this journal she writes what seems to be a lengthy lecture about contemporary children’s literature, where she discusses the benefits of reading for children as well as several children’s books and authors. Some of the children’s books she discusses are Make Way for Ducklings by Robert McClaskey, a book of animal stories by George Duplaix, The Little History of the United States by Mable Pyne, Airplane Ready by Sanford Tuasey, Little Boat Boy by Jean Bothwell. Later in the journal, she writes another lengthy lecture where she focuses on the Massachusetts literary scene including its authors Henry David Thoreau and Ralph Waldo Emerson, places famous local authors wrote their masterpieces, local landmarks that are important in literature and more. Her final lecture that she recorded in this journal is titled “Reading I have Enjoyed”. Here she writes extensively on the book Early American Decoration by Esther Brazer. Beard is well-written, bright, thoughtful and deeply passionate about literature. Her written lectures read like elaborate book reports with added elements of history and philosophy. Another interesting feature of the journal are two essays dealing with geopolitics - completely unrelated to Beard’s work on literature. These two essays are written in a hand that is not Beard’s (and the author is unknown). The first essay is titled “Changing Ideas of Empire (England” and the second is untitled but is about the West’s relationship with Russia and the Cold War. One of the essays is written within the pages of the journal and the second is tipped in. Both are written by an intelligent and knowledgeable author, and are written as speeches, just as Beard’s entries are. These were written much later than Beard’s work, as they reference a deep conflict between ‘West” and Russia, focused on Russia fomenting Muslim discontent in Iran. There is no hint as to who is the author of these two sections. Some brief excerpts follow: “Reading is one of life’s recreations. Thoughtful parents, teachers and friends should help to instill the love of books with as sure a place and as great patience as are employed in cultivating good manners, honesty, unselfishness, and other fundamental habits of life…”. “Mass is rich with places of literary interest and abounds with scenes reminiscent of our best loved authors. If certain of your pet authors receive little or no mention in this paper, I hope you will forgive these sins of omission, as time permits me to mention only a few of the many. Reading I Have Enjoyed The book I have chosen for my subject is one that I am constantly reading and referring to as an enthusiast of handwork and decoration…”. For anyone with an interest in 20th century literature and literary endeavours, this is a must-own manuscript. It would also be of interest to a gender studies program, as Beard is recorded in the history books as a “Housewife”, yet this journal presents her as a bright and brilliant mind with much going on outside of her domestic life. The journal measures about 9x7 inches and contains 84 pages. It is about 90% complete. The book is hardcover and the covers are in good condition. There is some wear on the corners. The binding is in good condition and the pages are glued and sewn, though loosening. The lined pages are in good condition. The handwriting is quite legible. Overall Good. ; Manuscripts; 8vo 8" - 9" tall; 84 pages; Signed by Author. Good with no dust jacket .