Mr. Maule: thought you might be interested in this.

V.F.

Missoula, Montana

October 9, 1933

J.H.Gipson
The Caxton Printers
Caldwell, Idaho

Dear Mr. Gipson:

I have your letter of October 2 and the copy of the letter
from Miss Atlass. I appreciate her kind interest but I am
glad, nevertheless, that I'm not in New York.

You must understand that the sort of press-agenting she
proposes is not the kind I want nor the kind that would be
wise in my case. You must understand, too, that nothing in
the world is more fickle than the American public and that
our custom is to skyrocket a celebrity and let him sink where
and how he will. I want none of that. I do not wish to be
ballyhooed in New York City or elsewhere.

And I say this, not because of my distaste for ballyhoo, but
because my point of view is, I think, psychologically sound.
I can more wisely aid both you and Mr. Maule by keeping dis-
creetly in the background. If I am not publicly exhibited,
whatever interest there may be in me cannot so quickly wane.
And Mr. Maule, I believe, shares my notion in this respect.

So please write to Miss Atlass and convey to her my thanks
for her interest and say that I am unable financially to go
to New York. That, of course, is true. And that, I think,
is all you need to tell her.

Yours sincerely,

March 31, 1934.

Dear Mr. Gipson:

After having made very special efforts on the Vardis Fisher books with the English publishers we finally have an offer from Boriswood for the telgraphy on the following terms:

Royalty:

10% on the first 1,000 copies sold

15% on the next 4,000

20% thereafter

Advance:

L40 on the first book

L40 on the second book

For the third, the sum equal to half an average of the earnings in each first 6 months of the two preceding books; and on the fourth volume, a sum equal to half of an average of the earnings in each first 6 months of the three preceding books.

Furthermore they want the right to change the title of IN TRAGIC LIFE to I SEE NO SIN, which is also taken from the Meredith quotation. We think the terms from Boriswood are about as good as we can get, and if Mr. Fisher will agree to this change in title, we would be inclined to accept their offer.

After having submitted the Fisher books to practically all of the English publishers without success and making a very special drive on Heinemann with whom we are close associated, we finally made a second attempt on Jonathan Cape. We had the opportunity because Mr. Cape was in New York and, while he had declined the books recently, we did get him to agree to reconsider. He did so but finally reached a second negative conclusion. I hope that Mr. Fisher will agree to the change in title. I should appreciate it if you will wire me so that we can get as prompt a reply as possible to Curtis Brown before Boriswood changes his mind.

Yours sincerely,

Mr. J. H. Gipson,
The Caxton Printers, Ltd.,
Caldwell, Idaho.

Hem:H

Nov. 19, 1940

J.H. Gipson
Caxton Printers

Dear Jim:

Harper has agreed to give you an edition of a thousand copies, to be called Special Limited First Edition, and a de luxe edition of 100 copies. Aswell strongly feels that your edition should be priced at least 25¢ above theirs; and as I wrote previously, you can put on it a somewhat better binding than will appear on the Harper edition. Rather than sign my name a thousand times I'd go fight for the Greeks; but if you wish a special limited first edition, signed and numbered, of 1000 copies, I'll fortify myself with Bourbon and do it. In that case, your edition should not sell for less than $5.00.

In that case, too, all the posts who write me for autographs will be re-
ferred to you.

You may, therefore, draw up a contract, similar to that on Children, with a 15% royalty clause, and send it; and of course you will write Aswell at once, inamuch as this matter must be settled promptly.

I am sending Aswell a copy of this letter.

Both Aswell and Howell think I vastly improved the book in the rewriting. That ought to be so—if hard work can improve a thing.

Thanks for all the title suggestions that came from Ce's well. None of them would do. Lullow's, No Courtiers to Dow, and Her Palm Crossed with Silver, were as bad as some I sent in. I wanted The Glory Hole but Aswell and Howell tried that on New Yorkers and learned that it made them think only of a privy or a woman's vagina. Also, the glories of civilization!

As ever,

Hagerman

Nov. 23, 1940

J.H. Gipson

Caxton Printers

Dear Jim:

I'm holding the contracts until further matters are clarified. In the first place, if the copies are to be signed they should also be numbered and I suggest that the statement you sent to Aswell should be revised to read:

This special limited first edition of CITY OF ILLUSION consists of 1000 signed and numbered copies

Now if you had in mind that you would place this edition with the trade in the usual way at the customary discounts, then I am not willing to sign so many or to have them go at the price of $2.75; because not in the history of American publishing has such a thing ever been done. That would be making signed and numbered copies of Fisher practically as cheap as any other book and would for the future practically destroy the market for any such editions. It would be bad psychology if a person could enter a bookstore and see a copy for $2.50 and at its side a special signed and numbered copy for 25¢ more.

We'll have to work out something to protect both of us---because a deluge of cheap autographed copies would be bad for both of us. Consider, for instance, what the reaction to you would be from the dealers in firsts and limiteds. They wouldn't want any of them if there's a flood on the market. They would also cast a dubious eye at your future enterprises. Perhaps more than any other publisher you have appealed to such dealers. You should consider well before you cut the ground out from under you.

On the other hand, if you expect to place these only with such dealers or by-mail selling to persons, at the full list price, then, of course, the author ought to have, and always has had, some compensation for the signing. That is what I had in mind by a price of $5.00 and a royalty of 15%. That would leave you $2.55 a volume on by-mail selling. If you feel, however, that you must place them in the usual way with the trade, then for the good of both of us we cannot have 1000 signed and numbered copies. Perhaps in that case the statement should read: This special limited first edition consists of 1000 copies, 100 of which are numbered and signed, and you could let dealers in limiteds have those at list price.

After considering the matter, let me have your ideas.

As ever,

Nov. 25, 1941

J.H.Gipson
Caxton Printers
Caldwell, Idaho

Dear Jim:

No reputable agent ever charges more than 10% on selling motion picture
or any other kind of rights. Nowell and her Hollywood agent split 10%
on Children. The Authors' League advises against an author's ever giving
more than that, but I'm willing to allow Caxton a 5% commission up to
a gross of $7500 and 10% above that on either book. Make it clear to
your agent that he is authorized to try on these two books only for a
reasonable while--say two months. If he should need an extension be-
yond that we can grant it. He should know, too, that about three months
ago I authorized Swanson to try on City. Inasmuch as he never answered
me I assumed he gave up long ago. If your agent feels there is likely
to be any confusion I can call Swanson off. Your agent should understand,
further, that terms are subject to my approval and that the contract, if
any is drawn, will have to be approved by the attorneys of the Authors'
League.

We ought to get together soon to give the world hell. If Thomas is over
that way in December, it can be then.

As over,

Hagerman

Aug. 5, 1946

Dear Jim!

I am sorry I could not get over to the meeting today
but my sons are arriving this afternoon.

A Paris publisher is interested in all my titles and
my agent wants to know the status of foreign rights on all my
books. It is my impression that you bought all of Houghton
Mifflin's rights in Toilers and Bridwell. Am I correct? Why
don't you at this propitious time (while so many of my books are
"sleeping") see if you can buy Doubleday Doran out on the tetralogy
and April? They'd probably sell for a song.

I have heard that your Committee has been liquidated.
Isn't there any gumption left in the Party in this state?

As ever,

Hage

Hagerman

Sept 22, 1946

Dear Jim:

Thanks a million for having John and me in on the dinner.
We both got a big kick out of it.

Now for another matter and I'm going to speak plain, for
you are an old and a dear friend. I felt in you this time a very de-
cided coolness, and Opal felt it too, and it will do you no good to
pooh-pooh it. I can't imagine in what way I have offended you; but
whatever it is, you owe it to me as a friend to lay it before me. If
I have in any way been unfair I want to know it.

I have had few friendships and among them none has been
finer than yours. We are getting old, Jim. We have been friends for
13 years. We cannot afford to have any silly misunderstandings.

As ever,

Hagerman

Aug 5, 1950

Dear Jim:

No answer from Marsh yet; he is awfully slow. I am not at all sure that I can raise $4400 or that in my very poor financial condition I ought to try to; but meanwhile we might try to clarify the arrangement in case I do. Your letter of Aug. 3 is not in all respects clear to me.

You suggest that you would take hold of the books and push the sale until I was reimbursed for the cash outlay including interest on it at 5%. I assume that the full return to you on the books would go to me until I was reimbursed, without any deductions for Caxton overhead or anything of that sort.

After I am reimbursed you suggest that the plates and the remainder of the stock would be our joint property; but you say my share of the books would be billed to you on consignment, I to receive 30% of the list. Am I to assume that Caxton would receive all the return on the other half of the books or that I am to receive 30% of the list price on ALL the remaining stock after the reimbursement? Am I to assume that if later the plates were sold to Abelard or someone else at the price I paid for them Caxton and I would split that equally? But what if the remaining stock were to be sold and you were to print off more copies: what would be the return to me on those copies sold? It is doubtful, for instance, whether the copies of Children of God would last long--there are only about 400, and Henle in the six months July 1--Dec. 31, 1949 sold 118. In other words this book sells quite a number year after year, and so does City, of which there are about 400 copies on hand.

And what about discounts? On the stock taken over I would not be in favor of such discounts as you have sometimes given in the past--up to 60%. I don't think the discount to jobbers should ever be more than 40%.

These are only some matters that occur to me. Others may arise as I try to think through the thing.

I wrote Henle asking if he could make a lower price on the plates and in a curt answer he says no. I pointed out that he would have to take much less than $250 at junk price and he says he hasn't the slightest intention of junking them. I think it unfortunate that he learned I have another publisher before this deal with him was closed.

I don't think Abelard is going to be interested in joint publishing. Marsh seems to feel that they will do pretty well with the remaining volumes eventually as reader and critical interest expands.

Yes, and there is the matter of jackets on these books--all of Henle's are, I think, pretty poor. Would it cost you very much to rejacket them more attractively? In that case the printed prices could be changed--it is bad psychology to sell a book for $3.50 that has a price of $2.75 printed right on the jacket. In that case also better promotional materials could be put on the jackets to help us move the books. There could be a statement that Caxton had taken over these books and Caxton imprint could be on the jackets, even though Vanguard is on the title pages. If you want to know what I mean by poor jackets look at the Vanguard one on Children of God if you have a copy.

As ever,

Hagerman, Idaho

Aug. 12, 1950

J H Gipson
Caxton Printers
Caldwell, Idaho

Dear Jim:

I haven't heard yet from the persons back East whose opinion of your proposal I asked for. I do not imagine that Abe-lard is going to want a joint publishing arrangement. Thinking over the matter it occurred to me that possibly Henle would be willing to hold the plates for a while, sell me the stock, and accept the books on consignment. He has not said no to this pro-posal but advises me that he is waiting to hear whether you want to exercise the option. If you do, you know that is all right with me. If you feel the financial outlay is too great, as you wrote me some time back, I'll see if Henle will accept my pro-posal. If he does not, we shall then see if you and I can work out something.

If you want to take up the option now, write direct to Henle and advise me. I am sending him a copy of this and if he does not hear from you soon he will then write me. It is not to be assumed that if you do not exercise the option now it will terminate but only that I proceed with Henle on the proposal I mentioned above, and that if he accepts it, the option will then terminate.

As ever,

May 1, 1952

Dear Jim:

Your envelope addressed to Almat was delivered to my box. Such are
the marvels of bureaucracy. I shall of course have the post master send it on.

There is the question whether we could do better on reprint rights
after the series is farther along or completed but I suppose we may as well
accept the Almat offer, though it is, I think, customary for the royalty to be
1½¢ a copy after a sale of 150,000 on a 25¢ book. You might ask if that is
their intention. They seem to be offering only 1¢ nomatter what the sale.

As for Caxton's reprint rights in Toilers and Bridwell it has been
my intention and still is that Caxton should have such rights. But the Houghton
Mifflin contracts were drawn long ago and contracts at that time gave the author
a hell of a screwing. There is no clause on reprint because apparently there
were no reprints at that time. I think the thing to do is for us to abandon
those contracts and draw up a memo between me and Caxton and if this is all
right with you I will send one over. In that case we will split all unexercised
subsidiary rights, and none have been exercised except, I think, the British
book rights and on Bridwell the Swedish. As you know I have never yet received
a cent from Bridwell except a few dollars from Sweden and a few from England.

As for putting the matter up to Hinshaw I got the impression in Idaho
Falls that he was not very cordial toward me. Possibly he had the idea I was
working there for Sanborn, which was not true. Am also of the impression that
he thinks his incredible deal with the California man is still a secret, though
of course it is not. Do you know the full story of that deal?

Alan Swallow writes that he is no longer director of the Denver
University press and that the press may fold up, so he is in no position to
undertake a joint venture with you. I think you now have all the data on the
writing book so that you can now schedule publication when it seems best to you.

As ever,

Hagerman, Idaho

March 13, 1953

Dear Jim:

Herewith is a photo from which to make dust cover cut. It
is by Horace Bristol, Life photographer, and may be copyrighted. I
suggest therefore that his name should appear under photo on right
side in small letters.

I know how drastically publishing costs have risen but I was
astonished to find you putting $5.00 on this book on writing, which
is not even as long as an average novel and has no cuts or illustra-
tions or anything of that sort. I would wager you and give odds that
that price will kill it.

As for copy on cover we had some correspondence somemonths
back and I told you I was very strongly opposed to putting the Who's
Who crap on the cover of a book. It's of no value to anyone, it is
silly and dull, and it would be a waste of publishing effort. In-
closed is two different suggested copy that I think would be much
better.

Are you still a whisky betting man and how do you size up
the Russian situation now?

As ever,

Hagerman, Idaho

Aug. 1, 1953

J H Gipson
The Caxton Printers
Caldwell, Idaho

Dear Jim:

Since my letter to you of July 30 Opal and I have spent some hours going over this matter and we have decided that volume 8 must be subtitled A Novel About 'Jesus' A New Interpretation for Our Time, with Jesus of course in quotes, single or double. But probably we can meet your objection by saying on the front inside dust flap something like this,

As the author makes plain in the Notes, this is not a novel about Jesus of Nazareth. It is a novel about the Jesus symbol. The two may not be at all the same thing. Scholars disagree on whether Jesus of Nazareth was a historic figure, but nobody can doubt that the word Jesus with all its wealth of connotation has been the most important symbol for the Western world.

And so on.

As ever,

Rome

Nov. 24, 1953

Dear Jim:

I have your letter asking about a possible appearance on the College of Idaho Forum. Caldwell now has such unhappy emotional associations for me that I'd rather not. I may as well be frank. When more than a dozen years ago I was reluctant to undertake so huge a project as my Series, knowing that the first books at least would not sell and that my prospects of making a living would be dim, it was you more than any other who urged me to go ahead and it was you who said that if I ran into publisher trouble Caxton would see me through. Some years later when my earnings were too meager for decent support I wished to take time out to do a more salable novel; and as a letter from you reveals it was you who vetoed the idea and told me to get on with the series. In view of these circumstances and the degree to which I had come to depend on you it is no exaggeration to say that I was deeply dismayed and shocked when late last summer it became clear to me that you had no intention of going on with the series if I would not abjure historical facts and make the books conform to the prepossessions which nineteen centuries of myth and legend have lodged in the Christian mind. My interpretation here is fully supported by my agent and by Mr. Richard J. Pead, who have seen a part of our last summer's correspondence. The emotional state of my being again became so acute that for weeks after leaving Hagerman I was too dazed to have a firm grasp of anything and have only recently been able to resume my writing.

I do not at all question your right as a publisher to publish or reject what you please, or as a man to hold opinions that seem best to you. But in view of the ordeal I have been through and of my general emotional instability, which all these years have done so little to correct, it would not be prudent of me to go willingly among associations that might deeply disturb me.

Opal shares my regards to Esther.

As ever,

Hagerman

Dec. 20--54

To Gordon Gipson:

Dear Gordon:

I need hardly tell you that I grieve deeply over the rupture of
my relationship with your father. I have been and still am gen-
uniely fond of him. He has great virtues; like all of us he has
faults. I have felt that my position he does not understand but
before I pass on I'd like to have some Gipson understand it; and
so if you wish and could get over it in a week or so I'd send you
the 11th volume but I'd not want any one there to read it but you,
and Hazel if she wished to. I think it will clarify for you my
position and make it plain why I cannot believe that the Roman
Church is our principal bulwark against that tyranny that would
enslave the mind of men.

The Season's best to you both,

Hagerman

26th April, 1958

Mr Gordon Gipson
The Caxton Printers
Caldwell, Idaho

Dear Gordon:

Haven't heard any more from you in regard to the stock you wanted to sell, so don't know what the situation is now. As I think I wrote you, Swallow was making up his catalog and wanted the matter settled at once, if it was going to be. I don't even know how many books you've sold since you sent me the list. We can't very well maintain any kind of offer against a list that is being steadily depleted.

Taking the Idaho Guides out: are you interested in $500 cash for the rest of it, check to accompany acceptance?

Our best to you both,

Vardis Fisher

Hagerman, Idaho

21st January, 1959

Mr J H Gipson
The Caxton Printers
Caldwell, Idaho

Dear Jim:

Alan Swallow has sent to me a letter, addressed to you, which I am
sending on, with three changes in it. He indicates that my books
are to be shipped to me. This is not so. I will pick some of them
up this Sunday, if they can be got ready, and the others later. Note
that on the attached list I have specified them, and in what quan-
tities I'd like to have them wrapped.

Dick Pead can go with me next Sunday to pick them up. If this
meets your approval, please advise him.

And will you please send me a memo saying that all rights in my
books published by Caxton, and all rights in any of them which
Caxton once controlled, now revert to me.

As ever,

Vardis Fisher