Viereck, George Sylvester / [Frederick Franklin Schrader] / [Mentioning of Oscar Wilde / Lord Alfred Douglas].

Collection of early Manuscript Material (which is a Manuscript Ballad / Poem), a two-page Manuscript Letter (which is a MLS mentioning Oscar Wilde, Lord [Alfred] Douglas, Viereck’s literary tastes etc.) and the personal copy of “House of the Vampire”, all by the controversial german-american author George Sylvester Viereck. The collection includes: 1. One six-page, hitherto unpublished Manuscript – Ballad [Poem], called “Die Ballade vom Sündigen Glück” [Translates: “The Ballad of sinful Pleasure”]/ 2. A lengthy and extremely insightful Two-Page Manuscript Letter, signed in New York, 1902, which accompanied and talks about the enclosed Six-Page Manuscript – Ballad [The letter and Poem was not conclusively but very likely addressed by Viereck to Frederick Franklin Schrader, then editor of the New York Dramatic Mirror and shortly thereafter co-founder with George Sylvester Viereck of “The Fatherland” / 3. The collection also includes Viereck’s personal copy of his publication “The House of the Vampire” with handwritten, manuscript entry of his name, address in New York City as well as a pasted statement on the endpaper by the author Viereck: “Concerning “The House of the Vampire” : This book went through several editions when it was first published and was dramatized. It played for eight weeks in New York and for two years on the road under the management of the Shuberts. Critics have compared it to such books as Dr.Jekyll and Mr.Hyde, Lady Into Fox, and Dorian Gray”]. The two-page letter is of great value and touches on Viereck’s admiration for Schrader and his “Blatt” [Newspaper]. Viereck is advertising himself to Schrader by introducing himself as a critical admirer with substantial references (Viereck details his working for numerous newspapers in America). Viereck mentions his secessionist tendencies and name-drops Oscar Wilde, Rosetti and Lord Douglas (whom he claims to know personally). This amazing, autographed/signed Manuscript-Material was created by Viereck directly during his transition from writer to propagandist and is an example of his early, bullish personality, which wants to be heard, which needs attention and it is here, in 1912, where his career begins to develop. This large Archive of manuscript material [8 pages in total] is stunning and unpublished (see partial Transcription of the original german material on our website). Viereck’s close friends included Nikola Tesla and even Theodore Roosevelt was among his acquaintances.

New York, Moffat, Yard & Company, 1902-1912. Play and Letters: 20.3 cm x 25.3 cm / Book: 13 cm x 19,5 cm. Pagination: Balld (Poem): 6 pages / Manuscript Letter (MLS): 2 pages / Book: 190 pages. Original Hardcover / Blue publisher’s cloth with gilt lettering on spine in protective collector’s mylar / The play protected in clear folder. The manuscript pages overall in excellent condition besides page IV of the play which has two abrasions with small parts of the text missing only. The book in excellent condition with only minor signs of external wear. Viereck’s usual vanity made him add the lovely littel note of critical success. The personal copy of this controversial author’s most interesting book is a unique possibility for each collector of unusual Vampire material. Extraordinary collection !

New York City, Nov. 3, 1912
Verehrter Herr !
Ich zaehle mich zu den Freunden
der Schule, deren Geist Sie in Deutschland
sind, ohne natuerlich jede Planke Ihrer liter-
arischen Plattform gut zu heissen. Ich bin selbst
……..modern, secessionistisch angehaucht,
nur dass ich mehr von den englischen Versen [?]
der Versuchung Swinburnes, Rosetti und
Oscar Wilde, dessen Freund Lord Douglas
ich persoenlich kenne, als von deutschen Werthen
beeinflusst worden bin. Seit meinem drei-
zehnten Jahre weile ich in diesem Land, u.
bin Mitarbeiter der [amerikanischen ?] Zeitungen
[…], wie “Staats-Ztg.” U. Chicago u.”N.Y.
Echo”. etc. etc.
…….Anbei sende ich Ihnen eine kleine Plau-
derei ueber “Sylvio Hoessmann” einen “Mitarbeiter
der “Insel”, die Sie vielleicht amuesieren
wird. Es ist natuerlich eine Erfindung. Ich
habe in Ihm mich selbst gewuerdigt, da ich selbst
das Ihnen “Todtenliebe” oefter musiziert habe.
……Ferner sende ich Ihnen zur Publikation
In Ihrem Blatt ein laengeres Gedicht “Die
Ballade vom suendigen Glueck”
…..Ich habe zwei Strophenformen abwechselnd benutzt….
[….]
Sehr gespannt auf Ihr Urteil, verbleibe ich
Ihr sehr ergebener
Georg Sylvester Viereck

George Sylvester Viereck (December 31, 1884 – March 18, 1962) was a German-American poet and writer.
In 1923, Viereck published a popular-science book entitled Rejuvenation: How Steinach Makes People Young, which drew the attention of Sigmund Freud, who wrote Viereck asking if he would write a similar book about psychoanalysis. Viereck traveled to Vienna to interview Freud, and then went to Munich to interview Adolf Hitler. During the mid-1920s, Viereck went on several additional tours of Europe, interviewing Marshal Foch, Georges Clemenceau, George Bernard Shaw, Oswald Spengler, Benito Mussolini, Queen Elisabeth of the Belgians, Henry Ford, Albert Moll, Magnus Hirschfeld, and Albert Einstein.Viereck became close friends with Nikola Tesla. Tesla occasionally attended dinner parties held by Viereck and his wife. He dedicated his poem “Fragments of Olympian Gossip” to Viereck, a work in which Tesla ridiculed the scientific establishment of the day.

Viereck also published a vampire novel, The House of the Vampire (1907), which is one of the first psychic vampire stories where a vampire feeds off more than just blood. (Wikipedia)

• Keywords: American Literature · American Literature – Rare · Autograph · Autograph – Rare · Autographs · Catalogue No.10 – International Literature · Catalogue Seventeen – Autographs and Manuscripts · Catalogue Ten – International Literature · Catalogue Winter 2020 / 2021 · Collections Literature Rare · Fantastische Literatur · Fantasy · Gay Literature · Gay Themes · German Literature – Rare · Gothic Literature · Horror · Manuscript / Autograph – Rare · Manuscript Letter Rare · Manuscript Letter Signed · Manuscript Literature Rare · Manuscript Material – Rare · Mystery · Narrative · Phantastische Literatur · Psychic Realism · Signed · Signiert · Vampire · Vampire & Dracula Literature · Vampyre · Very Special Books Rare · WCBF Highlight · West Cork Rare Book Fair 2022
• Language: English
• Inventory Number: 28843AB

EUR 3.500,--