ZANE GREY and HENRY WALLACE PHILLIPS - TWO MANUSCRIPT LETTERS by TWO WRITERS OF WESTERNS, laid into a SIGNED BOOK by H.W. Phillips. THE WRITERS DID NOT LIKE EACH OTHER.

(1) Letter from ZANE GREY to HENRY PHILLIPS regarding Phillips telling people that Grey writes his books with the intent that they be turned into movies, and stating that he, Phillips, taught Grey how to do so. The letter is written on a folded single sheet of paper (making 4 pages) and written on 3 of the 4 pages. It is addressed to Mr. Henry Phillips, New York City, and has the return address of Middletown, N.Y. It only has the month and day, March 26, and not the year. The letter reads in part:

"I have been informed that you have used my name in talks on moving-pictures, etc. - claiming that I came to you to learn how to write my books so they would be adaptable to the screen...I have never written a line in the interest of moving-pictures...different people claimed they heard you...if it is true please do not do that any more...And please consider how embarrassing it would be for you if I happened to drop in somewhere and hear you make such a statement...Yours sincerely / Zane Grey."

Zane Grey has had more films made based on his books than perhaps any other author in history, yet in this handwritten letter he states that he has "never written a line in the interest of motion-pictures". Uh, ok then.

(2) An unrelated letter from HENRY PHILLIPS to a MR. BURKHARDT. In the letter Phillips states he will not participate in an upcoming dinner (presumably to be attended by hopeful authors) but instead sends his advice about writing in this letter. The letter is written on a folded single sheet of paper (making 4 pages) and written on 2 of the 4 pages, it is dated April 10, '05. The letter reads in part:

"...The most practical help I can offer towards the object of the dinner is to turn out stuff that will sell - I defy anyone to dispute that. It is so simple that even I can understand it. And as I am the sort of person who would often rather do other things than write I have to keep close to my job...Sincerely / H. W. Phillips."

Though not directly related to the Zane Grey letter, one can sense why Grey is filled with anger towards Phillips. Grey's letter shows how serious he is about his writing, and Phillips' letter shows how flippant he is about writing, saying how easy it is for anyone to write [including Grey] and to only do it for money [which means for the movies, I suppose].

(3) BOTH LETTERS are laid into a WESTERN novel by HENRY WALLACE PHILLIPS. The book is SIGNED by H. W. PHILLIPS on the front free-endpaper. The book is: RED SAUNDERS: His Adventures West & East. Published by McClure, Phillips & Co., New York, eighth printing, 1907. Hardcover book, no dustjacket as issued, 210 pages.

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CONDITION: Both of the letters are in VERY GOOD condition, some old folds, overall solid, bright and clear. The book is in GOOD condition, some scrapes and marks to the covers, fading to the spine, internally, some inner hinges are cracked but holding, overall the pages are bright, clean and unmarked.

THE OLD WEST HAD SIX GUNS, THESE COMPETING WESTERN WRITERS HAD POISON PENS.

About ZANE GREY (from Wikipedia):

******Pearl Zane Grey, b.1872 d.1939, was an American author and dentist. He is known for his popular adventure novels and stories associated with the Western genre. Riders of the Purple Sage (1912) was his bestselling book. In addition to the success of his printed works, his books have second lives and continuing influence adapted for films and television. HIS NOVELS AND SHORT STORIES WERE ADAPTED INTO 112 FILMS.******

About HENRY WALLACE PHILLIPS (found on a Google Books Internet site):

******Henry Wallace Phillips, b.1869 d.1930, was a revered American author remembered for his depiction of Western frontier life. His literary oeuvre is best symbolized by his book Red Saunders******