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Bernard Ernst (1879-1938) was Harry Houdini's lawyer, and president of the Society of American Magicians. Dr. Le Roi Goddard Crandon was a Boston surgeon and husband of Mina Crandon, famous debunked physical psychic medium. John McEntee Bowman was a hotel magnate, and a mutual friend of Conan Doyle and Houdini. Mr. Ernest G. Metcalfe was a lawyer. A fifth person, Fred Rafferty, editor of two books on automatic writing, is scratched out. Although the note is undated, the reverse bears a postmark of March 28, 1930 and an office stamp of April 7, 1930.
The book mentioned may be The Maracot Deep and Other Stories, published by Doubleday, Doran & Co. September 28, 1929 - the final book of Conan Doyle's released through that publisher prior to Conan Doyle's death in 1930. However, given the people Conan Doyle asks Mr. Doran to send the book to (and the timing of the letter), it's possible he is referring to The Edge of the Unknown, published in the U.S. in August 1930 (shortly after Conan Doyle's death) by G.P. Putnam's Sons. That's just speculation - I'm not aware of any connection between George Doran and G.P. Putnam's Sons, other than both were in New York. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (1859-1930) was a Scottish author, best known as creator of Sherlock Holmes. Doyle had a long-standing interest in the supernatural. During World War I he turned to spiritualism - the belief the dead have the ability to communicate with the living. He remained an active speaker on the subject for the rest of his life. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle passed away at Windlesham Manor, his home in East Sussex (where this letter was sent from), on July 7, 1930 of a heart attack.
George H.W. Bush (b. 1924) is an American politician who served as 41st president of the United States from 1989-1993. Although it's still too early to tell what President Bush's legacy will ultimately look like, his presidency is viewed mostly favorably. I had the opportunity to meet President Bush several years ago while paying a gig at a golf tournament in Southern Maine.
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AuthorA blog documenting autographs as they enter my collection - usually with some extra information and a brief biographical statement. Archives
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