Group of nine items, including: five TLSs, each approximately 8.5 x 11, dated between 1909 and 1918, personal Maxim Park letterhead. The letters are addressed to Henry S. Chapman of the Youth’s Companion, Boston, Mass, and Mr. Rideing, also of Boston. On November 5, 1912, Maxim mentions article topics he is interested in pursuing, including, “Curiosities of Law,” “The Infinitely Great and the Infinitely Little,” “A Return Trip Through the Geologic Periods,” “The Vineyard of the Memory,” “Freaks of Invention,” “Curiosities of Explosions,” and “Why We Like Music,” amongst others. Additionally, Maxim references his books, Defenseless America and Leading Opinions Both For and Against National Defense, and goes on to argue his point that, despite the criticism of an editor, “I am strongly of the opinion that I am right about the cause of the great Ice Age.” In his last letter, June 23, 1918, Maxim agrees to “write the article Curiosities in Guns,” a work he states “will be one which will be equally as timely when the war is over as it is now; but I hope you will print it before the war is over, as I would like to see it while I am still alive, and I am now sixty-five.” Also included are four typed proofs, 7.25 x 11 and 8.5 x 11, featuring several incomplete passages from articles, each signed at the conclusion by Maxim, with one particular proof reading, “A watcher of the skies, looking through his telescope from a planet circling some far-off sun, will see a new star burst into view, and he will be amazed, and wonder what inconceivable energy can cause the new star to expand a hundred thousand miles a second, half the speed of light, until it becomes a far-flung, nebulous fog.” Pencil notations to proofs in an unknown hand. In overall very good to fine condition, with intersecting folds, light handling wear, pencil smudges and soiling to article pages, and three of the “article” signatures struck through in pencil. A fantastic working literary collection, providing a physical map of Maxim’s editorial expertise.
