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659. Frank R. Paul historic typed letter signed to 14 year-old Forry Ackerman. TLS dated September 24, 1931, written to fourteen year old Forrest Ackerman. One page; Quarto, it reads (in part):

"Dear Forrest,

I believe I owe you a letter from some time ago. Your letter with the poem reminded me that some time past you wrote to me about an original drawing that you wanted for your science club. Now if you want any drawings of mine just write to H. Gernsback, the Editor of Wonder Stories and he will send you any of them that you may want…Artists are the poorest correspondents because they are sitting at their drawing board all day and when there are a few minutes to spare incoming letters are usually just read quickly and put on the shelf with the intention of answering all of them, but you know to make an artist write a letter in his spare time is like asking a sailor to row a boat as exercise while on his vacation…You will see plenty of my work in the new Science & Mechanics and if you want any of the drawings I guess H. Gernsback will send you some.

I hope to hear from you again some time and send my regards to Jim Nicholson.

Yours truly,
Frank R. Paul"

The young Forry Ackerman's imagination was fired by reading the first issue of Amazing Stories, which featured Frank R. Paul's cover art depicting people ice skating on the lake of an alien world. Paul was discovered by Hugo Gernsback, founder and Editor of Amazing Stories, the first magazine devoted solely to science fiction and he would paint all the covers for the magazine for three years. Frank R. Paul held a pivotal role in defining cover art and interior illustrations in the nascent science fiction pulps of the 1920s. His cover for the November 1929 Science Wonder Stories was an early, if not earliest, depiction of a flying saucer. His illustrations were the first science fiction images seen by Ray Bradbury, Arthur C. Clarke, Ackerman, and many others who would go on to great prominence in the field. This incredible letter, from one of Ackerman's boyhood heroes, brings together three of the most important figures of the golden age of science fiction: Frank R. Paul, Hugo Gernsback, and Forrest Ackerman. A rare glimpse into the formative years of Ackerman's long life as the figurehead of the sci-fi community. Attractively framed and matted with Paul's business card. $400 - $600