From magician James Harrison, a letter from H.P. Lovecraft, written to Harry Houdini! In it, HPL congratulates Houdini for acquiring Poe’s desk. Photographed at a Houdini Exhibit in Toronto.
P.S. Your recent note just came. Congratulations on the Poe desk! I hope to (see?) and ponder over it!
Thanks exceedingly for forming another link in the chain of forwarding by which the Turner letter reached me. That letter is indeed a nobly heartening influence!
Pardon informal postscript,
HPL
UPDATE: Jeffrey Savoye from The Edgar Allan Poe Society of Baltimore comments that the desk pictured above is not the desk that HPL was referring to, but rather another desk owned by Poe — a portable desk. Of course, all the pertinent facts remain the same, but apparently someone at the Houdini Exhibit mentioned above thought it was the larger desk, not the smaller one.
What a cool find, a triple threat of weird!
Now that is cool.
Perhaps it reads a “Heartening” influence?
I think you’re right — thanks! I’ll change my text.
Perhaps the word is not “heartfelt” but “heartening” ?
Sorry for the double post. I was not logged in and thought the first comment had been deleted. Very cool story, thank you so much for posting the letter!
Totally cool. Also: I’d guess the mystery word is ‘heartening’.
The questionmarked words are “see” and “heartening”.
It should read “Forming another link”, not forgiving one…
Thanks, made the correction.
I never cease to be amazed by Lovecraft’s humanity and gracious manners.
Awesomely Nice a Relic from Mr. Lovecraft 2 Houdini ’bout Mr. Poe am astounded by the connection all three men had on each other def missed all three tho the great Poe & Amazing Mr. Lovecraft
Does anyone know of a site like this one for Lovecraft but about Egar Allen Poe?
Edgar Allan Poe: Evermore
Thanks. I’ve frequent many Poe sites but haven’t found one as good as lovecraftezine (for Poe) 🙂 I’ll check out evermore
he mentions the Turner letter, doe that refer to the artist Turner? then that makes it 4 amazing connections in this artefact, the mind boggles
Maybe Frederick Jackson Turner?
The desk shown is not the right desk. Houdini owned a portable desk thought to have been Poe’s. It was described in 1925 as being mahogany. The desk shown in the picture is Poe’s desk from the Southern Literary Messenger, and was purchased by William H. Koester from J. H. Whitty. It was never owned by Houdini.
O! now I have to build one – just cause.
Lovecraft’s humor and manner to appreciate matters itself a legend to follow and admire. Houdini acquired this mighty table from mighty POE, a great gift indeed.
Reblogged this on Netherworld and commented:
Timeless story.