Two Typed Letters, Signed, Regarding Gone With the Wind de MITCHELL, MARGARET

In a one-page letter dated March 3 1937, Mitchell writes Lewis B. Traver of the American Booksellers Association, thanking him for the paperweight award (”Mr. George Brett [of her publishing house, Macmillan] has forwarded to me...) and noting that “...the trophy will never be used for any such utilitarian purpose as that of holding down papers...[I’ve] placed it under the framed record of my Grandfather Mitchell’s services in the Confederate army...” Signed in ink “Margaret Mitchell.” The second letter, dated March 11, 1937, two pages, over 500 words of exceptional content. While declining to attend the Association’s banquet primarily because she expected “...the moving picture people to come here to Georgia around that date. I hasten to disclaim any connection with the forthcoming movie production of “Gone with The Wind,” as I sold the book outright and am not working on the film in any capacity...While I have nothing to do with the casting, costuming et cetera, of course I have a warm desire, as have most of us Georgians, for the picture to be authentic, so I have put myself at their disposal.” She continues by expressing her appreciation to booksellers for what they did to popularize her book, “...The first encouraging letters I received after publication came from the booksellers. They came from all parts of the country, from enormous book stores to the little shops tucked away in the back of drug stores in small towns. They did more than stand behind the counters and sell “Gone With The Wind.” They climbed over counters and, grasping customers by the lapels, told them they simply had to buy this book...” Signed in ink “Margaret Mitchell Marsh,” and with the original envelope.