Dear HPL Letters, Robert E. Howard to H.P. Lovecraft.

Contains a First Appearance of a letter (May 13, 1936).

In 2002, the then-owners of the rights to Robert E. Howard’s works decided to publish a series of three books in order to extend the U.S. copyrights of the unpublished material. Otherwise all this unpublished material would have been public domain in the U.S. after 12/31/2006.

Three books were published – A RHYME OF SALEM TOWN AND OTHER POEMS, DEAR HPL (Howard’s letters to Lovecraft), and DEAR AUGUST (Howard’s letters to August Derleth). 10 copies of each book were to be prepared by Glenn Lord, but fewer than 10 were eventually produced, maybe as few as 6 copies of each.

DEAR HPL only contains 45 of the original 53 letters to HPL, so some still remain unpublished. Several pages have words cut off at the right or bottom. The Library of Congress has copies of DEAR AUGUST and DEAR HPL, they had them hardbound, no jacket.

Contents

• [8] •  Letter to H. P. Lovecraft, [July 1, 1930] (“Dear Mr. Lovecraft: / I am indeed highly honored…”) • [Letters to H. P. Lovecraft] • essay by Robert E. Howard (variant of Letter to H. P. Lovecraft, August 9, 1930 (“Dear Mr. Lovecraft: / I am indeed highly honored…”) 1989)
• [14] •  Letter to H. P. Lovecraft, [August 9, 1930] (“Dear Mr. Lovecraft: / Let me first thank you for the opportunity…”) • [Letters to H. P. Lovecraft] • essay by Robert E. Howard (variant of Letter to H. P. Lovecraft, ca. August 1930 (“Dear Mr. Lovecraft: / Let me first thank you for the opportunity…”) 1989)
• [20] •  Letter to H. P. Lovecraft, [ca. September 1930] (“Dear Mr. Lovecraft: / I envy you your sojourn in Quebec…”) • [Letters to H. P. Lovecraft] • essay by Robert E. Howard (variant of Letter to H. P. Lovecraft, ca. September 1930 (“Dear Mr. Lovecraft: / I envy you your sojourn in Quebec…”) 1989)
• [24] •  Letter to H. P. Lovecraft, [ca. January 1932] (“Dear Mr. Lovecraft: / I highly appreciate your intention for me to retain…”) • [Letters to H. P. Lovecraft] • essay by Robert E. Howard (variant of Letter to H. P. Lovecraft, [ca. February 1931] (“Dear Mr. Lovecraft: / I highly appreciate your intention for me to retain…”))
• [36] •  Letter to H. P. Lovecraft, [c. October 1930] (“Dear Mr. Lovecraft: / It is with greatest delight that I learn…”) • [Letters to H. P. Lovecraft] • essay by Robert E. Howard (variant of Letter to H. P. Lovecraft, ca. October 1930 (“Dear Mr. Lovecraft: / It is with greatest delight that I learn…”) 1989)
• [40] • Rueben’s Bethren • (1969) • poem by Robert E. Howard
• [48] •  Letter to H. P. Lovecraft, [c. early June 1931] (“Dear Mr. Lovecraft: / I didn’t take much of a trip after all…”) • [Letters to H. P. Lovecraft] • essay by Robert E. Howard (variant of Letter to H. P. Lovecraft, circa June 1931 (“Dear Mr. Lovecraft: / I didn’t take much of a trip…”) 1991)
• [56] • The Grim Land • (1976) • poem by Robert E. Howard
• [58] •  Letter to H. P. Lovecraft, [July 14, 1931] (“Just a line to congratulate you on…”) • [Letters to H. P. Lovecraft] • essay by Robert E. Howard (variant of To H. P. Lovecraft, July 14, 1931 (“Dear Mr. Lovecraft: / Just a line to congratulate you…”) 2007)
• [60] •  Letter to H. P. Lovecraft, [c. January 1931?] (“Dear Mr. Lovecraft: / This is rather a belated letter thanking you…”) • [Letters to H. P. Lovecraft] • essay by Robert E. Howard
• [62] •  Letter to H. P. Lovecraft, [week of August 10, 1931] (“Dear Mr. Lovecraft: / You must indeed have had a delightful journey…”) • [Letters to H. P. Lovecraft] • essay by Robert E. Howard (variant of To H. P. Lovecraft, ca. August 1931 (“Dear Mr. Lovecraft: / You must indeed have had a delightful journey…”) 2007)
• [74] •  Letter to H. P. Lovecraft, [c. January 1931] (“As always, I found your recent letter most interesting…”) • [Letters to H. P. Lovecraft] • essay by Robert E. Howard
• [84] •  Letter to H. P. Lovecraft, [December 9, 1931] (“I would have answered your letter…”) • [Letters to H. P. Lovecraft] • essay by Robert E. Howard (variant of To H. P. Lovecraft, December 9, 1931 (“Dear Mr. Lovecraft: / I would have answered your letter long ago…”) 2007)
• [85] • Arkham • (1932) • poem by Robert E. Howard
• [88] •  Letter to H. P. Lovecraft, [c. December 1930] (“As always, your letter proved highly enjoyable…”) • [Letters to H. P. Lovecraft] • essay by Robert E. Howard (variant of Letter to H. P. Lovecraft, ca. December 1930 (“Dear Mr. Lovecraft: / As always, your letter proved highly enjoyable…”) 1989)
• [116] •  Letter to H. P. Lovecraft, [c. September 1930] (“I am very glad that you enjoyed your visit to Quebec…”) • [Letters to H. P. Lovecraft] • essay by Robert E. Howard (variant of Letter to H. P. Lovecraft, ca. September 1930 (“Dear Mr. Lovecraft: / I am very glad that you enjoyed…”) 1989)
• [124] •  Letter to H. P. Lovecraft, [October 1931] (“Thanks for the post-card views…”) • [Letters to H. P. Lovecraft] • essay by Robert E. Howard (variant of To H. P. Lovecraft, ca. October 1931 (“Dear Mr. Lovecraft: / Thanks for the post-card views…”) 2007)
• [126] •  Letter to H. P. Lovecraft, [c. November 1932] (“Here’s a clipping that might be of some interest…”) • [Letters to H. P. Lovecraft] • essay by Robert E. Howard (variant of To H. P. Lovecraft, ca. November 1932 (“Dear Mr. Lovecraft: / Here’s a clipping that might be of some interest…”) 2007)
• [128] •  Letter to H. P. Lovecraft, [mid-October 1931] (“I intended to answer your very interesting letter…”) • [Letters to H. P. Lovecraft] • essay by Robert E. Howard (variant of To H. P. Lovecraft, ca. October 1931 (“Dear Mr. Lovecraft: / I intended to answer your very interesting letter sooner…”) 2007)
• [150] •  Letter to H. P. Lovecraft, [May 24, 1932] (“Glad you liked the Oriental story…”) • [Letters to H. P. Lovecraft] • essay by Robert E. Howard (variant of To H. P. Lovecraft, May 24, 1932 (“Dear Mr. Lovecraft: / Glad you liked the Oriental story…”) 2007)
• [160] •  Letter to H. P. Lovecraft, [July 13, 1932] (“It is with the utmost humiliation that I begin…”) • [Letters to H. P. Lovecraft] • essay by Robert E. Howard (variant of To H. P. Lovecraft, July 13, 1932 (“Dear Mr. Lovecraft: / It is with the utmost humiliation that I begin…”) 2007)
• [170] •  Letter to H. P. Lovecraft, [c. early January 1932] (“Yes, I enjoyed the postcards very much…”) • [Letters to H. P. Lovecraft] • essay by Robert E. Howard (variant of To H. P. Lovecraft, ca. January 1932 (“Dear Mr. Lovecraft: / Yes, I enjoyed the postcards very much…”) 2007)
• [176] •  Letter to H. P. Lovecraft, [April 23, 1933] (“I’m enclosing some of the latest views…”) • [Letters to H. P. Lovecraft] • essay by Robert E. Howard (variant of To H. P. Lovecraft, April 23, 1933 (“Dear Mr. Lovecraft: / I’m enclosing some of the latest views…”) 2008)
• [177] • The Lost San Sabra Mine • poem by Robert E. Howard
• [180] •  Letter to H. P. Lovecraft, [c. April 1932] (“At last I’ve gotten around to answering…”) • [Letters to H. P. Lovecraft] • essay by Robert E. Howard (variant of To H. P. Lovecraft, ca. April 1932 (“Dear Mr. Lovecraft: / At last I’ve gotten around to answering…”) 2007)
• [192] •  Letter to H. P. Lovecraft, [received September 22, 1932] (“I read, as always, your comments on the Greco-Roman…”) • [Letters to H. P. Lovecraft] • essay by Robert E. Howard (variant of Letter to H. P. Lovecraft, received September 22, 1932 (“Dear Mr. Lovecraft: / I read, as always, your comments…”) 1991)
• [208] •  Letter to H. P. Lovecraft, [March 1, 1931] (“I’m writing this letter only some two hundred thirty-odd…”) • [Letters to H. P. Lovecraft] • essay by Robert E. Howard (variant of To H. P. Lovecraft, ca. February 1931 (“Dear Mr. Lovecraft: / I’m writing this letter only some two…”) 2007)
• [210] •  Letter to H. P. Lovecraft, [August 9, 1932] (“I am very sorry to hear of your recent bereavement…”) • [Letters to H. P. Lovecraft] • essay by Robert E. Howard (variant of To H. P. Lovecraft, August 9, 1932 (“Dear Mr. Lovecraft: / I am very sorry to hear of your recent…”) 2007)
• [228] •  Letter to H. P. Lovecraft, [March 6, 1933] (“I have just read your recent letter with the usual…”) • [Letters to H. P. Lovecraft] • essay by Robert E. Howard (variant of To H. P. Lovecraft, March 6, 1933 (“Dear Mr. Lovecraft: / I have just read your recent letter…”) 2008)
• [244] •  Letter to H. P. Lovecraft, [ ], (“I was extremely interested in your comments on the Pennsylvania Dutch…”) • [Letters to H. P. Lovecraft] • essay by Robert E. Howard
• [256] •  Letter to H. P. Lovecraft, [c. October 1932] (“I hope you decide to collaborate on the proposed…”) • [Letters to H. P. Lovecraft] • essay by Robert E. Howard (variant of To H. P. Lovecraft, ca. October 1932 (“Dear Mr. Lovecraft: / I hope you decide to collaborate…”) 2007)
• [258] •  Letter to H. P. Lovecraft, [June 15, 1933] (“Glad we got the physical-mental question…”) • [Letters to H. P. Lovecraft] • essay by Robert E. Howard (variant of Letter to H. P. Lovecraft, circa May/June 1933 (“Dear Mr. Lovecraft: / Glad we got the physical-mental question…”) 1991)
• [278] •  Letter to H. P. Lovecraft, [circa January 1934] (“I enjoyed very much your account of your travels along the East Coast…”) • [Letters to H. P. Lovecraft] • essay by Robert E. Howard (variant of To H. P. Lovecraft, ca. January 1934 (“Dear Mr. Lovecraft: / I enjoyed very much your account of your…”) 2008)
• [294] •  Letter to H. P. Lovecraft, [December 1932] (“Having read your latest letter with the greatest interest…”) • [Letters to H. P. Lovecraft] • essay by Robert E. Howard (variant of To H. P. Lovecraft, ca. December 1932 (“Dear Mr. Lovecraft: / Having read your latest letter with the…”) 2007)
• [314] •  Letter to H. P. Lovecraft, [c. July 1934] (“I started writing this months ago [inserted]…”) • [Letters to H. P. Lovecraft] • essay by Robert E. Howard (variant of To H. P. Lovecraft, ca. July 1934 (“Dear HPL: / I started writing this months ago [inserted]…”) 2008)
• [330] •  Letter to H. P. Lovecraft, [ca. September 1933] (“I was very sorry to hear of your aunt’s accident…”) • [Letters to H. P. Lovecraft] • essay by Robert E. Howard (variant of To H. P. Lovecraft, ca. September or October 1933 (“Dear H.P.L.: / I was very sorry to hear of your aunt’s accident…”) 2008)
• [348] •  Letter to H. P. Lovecraft, [c. January 1934] (“I deeply appreciate your sympathetic expressions…”) • [Letters to H. P. Lovecraft] • essay by Robert E. Howard (variant of To H. P. Lovecraft, ca. January 1934 (“Dear HPL: / I deeply appreciate your sympathetic expressions…”) 2008)
• [350] •  Letter to H. P. Lovecraft, [mid-November 1933] (“I am so submerged in work that I must postpone…”) • [Letters to H. P. Lovecraft] • essay by Robert E. Howard (variant of To H. P. Lovecraft, ca. November 1933 (“Dear HPL: / I am so submerged in work that I must postpone…”) 2008)
• [352] •  Letter to H. P. Lovecraft, [November 3, 1933] (“Glad you liked the rattles. The owner got his head shot off…”) • [Letters to H. P. Lovecraft] • essay by Robert E. Howard (variant of Letter to H. P. Lovecraft, November 3, 1933 (“Dear HPL: / Glad you liked the rattles…”) 1991)
• [354] •  Letter to H. P. Lovecraft, [c. December 1934] (“I read your account of your trip down the Atlantic sea-board…”) • [Letters to H. P. Lovecraft] • essay by Robert E. Howard (variant of To H. P. Lovecraft, ca. December 1934 (“Dear HPL: / I read your account of your trip down the Atlantic…”) 2008)
• [366] •  Letter to H. P. Lovecraft, [May 1934] (“Glad you’re having such a good time in Florida…”) • [Letters to H. P. Lovecraft] • essay by Robert E. Howard (variant of To H. P. Lovecraft, ca. May 1934 (“Dear HPL: / Glad you’re having such a good time…”) 2008)
• [368] •  Letter to H. P. Lovecraft, [c. late May or early June 1934] (“Glad you’re finding your stay in Florida so enjoyable…”) • [Letters to H. P. Lovecraft] • essay by Robert E. Howard
• [370] •  Letter to H. P. Lovecraft, [December 3, 1933] (“Glad you found the cat article of some amusement…”) • [Letters to H. P. Lovecraft] • essay by Robert E. Howard (variant of To H. P. Lovecraft, December 3, 1933 (“Dear HPL: / Glad you found the cat article of some…”) 2008)
• [372] •  Letter to H. P. Lovecraft, [c. September-October 1934] (“Thanks very much for the post-cards…”) • [Letters to H. P. Lovecraft] • essay by Robert E. Howard (variant of To H. P. Lovecraft, ca. September 1934 (“Dear HPL: / Thanks very much for the post-cards…”) 2008)
• [376] •  Letter to H. P. Lovecraft, [March 24, 1934] (“Here’s a little item which might interest you…”) • [Letters to H. P. Lovecraft] • essay by Robert E. Howard (variant of To H. P. Lovecraft, March 24, 1934 (“Dear HPL: / Here’s a little item which might interest you…”) 2008)
• [378] •  Letter to H. P. Lovecraft, October 3, 1935 (“Here are some clippings which might interest…”) • [Letters to H. P. Lovecraft] • essay by Robert E. Howard (variant of To H. P. Lovecraft, October 3, 1935 (“Dear HPL: / Here are some clippings which might interest…”) 2008)
• [380] •  Letter to H. P. Lovecraft, February 11, 1936 (“Glad you enjoyed the dream-write-up I sent you…”) • [Letters to H. P. Lovecraft] • essay by Robert E. Howard (variant of Letter to H. P. Lovecraft, February 11, 1936 (“Dear HPL: / Glad you enjoyed the dream write-up…”) 1991)
• [388] •  Letter to H. P. Lovecraft, May 13, 1936 (“I am indeed sorry to hear that you and your aunt…”) • [Letters to H. P. Lovecraft] • essay by Robert E. Howard (variant of To H. P. Lovecraft, May 13, 1936 (“Dear HPL: / I am indeed sorry to hear that you and your Aunt…”) 2008)

Notes

Patrice Louinet’s edition of this was put on auction on eBay on September 26, 2022. It was sold on October 4 for $1030 together with A RHYME OF SALEM TOWN AND OTHER POEMS and DEAR AUGUST (Howard’s letters to August Derleth).

Since publication, twenty years ago, only ONE copy of ONE of the three items ever changed hands: A Rhyme of Salem Town, which sold for $2,800 in 2006 on eBay.

This was published by Paradox Entertainment when they purchased Robert E. Howard Properties, Ltd. to preserve copyrights. Most of the contents had never been published before.

Edited by Glenn Lord. Facsimile copies of Howard typescripts. 6 copies produced, none sold. One copy in the Library of Congress. Pages not numbered. “First Book Edition” on title page. Letters do not have titles given. [Dates] hand-written on letters or taken from other sources.