[Rarebooks] FS: Early Harry Belafonte Letter to Drama Critic Brooks Atkinson, 1955

[Charles Agvent]

BELAFONTE,  Harry.  TYPED  LETTER SIGNED.  An  interesting  SIGNED
letter  from  Belafonte  to Brooks Atkinson, drama critic of  the  New
York  Times,  dated  19 May 1955. In this letter of  @250  words,  the
singer  and  actor wishes to clarify that a letter sent by him  a  few
days  before  is  not   misunderstood.  Essentially,  Belafonte  wants
Atkinson  to know that, despite an earlier report to the contrary, the
contemplated  closing  of his show "3 For Tonight" is not  related  to
his  Las Vegas engagement. Adding to the interest are numerous  pencil
notes  and  corrections  that attempt to tame the tone of  the  words,
either  by  the  singer or his agent, Jay Kennedy, from  whose  estate
this  letter  came.  Belafonte,  one   of  the  world's  most  popular
entertainers,  starring not only in music but in the theater and  film
as  well,  was  also  the first, and for some  time  the  only,  black
producer  in  television. He was also very active in the civil  rights
struggle,  bailing Martin Luther King, Jr. out of the Birmingham  City
Jail  and  a  few  years  later  helping  to  organize  the  March  on
Washington.  About a two-inch closed tear just entering the text. Very
Good                                                           $250.00


-- 

All books subject to prior sale.  Cash with order; institutions may be 
billed.  Postage additional:  $9.00 for the first book, $5.00 each 
thereafter.  Overseas postage billed at approximate cost. Pennsylvania 
residents must add 6% sales tax.  Mastercard, Visa, American Express and 
Discover accepted.  Books may be returned within 10 days of receipt for 
any reason provided they are in the same condition as sent and prior 
notice is given. Please insure returns for their full value.  We carry a 
diverse stock with major specialties including Modern and 19th Century 
Literary First Editions, Autographed Books, and Limited Editions Club 
books.  We are celebrating our 20th year of business and are proud to be 
members of the Antiquarian Booksellers Association of America (ABAA) and 
the International League of Antiquarian Booksellers (ILAB) as well as 
the Manuscript Society and the Universal Autograph Collectors Club 
(UACC).  Please feel free to contact us with any wants or offerings. 
Thank you.

CHARLES AGVENT
291 Linden Road
Mertztown, PA  19539-8750
610-682-4750
agvent at erols.com
Visit our home page:  http://www.erols.com/agvent