SUPERMAN CO-CREATOR JERRY SIEGEL SIGNED LETTER Memorabilia
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Superman Co-Creator Jerry Siegel Signed 'Destitute' Letter & Statement of Support
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Superman Co-Creator Jerry Siegel Signed 'Destitute' Letter & Statement of Support
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A 15% BUYER'S PREMIUM WILL BE ADDED TO THIS ITEM AT CONCLUSION OF THE AUCTION
Superman Co-Creator Jerry Siegel Signed 'Destitute' Letter & Statement of SupportA troubling signed letter from Superman co-creator Jerry Siegel is included in this lot that features a mail exchange about one of the most vicious feuds in comics history--along with a letter of support from an unlikely source!
Siegel and artist Joe Shuster had managed some lucrative settlements with National Publications (later DC) after the company acquired the Superman rights that Siegel and Shuster had sold for $130 in 1938. At the end of 1951, however, Siegel began a mailing campaign where he attempted to shame the National executives by sending letters to their wealthy neighbors, describing himself as "destitute, living with my wife and tiny baby in a small, crowded apartment in Great Neck."
As seen here, National VP Jack Liebowitz documented how one of his neighbors was actually inspired to contact the comics publisher in support of Siegel. Leon K. Shanack even enclosed Siegel's original signed letter (which had provided Liebowitz's address) with his own note of Nov. 29, 1951. "Certainly if Mr. Siegel is such a creative genius," wrote Shanack, "there might be a place for him in your organization, provided of course that he acts and behaves like a gentleman."
Liebowitz preserved this letter as further proof of Siegel's mail campaign against National executives. It's unknown, however, if Liebowitz was amused by Siegel being defended by Shanack--who was best known in New York for taking kickbacks as a notorious war profiteer during WWII.
Superman Co-Creator Jerry Siegel Signed 'Destitute' Letter & Statement of SupportA troubling signed letter from Superman co-creator Jerry Siegel is included in this lot that features a mail exchange about one of the most vicious feuds in comics history--along with a letter of support from an unlikely source!
Siegel and artist Joe Shuster had managed some lucrative settlements with National Publications (later DC) after the company acquired the Superman rights that Siegel and Shuster had sold for $130 in 1938. At the end of 1951, however, Siegel began a mailing campaign where he attempted to shame the National executives by sending letters to their wealthy neighbors, describing himself as "destitute, living with my wife and tiny baby in a small, crowded apartment in Great Neck."
As seen here, National VP Jack Liebowitz documented how one of his neighbors was actually inspired to contact the comics publisher in support of Siegel. Leon K. Shanack even enclosed Siegel's original signed letter (which had provided Liebowitz's address) with his own note of Nov. 29, 1951. "Certainly if Mr. Siegel is such a creative genius," wrote Shanack, "there might be a place for him in your organization, provided of course that he acts and behaves like a gentleman."
Liebowitz preserved this letter as further proof of Siegel's mail campaign against National executives. It's unknown, however, if Liebowitz was amused by Siegel being defended by Shanack--who was best known in New York for taking kickbacks as a notorious war profiteer during WWII.