SUPERMAN JERRY SIEGEL DESTITUTE LETTER Memorabilia
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Superman Co-Creator Jerry Siegel "Destitute" Letter to Shame Executives
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Superman Co-Creator Jerry Siegel "Destitute" Letter to Shame Executives
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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 "Destitute" Letter to Shame ExecutivesThis signed letter from Superman co-creator Jerry Siegel is a troubling artifact from one of the most vicious feuds in comics history. Siegel and artist Joe Shuster had managed a few lucrative settlements with National Publications (later DC) after the company acquired the Superman rights that Siegel and Shuster had sold for $130 in 1938. This letter, however, is part of a 1951 mailing campaign where Siegel attempts to shame the National executives by sending letters to their friends and neighbors describing himself as "destitute" because of "selfish, greedy men."
This undated letter (with original envelope postmarked Nov. 25, 1951) was meant to hit particularly close to home--with Siegel mailing the missive to the Head Bartender of Hutton's. The bar and restaurant was at 490 Lexington Ave., and was a popular hangout for the National staff working down the street.
"Remember me?" Siegel writes to the bartender. "I'm Jerry Siegel, who had fame and a good income until Superman's publishers, National Comics Publications, Inc. 480 Lexington Ave., N.Y., N.Y., took it away from me." Then, as usual with Siegel's "shame" letters, he asks the bartender to "think of me, his destitute creator," whenever he sees a Superman product. Instead, however, Hutton's seemed to side with their regular National patrons, passing the poison-pen letter along and helping to preserve another rare artifact in the battle over Superman's success.
Superman Co-Creator Jerry Siegel "Destitute" Letter to Shame ExecutivesThis signed letter from Superman co-creator Jerry Siegel is a troubling artifact from one of the most vicious feuds in comics history. Siegel and artist Joe Shuster had managed a few lucrative settlements with National Publications (later DC) after the company acquired the Superman rights that Siegel and Shuster had sold for $130 in 1938. This letter, however, is part of a 1951 mailing campaign where Siegel attempts to shame the National executives by sending letters to their friends and neighbors describing himself as "destitute" because of "selfish, greedy men."
This undated letter (with original envelope postmarked Nov. 25, 1951) was meant to hit particularly close to home--with Siegel mailing the missive to the Head Bartender of Hutton's. The bar and restaurant was at 490 Lexington Ave., and was a popular hangout for the National staff working down the street.
"Remember me?" Siegel writes to the bartender. "I'm Jerry Siegel, who had fame and a good income until Superman's publishers, National Comics Publications, Inc. 480 Lexington Ave., N.Y., N.Y., took it away from me." Then, as usual with Siegel's "shame" letters, he asks the bartender to "think of me, his destitute creator," whenever he sees a Superman product. Instead, however, Hutton's seemed to side with their regular National patrons, passing the poison-pen letter along and helping to preserve another rare artifact in the battle over Superman's success.