Journalist's archive of an investigation into the identity of B. TRAVEN: INCLUDES ORIGINAL PHOTOGRAPHS OF TRAVEN, ORIGINAL PHOTOGRAPHS TAKEN BY TRAVEN, and ORIGINAL PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE SPREADING OF HIS ASHES

circa 1970. A TREASURE TROVE OF RESEARCH gathered by Donald McCormick (1911-1998), a Senior Manager at the Sunday Times in the late sixties and early seventies, for an article or book that never came to fruition.

Includes a 5-page proposal from Sydney Paulden for an article on Traven's identity for the Sunday Times (5 pages, dated 10/29/69) and Paulden's unpublished 14-page draft along with APPROXIMATELY 30 ORIGINAL PHOTOGRAPHS, most with explanatory labels tipped to back, INCLUDING NINE (9) PHOTOGRAPHS IDENTIFIED AS TAKEN BY TRAVEN CIRCA 1926 WHILE TRAVELING IN THE JUNGLES OF MEXICO WHERE HE MET INDIGENOUS PEOPLES HE IDENTIFIES AS "CARRIBE (truncated) INDIANS." The photos were reportedly from Traven's own album and are mounted on versos of 3 beige cardstock leaves each with typed captions reportedly made by Traven pasted beneath (the first leaf also with Paulden's explanatory caption for all three pages tipped to verso). AS WELL AS SEVERAL ORIGINAL PHOTOGRAPHS OF TRAVEN taken in 1925 and shortly before his death; a few photos featuring his wife, Rosa Elena Lujan; several from the occasion of the scattering of his ashes in Mexico; and 3 color transparencies of a portrait of Traven, "Traven and his Mexico," presented to him shortly before his death by Israeli artist Igal Maoz (depicts Traven surrounded by scenes from his books).

INCLUDES CORRESPONDENCE FROM Alexandre Rossmann, A. G. K. Leonard, Evelyn Irons, R. B. Pynsent, et al – most being IN RESPONSE TO AN OPEN APPEAL FOR INFORMATION made by McCormick in a letter to the editor (Times Literary Supplement, March 19, 1970, clipping included). 30 - 40 LETTERS, MOSTLY TYPED, some more than one page, several with enclosures. As well as copies of various articles on Traven in newspapers and magazines from 1940s – 70s (20 to 25); 2 complete issues of Rampart Magazine from Sept. and Oct. 1967 with long articles on Traven by Judy Stone ("Mystery of B. Traven" and "Conversations with..."); and a copy of a 14-page, Spanish-language magazine article well illustrated with photos including of various documents trying to establish his identity. ALSO INCLUDES COPIES OF OFFICIAL DOCUMENTS, AS WELL AS MEMOS AND NOTES FROM RESEARCH ASSISTANTS AND FOREIGN CORRESPONDENTS.

From the collection of Paul "Dr. Z" Zimmerman. Includes 1979 Sotheby's auction catalog for the sale of the above (see lot 282) and list of prices realized that documents the sale. Housed in clear sleeves in 2 multi-ring black binders (one folio-sized, one standard). Altogether near fine. (Inventory #: 56188)