Autograph Manuscript of his novel, CHAMPAGNE CHARLIE

[New York?], 1950. Written variously in ink, pencil, with a few typed sections, on rectos of about 280 leaves of various sizes, mostly on ruled paper. Paginated irregularly, but with apparent continuity of text, as follows: [1]-31; 19, 136, 138, 142 (also 143),143bis, 144, 131A; [typed section , with large pencilled cancellation marks:] 143, 139, 138, 137, 136; 120 - 147; 178 - 200; 32 - 60; 90; 61 - 118; 149 - 177. 1 vols. Folio. Bound in three quarter green morooco and green cloth. Rubbed at joints, but sound; several leaves browned and brittle, a few chips at edges. Written variously in ink, pencil, with a few typed sections, on rectos of about 280 (truncated) leaves of various sizes, mostly on ruled paper. Paginated irregularly, but with apparent continuity of text, as follows: [1]-31; 19, 136, 138, 142 (also 143),143bis, 144, 131A; [typed section , with large pencilled cancellation marks:] 143, 139, 138, 137, 136; 120 - 147; 178 - 200; 32 - 60; 90; 61 - 118; 149 - 177. 1 vols. Folio. "Jay Franklin" was the working nom de plume of John Franklin Carter, the syndicated New Deal columnist, radio commentator, public servant (Dept. of State & Agriculture), speechwriter for Harry Truman, intelligence advisor to FDR on Nazi party members, as well as the author of over 30 books, including the post nuclear-accident fantasy novel RAT RACE (1950), and, under the pseudonym "Diplomat", several murder mysteries from the 30s (e.g., THE CORPSE ON THE WHITE HOUSE LAWN) which Barzun and Taylor describe as 'wildly improbable and a little witty."

CHAMPAGNE CHARLIE was published in 1950 by Duell, Sloan and Pearce, in the same year as RAT RACE. (Inventory #: 220886)