SUPERMAN JERRY SIEGEL DESTITUTE LETTER Memorabilia
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Superman Co-Creator Jerry Siegel's Wife Letter to National Comics Pleading Poverty
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Superman Co-Creator Jerry Siegel's Wife Letter to National Comics Pleading Poverty
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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's Wife Letter to National Comics Pleading PovertyThis pleading handwritten letter from the wife of Superman co-creator Jerry Siegel is a rare artifact from one of the most vicious feuds in comics history -- as Joanne Siegel claims poverty while providing a more sympathetic side to her husband's poison-pen campaign against National (later DC) Comics!
At the end of 1951, Siegel began a mail campaign attempting to shame the National Publications executives who'd paid him and artist Joe Shuster $130 for the rights to Superman in 1938. That included a letter to National Comics President Harry Donenfeld where he wrote, "BEFORE GOD, I PUT A CURSE ON YOU." Just two days later, Joanne Siegel wrote this letter (dated Dec. 12, 1951) to suggest that Donenfeld could become a Christmastime hero by "coming to the aid of [Superman's] poverty stricken creator."
"I am only a woman," Mrs. Siegel begins, "and don't know much about business." She then proceeds, however, to suggest that National reconciling with her husband would "be the greatest investment of public relations and good will possible."
Mrs. Siegel also advises: "The more generous the reconciliation, the greater the story." History (and Jerry Siegel's later correspondence) shows the National executive took little interest in how "the name Harry Donenfeld would be in every household, every news magazine."
Superman Co-Creator Jerry Siegel's Wife Letter to National Comics Pleading PovertyThis pleading handwritten letter from the wife of Superman co-creator Jerry Siegel is a rare artifact from one of the most vicious feuds in comics history -- as Joanne Siegel claims poverty while providing a more sympathetic side to her husband's poison-pen campaign against National (later DC) Comics!
At the end of 1951, Siegel began a mail campaign attempting to shame the National Publications executives who'd paid him and artist Joe Shuster $130 for the rights to Superman in 1938. That included a letter to National Comics President Harry Donenfeld where he wrote, "BEFORE GOD, I PUT A CURSE ON YOU." Just two days later, Joanne Siegel wrote this letter (dated Dec. 12, 1951) to suggest that Donenfeld could become a Christmastime hero by "coming to the aid of [Superman's] poverty stricken creator."
"I am only a woman," Mrs. Siegel begins, "and don't know much about business." She then proceeds, however, to suggest that National reconciling with her husband would "be the greatest investment of public relations and good will possible."
Mrs. Siegel also advises: "The more generous the reconciliation, the greater the story." History (and Jerry Siegel's later correspondence) shows the National executive took little interest in how "the name Harry Donenfeld would be in every household, every news magazine."