Description
WILLIAM LAVARRE TELEGRAM TO MADAME CHIANG SIGNED, "William LaVarre, 8.5 x 7, on Western Union Cablegram form, 24 March 1955, to Madame Chiang Kai-shek, Presidents Office, Taipei, Formosa [Taiwan], by American explorer, author, and editor of American Mercury magazine. In full: "Roy Howards visit with you produces just the type of public opinion information most needed and emphasized my long airmail enclosures of fourteen March. First person quotes especially appreciated. Will await your airmail or Radiogram. Congratulations." Comes with William LaVarre's personal publicity file that documents his very interesting life as a South American explorer, prolific author of multiple books and magazine/newspaper articles, and three vintage photos of him at various times in his life. Also included are two of his books that each have his personal name/address label attached on the first page (Gold, Diamonds, and Orchids" (1935); & "Southward Ho!" (1940). This William LaVarre Collection is in good condition, with age toning to the telegram, publicity items, and copies of some of his magazine articles, and folds to one of the vintage photos, and his personal copies of both books aged but acceptable.
William LaVarre (1898-1991) American explorer, author of many books on his expeditions in South America in the 1920's-1940's, including "Up the Mazaruni for Diamonds" (1919); "Gold, Diamonds, and Orchids" (1935); "Southward Ho! a Treasure Hunter in South America" (7 editions published between 1940-41). And most notably his editorship of American Mercury magazine in the 1950's. American Mercury was, at that time, owned by wealthy oilman, J. Russell Maguire, who used American Mercury to strongly support the Joseph McCarthy drive against Soviet "infiltration" of the U.S. government and promote anti-Semitic themes and arguments. When LaVarre became editor he focused most on what he thought were U.S. Government misdeeds and mistakes in both domestic and international actions. Many American Mercury articles reported news on the Civil War in China and most were strongly anti-communist in slant. LaVarre was strongly anti-communist in his writings and became friends with like-minded U.S. Military leaders and also International leaders like Madam Chiang Kai-shek and the Nationalist Chinese after the Communist takeover of China.
MADAME CHIANG KAI-SHEK (1897-2003) was also known as Madame Chiang, she was a Chinese political figure who was First Lady of the Republic of China, the wife of Generalissimo and President Chiang Kai-shek.
Roy W. Howard (1883-1964) was an American newspaperman with a long association with E. W. Scripps Company. He was president of E. W. Scripps Company and the United Press, and chairman of Scripps Howard Newspapers.
$250 #11588
