- Joined
- Aug 2, 2002
- Messages
- 2,490
I figured there is such a mixture of people with different backgrounds and knowledge that come on here that maybe someone could tell me a little about this and if it is worth anything. If it isn't, it is still intriguing to me personally and I intend to keep it...
Quick background: The man who died in my house before I moved in was named John Paul Hudson (aka John Francis Hunter - his pen name.) He was locally (regionally?) famous, a former male model, author/playwright, part-time writer for TIME magazine, and editor of some gay magazine, plus an obvious gay-rights activist.
One of the few things left in the house when I moved in were some old books. Inside one of the books I found a clear plastic protective folder containing the following: some kind of "handbook", apparently for some lecture, plus a personal note to John Paul from someone named Basil Peter Keko, dated March 21, 1986. The handbook thingy was apparently published in 1854.
The note, typed, reads (quoted word-for-word as best I can type it):
------------------------------------------------------------
Basil Peter Keko March 21, 1986 TIME INCORPORATED
Dear J.P.
Thank you for mentioning me in such a good light in your letter to Jan Wallman. And for making an excuse for me for not being at her benefit. She should treasure your letter and your friendship.
This is also to wish you a very
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!
At one point in "Lost Horizon", Mr. Chang turns to Robert Conway and says: "come, let me show you some of our rare treasures..."
I did have the best intentions of making a nice cover for this rare treasure, but may never get around to it in this lifetime (not to say I won't). So, I give it to you on this March 21st 1986, with the knowledge that you will keep it in the highest esteem among your souvenirs. (See page 35.)
Be well,
[hand-signed "Basil"]
Basil
[A handwritten note - the "P.S." part follows:]
P.S. Handle carefully - it was printed in 1854.
TIME INC. Time and Life Building Rockefeller Center, New York 10020
--------------------------------------------------------------
The booklet states that the cost of admission is one shilling. The cover reads[and I'm not bothering to change the font size in between the words, so just use your imagination]:
--------------------------------------------------------------
HAND-BOOK
TO THE
GRAND MOVING DIORAMA
OF
CONSTANTINOPLE,
INCLUDING
THE DARDANELLES,
AND
THE BOSPHORUS
UP THE THE ENTRANCE OF
THE BLACK SEA,
WHICH IS
NOW OPEN,
IN THE
NEW ROOM, AT THE EGYPTIAN HALL.
...
BY
ALBERT SMITH
...
TO BE HAD IN THE ROOM, AT THE BOX OFFICE,
AND AT
CHAPPELL'S MUSICAL LIBRARY, 50, NEW BOND STREET.
...
"NASSAU STEAM PRESS" - W.S. JOHNSON, 60, ST MARTIN'S LANE, CHARING CROSS.
----------------------------------------------------------
Does anyone recognize any of that? Other than the TIME stuff...
Just some late night stuff to occupy my mind, lol...
~ashes
Quick background: The man who died in my house before I moved in was named John Paul Hudson (aka John Francis Hunter - his pen name.) He was locally (regionally?) famous, a former male model, author/playwright, part-time writer for TIME magazine, and editor of some gay magazine, plus an obvious gay-rights activist.
One of the few things left in the house when I moved in were some old books. Inside one of the books I found a clear plastic protective folder containing the following: some kind of "handbook", apparently for some lecture, plus a personal note to John Paul from someone named Basil Peter Keko, dated March 21, 1986. The handbook thingy was apparently published in 1854.
The note, typed, reads (quoted word-for-word as best I can type it):
------------------------------------------------------------
Basil Peter Keko March 21, 1986 TIME INCORPORATED
Dear J.P.
Thank you for mentioning me in such a good light in your letter to Jan Wallman. And for making an excuse for me for not being at her benefit. She should treasure your letter and your friendship.
This is also to wish you a very
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!
At one point in "Lost Horizon", Mr. Chang turns to Robert Conway and says: "come, let me show you some of our rare treasures..."
I did have the best intentions of making a nice cover for this rare treasure, but may never get around to it in this lifetime (not to say I won't). So, I give it to you on this March 21st 1986, with the knowledge that you will keep it in the highest esteem among your souvenirs. (See page 35.)
Be well,
[hand-signed "Basil"]
Basil
[A handwritten note - the "P.S." part follows:]
P.S. Handle carefully - it was printed in 1854.
TIME INC. Time and Life Building Rockefeller Center, New York 10020
--------------------------------------------------------------
The booklet states that the cost of admission is one shilling. The cover reads[and I'm not bothering to change the font size in between the words, so just use your imagination]:
--------------------------------------------------------------
HAND-BOOK
TO THE
GRAND MOVING DIORAMA
OF
CONSTANTINOPLE,
INCLUDING
THE DARDANELLES,
AND
THE BOSPHORUS
UP THE THE ENTRANCE OF
THE BLACK SEA,
WHICH IS
NOW OPEN,
IN THE
NEW ROOM, AT THE EGYPTIAN HALL.
...
BY
ALBERT SMITH
...
TO BE HAD IN THE ROOM, AT THE BOX OFFICE,
AND AT
CHAPPELL'S MUSICAL LIBRARY, 50, NEW BOND STREET.
...
"NASSAU STEAM PRESS" - W.S. JOHNSON, 60, ST MARTIN'S LANE, CHARING CROSS.
----------------------------------------------------------
Does anyone recognize any of that? Other than the TIME stuff...
Just some late night stuff to occupy my mind, lol...
~ashes
just checked with Yahoos search engine under his writers name and found him very quickly. Isn't this interesting he lived in your home at one time. Elvis lived in mine. 
)