Dark Carnival inscribed by Ray Bradbury, with a later letter explaining the inscription with reminiscences, what a guy. Coming up for auction 5 October at Heritage, with several lots of interest to Bradbury collectors.

Bradbury had written “For Bill - with Best Wishes and remembering the gab sessions in the old photography shop - with Hasse, Hornig, Hahn - remember? Best of Luck from Ray Bradbury Sept. 1948”

Laid-in is a typed letter signed by the later owner, addressed to Bradbury, stating he has just bought this copy, and was wondering if Bradbury could explain the inscription. At the bottom of the letter, Bradbury has typed his response: Dear Mr. Pepper: Thanks. The inscription is obviously to Bill Crawford, still very much alive and in charge of the Annual Witchcraft and Sorcery Convention which meets every fall at the Biltmore Hotel. Back in 1939, when I was 19 and a struggling writer, Bill had a photo-print shop on 9th St. near Figueroa where a lot of other struggling editors (charles Hornig) and writers (George Hahn and Henry Hasse) used to meet and gab for hours late into the night. I used to pop in to the backroom there and write my stories. The first story I ever sold (IT’S NOT THE HEAT IT’S THE HU-“) to Rob Wagner’s SCRIPT Magazine, was written in that old photo shop late one night in 1940. Thanks for asking. It brings back dear memories! Yours, [signed in pink marker] Ray Bradbury Mar. 13, 1975”