February 15 Saturday – In Riverdale, N.Y. Sam wrote to Frank Bliss.

I suppose Newbegin asked for a day or two because he wants to find out who the new client is, & trade with him instead of with us. I guess he will find out without much trouble; therefore you better get that option right away.

I think the new applicant will want to sell single volumes rather than sets. That obstructing Harper contract will bar that, as far as the Harper books are concerned, & the new applicant will back out.

Get hold of Underwood Monday evening or Tuesday morning, & get that option. Offer him nothing; then offer him $10,000, or $5,000; & go on increasing your offer, up to 25,000 cash. Then I will go to Harper & say you now have command of the books & are offered $250,000 for 5 years’ use of them, 40% of this cash in advance.

If Harper isn’t willing to close with us on the same terms, I can go through the formality of accepting the new client’s offer. A formality only; for I think he will back out when he finds he would not be allowed to sell the Harper books in single volumes. Then we can cancel the option.

Sam thought that Norman Hapgood confided that his friend, the “new applicant,” wanted to sell single volumes [MTP]. Note: Hapgood (1868-1937), American writer, journalist, editor and critic. Drama critic of the New York Commercial Advertiser and of the Bookman (1897-1902), editor of Collier’s in 1903, and later editor and owner of Harpers.

Sam also wrote to an unidentified tobacconist: “I am smoking the pipe, now. Please send me / 12 tins Wills Navy Cut / (light blue label) / with the bill. / & much oblige” [MTP].