Gone with the Wind [First Printing with Signed Letter]

True May first issue of this epic novel with a typed letter on Margaret Mitchell's (Marsh) stationery with her named letterhead and signed salutation: "M. M. M." The first edition, first printing, the May 1936 printing, is ultra-rare as our any of her signed items. MMM may refer to Margaret Mitchell Marsh; her husband John's surname. She did take her first husband's name with hers as a journalist early in her writing career. Butternut (greyish brown) full cloth boards, navy stamped cover and spine titles, moderate shelf, corner, spine wear, rub; slight area of missing material to front hinge. Deckled pages generally very good, clean; varying light discoloration, ripple, to first and last few page edges. Large antiquarian owner's signature pencilled at front endpaper: "Mabel C. Pollard, Savannah, Ga, 1936." Small number printed above this. Adjacent at pastedown behind front flap is stylish, more current owner's signature: "Carolyn Barker, June 4, 1965." Bind fine, square; hinges intact. Includes beautiful facsimile dust wrapper of this original first printing for preservation and presentation; protected in new clear sleeve. Very attractive. Rare near very good first printing in matching facsimile wrapper with Margaret Mitchell signed correspondence. Text of letter reads: "MARGARET MITCHELL (printed letterhead). Atlanta, Georgia, October 11, 1945. Dear John: Thank you for your letter of October 8th with the enclosure of your letter to Mr. Blair. We thought what you wrote was exactly right and I am sure Mr. Blair thinks so too. Last Sunday night John phoned Mr. Blair and explained the situation, saying that you had been so rushed for time to make your travel connections that you had been unable to talk to him yourself. John told him, too, that you felt a natural embarrassment at finding yourself in this circumstance. Mr. Blair said of course a correction would be made and he would do it with pleasure, and that he did not understand how such an error had gotten into the paper. I am enclosing a copy of the correction which appeared the next day. It had a good position on the society page, which was the page that carried the first item. Now don't worry about it any more. I am sorry this had to happen on your vacation and on your first trip to the very deep South. I am sorry, too, that we did not have the opportunity on Sunday to show you our town, for, while it's prettiest in the spring, it is hard to beat in the fall. Give our regards to Katherine. As ever, 'M. M. M.' (signed)". Near fine condition with standard light crease from proper fold of letter and protected in clear sleeve. The letter appears addressed to friends of Margaret and her husband, John Marsh - to a couple only referred to with their first names as John and Katherine. It seems to concern a visit they had to Mitchell and Marsh in Georgia and some social coverage occurring during this visit; then written about incorrectly, and getting past the paper's editor, Mr. Blair, for an Atlanta newspaper's society page. Interesting, as it shows the milieu and charm of Margaret for this incidental correspondence. Finally, in regards to letter signed MMM, these initials may serve doubly as an inclusion of Mitchell's middle name, Munnerlyn. The name Munnerlyn seems to derive from Margaret Mitchell's paternal great grandmother's last name. Munnerlyn is a surname of English origin, thought to derive from an Anglicized form of the Gaelic name "Monadh Liath," meaning "Grey Moor or Hill" and is most commonly found in the Southern and Appalachian regions of America. Contrarily, it is also written that the surname Munnerlyn is of English origin and is derived from the Old English personal name "Munhere" combined with the suffix "-lyn," meaning "lake" or "pool." Therefore, the meaning of the surname Munnerlyn may be interpreted as "Munhere's lake" or "Munhere's pool." Unparalleled drama, action and romance flower within the breathtaking wonders of this inspired spectacle of the written. …