A possible Pynchon Letter

[Albert Rolls]

The following ad (one paragraph in the original) that purports to reproduce a Pynchon letter used to be online, but someone or some institution seems to have coughed up the $30,000 asking price for the book: the letter is thus no longer available. I need to verify its authenticity. The recipient died in 2008, and an email to the committee that gives out the Appalachian Medallion, which Pynchon apparently refused to accept in 1997, is not easily found; the committee seems to have been at the University of Charleston in 1997, when Phyllis Reynolds Naylor received the award, and 1998, when Nikki Giovanni received the award.  I have to say that "and" used in the title of Mason & Dixon in the text of the letter seems a dubious transcriber's error to me, but who knows. Anyone have any ideas about verifying its authenticity?



Mason & Dixon NY: Henry Holt, (1997). Hardbound in dust jacket. First edition. Presentation copy inscribed by Pynchon to William Plumley, head of the University of Charleston award committee that chose Pynchon for their Appalachian Medallion: "For William Plumley, With appreciation and thanks. Thomas Pynchon." TOGETHER WITH a Typed Letter Signed from Pynchon declining the award and presenting the book. One quarto page on Mason and Dixon letterhead dated June 23, 1997, in full:


"Dear Mr. Plumley, Regretfully, I must decline the Appalachian Medallion. Rationally or otherwise, I have a history of trying to avoid, whenever possible, all such awards. I am grateful to you for the chance to do so ahead of time, as well as for the honor, of course, of even being thought of on the same list as Eudora Welty and Robert Penn Warren. I do, however, hope that you will accept, with my thanks, the copy of Mason and Dixon enclosed. Part of the novel is set in Appalachia---I've tried in it to remain true to the spirit of the region and the people, whom I continue to admire and respect. Yours truly, Thomas Pynchon."


Books signed by Pynchon seldom surface on the market and autograph material by him is among the most difficult of any living author. There have been a few known instances where he's donated a signed book to a charity auction, but genuine presentation copies of his books are truly rare, and rarer still is Pynchon correspondence---and this letter is especially nice. Along with the literary references and mention of his own book, Pynchon explains his ethos of anonymity that has caused him to studiously avoid awards, interviews, and photographs throughout his career. A search of auction records shows no evidence of a Pynchon letter ever having appeared at auction. A superb pair of Pynchon items, the only inscribed book with a presentation letter that we know of. Fine 

 
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