[Edmond Xavier Kapp, artist and caricaturist.] Two Autograph Letters Signed to Holbrook Jackson, complaining about payment for work for the magazine 'To-day', and 'contributor's copies'. With carbon copies of Jackson's forthright replies.

A splendidly intemperate correspondent between contributor and publisher, almost worthy of one of Jackson's own bibliophile volumes. The four items are in fair condition, on aged and worn paper, one with paperclip stain, another with brass stud, and a third with staple holes; creasing to carbon copies. Kapp's handwriting is 'artistic', and his letterheads are unusually long 8vos. ONE: Kapp to Jackson, 20 January 1920. Signed 'E X Kapp'. 1p, 8vo. Begins: 'My dear Holbrook-Jackson, | Don't you feel you'd like to send me a copy or two of "To-Day" each time? I buy one or two as well, you know! And I haven't had even a single "contributor's copy" from you yet!' He is delighted with the reproduction which, for half-tone, is 'splendid'. He ask him to let 'Massy' have his originals back: 'I'm missing sales all the time. I sold the Shaw & Malleson @ 10 gns. each the day they arrived at the Studio & could have sold several others if you'd only have had the blocks made & sent 'em back to me. I should be so grateful if you would. All of 'em - please!' TWO: Unsigned Carbon Typescript Copy of Jackson's reply to One, 22 January 1920. 1p, 4to. He begins: 'As I told you at the inorganisation of our negotiations it will be impossible for me to have blocks made of all your drawings at once, but I am arranging to do three at a time as in the first instance, and as soon as the third has gone to press will put three more in hand and return drawings to you. I am afraid this is the best I can do for the present, as I have locked up as much money in these caricatures as the paper will stand.' Having worked himself up into a quite understandable stew of indignation, he concludes on the subject of the requested copies: 'I think it is unfair of you to ask us to send you free copies, as I did not ask you to let us have free drawings. If you do not consider "To-day" worth buying I am sorry both for "To-day" and for yourself.' THREE: Kapp to Jackson, 25 January 1920. 2pp, 8vo. Signed 'Edmond X Kapp'. He wites in combative fashion, with a blizzard of rhetorical questions: 'Do you not think the tone you affect towards me [...] is a little unnecessarily aggrieved? You know very well that I always buy "To-Day." Besides, I told you so in my last. Didn't you believe me? More. Perhaps you have forgotten that I took in TO-DAY from the start; and, indeed, on that occasion I sent you a personal letter expressing to you my congratulation, my appreciation and my goodwill. Do you remember what I said in that letter from France? I meant it.' He continues on the subject of contributor's copies, stating that 'Every other paper I have ever drawn or written for sends out at least one [...] Even, to my surprise, the "English Review" [...] Do you not conform to this practice? It seems to me a pleasant courtesy. I don't mind spending a number of sixpences on "To-Day"s. But that isn't quite the point, is it?' The second half of the letter is in a slightly more conciliatory tone, with Kapp expressing regret that Jackson cannot 'meet me here, as it is a real loss to me. However, I quite follow you and shall not raise the question again. Meanwhile, however, you DID agree to pay for drawings on delivery - otherwise, what point in my sending them to you months ahead instead of keeping them at the Studio?' He discusses the outstanding account, asking: 'Will you be kind enough to settle now? I am not forgetting the other two drawings to complete the dozen. They will probably be Zangwill & W. L. George, if you want these. | I send you warm and friendly greetings!' FOUR: Unsigned Carbon Typescript Copy of Jackson's reply to Three, 28 January 1920. 2pp, 4to. He begins in conciliatory tone, stating that he believes 'every word you say about "To-day" and not only believe it but appreciate your kindly reference to the little journal. | My letter to you was hurriedly dictated, I was departing for Scotland from whence I have only just returned.' On the subject of contributors' copies, he explains: 'we have never observed this custom owing to the peculiar circumstances under which "To-day" has been published which, as I think I told you when you called at this office last, involved payment to everybody who worked for that paper from printer to poet, with the exception of the Editor, who is quite content to work for nothing in the hope that "To-day" might go on living and be of some slight value to those who were prepared to spend sixpence upon each copy, which according to present manufacture rates is precisely half its mere material value.' He hopes the 'little explanation' will explain 'the cause of any irritation my letter to you may have shown'. He accepts that 'we are obviously in default' on the question of payment. 'As a matter of fact I passed your agent's invoice instantly and the delay occurred in our counting house where certain conditions as to pay days have to be observed. I am however sending through a reminder regarding the two remaining pictures and hope you will receive payment at an early date.' Kapp's suggestion 'for a caricature of Zangwill and W. L. George is acceptable'.