lettercols question

[dan bailey]

can't remember where i read it now, since i've plowed through a decent number of silver age dcs (albeit at least 1,000 less than i'd *like* to) the last few months, but i remember being taken somewhat aback while perusing a lettercol last fall & coming across some fan's request that the comic publish his complete address with his name ... & the editor's reply was something to the effect that some sort of (postal?) regulations prohibited that from happening.

say *what*? didn't marvel publish mailing addresses with fans' letters all along, or at least by the mid-'60s (i'd check the oldest marvels i've got -- sgt furys 2-on -- but am at work right now & can't)? hadn't sf prozines been doing it since probably the '20s (thus enabling fans to contact one another & lay the groundwork for what coalesced into fandom)?

[InfoBroker]

Yes Marvel published full addresses. Not initially, but by 1964 if not sooner.

Sidenote: Alan Light used them, along with a lot of other fan collected addresses as part of the circulation push for the first few issues of The Comics Buyers.

-jb the totally trivial ib :cool:

[Red Oak Kid]

I've got some Blackhawk comics from around 1964/65 and the letters page is partially devoted to fans who have Blackhawk comics for sale or who are looking to buy certain back issues of Blackhawk and of course their complete addresses are printed. There are letters from Roy Thomas, Bill Dubay and Robert Beerbohm.

I've never heard the postal regulation excuse before. Sounds like that particular editor was trying to pass the buck for some reason.

[jam]

Man I really miss letter pages! Yeah, yeah I know forums like this very one I'm using have taken their place but still ... used to love them letter pages!

[Agentum]

I agree i think the letterpages made you think you was a part of the whole thing.
I still read them even in 20-30 years old comics :)

A forum like this is not the same as we really don't get much answers from the people behind the comics but from other fans.

EC comics had letter pages very early too.

[Jeremy A. Patterson]

I've got some Blackhawk comics from around 1964/65 and the letters page is partially devoted to fans who have Blackhawk comics for sale or who are looking to buy certain back issues of Blackhawk and of course their complete addresses are printed. There are letters from Roy Thomas, Bill Dubay and Robert Beerbohm.

I've never heard the postal regulation excuse before. Sounds like that particular editor was trying to pass the buck for some reason.


Well, Blackhawk had a loyal following throughout the years.


J.A.P.

[Mark Wallace]

can't remember where i read it now, since i've plowed through a decent number of silver age dcs (albeit at least 1,000 less than i'd *like* to) the last few months, but i remember being taken somewhat aback while perusing a lettercol last fall & coming across some fan's request that the comic publish his complete address with his name ... & the editor's reply was something to the effect that some sort of (postal?) regulations prohibited that from happening.

say *what*? didn't marvel publish mailing addresses with fans' letters all along, or at least by the mid-'60s (i'd check the oldest marvels i've got -- sgt furys 2-on -- but am at work right now & can't)? hadn't sf prozines been doing it since probably the '20s (thus enabling fans to contact one another & lay the groundwork for what coalesced into fandom)?
It's likely that some minor regulation had been suggested, at the time, to do with posting minors' addresses in periodicals, and some little Hitler had "sent Marvel a letter". If it didn't pass as legislation, it would have just vanished in a puff of smoke (when the little Hitler moved up to a "more senior" position)

[Mike Kuypers]

I think it was more of a company policy thing than a postal regulation. The magazine Reminisce includes the addresses of letter writers who are seeking information or pen pals. (Of course Reminisce is aimed at adults, not minors.)

[Captain Jim]

Sidenote: Alan Light used them, along with a lot of other fan collected addresses as part of the circulation push for the first few issues of The Comics Buyers.

OT: Anybody know whatever became of Alan?

[InfoBroker]

A Comic Buyer's Guide editorial or letter from the early 90s or so, indicated he was living in Iowa City and I have a blurring memory that he doing some kind of charity work.

-jb the ib-