Front Page of The American Spectator, Vol. 1, no. 1, Signed by the Editors and Publisher

[Nathan, George Jean, Ernest Boyd, Theodore Dreiser, James Branch Cabell, and Eugene O'Neill, editors]

Published by The American Spectator, New York, 1932

About this Item

First edition, signed six times. Folio. The front page of the initial issue of The American Spectator, published in November 1932, and signed in the upper left corner by all five editors George Jean Nathan, Ernest Boyd, Theodore Dreiser, James Branch Cabell, and Eugene O'Neill as well as the president of the company, Richard B. Smith. Printed as a broadsheet, in line with its self-definition as a "Literary Newspaper," the journal's editorial mission appears in the far left column underneath the masthead, and begins: "The American Spectator has no policy in the common sense of that word. It advocates no panaceas; it has no axes to grind; it has no private list of taboos. It offers an opportunity for the untrammelled expression of individual opinion, ignoring what is accepted and may be taken for granted in favor of the unaccepted and misunderstood. Sincerity, authenticity, and passion are its editorial criterion." Excitement about the American Spectator's formation and its celebrated editorial staff was palpable. A national gossip columnist wrote, "New York's literati are in a furious flutter over the last word in literary high-hatting which is to be launched.," and this first issue was so successful despite what was then considered a very high price of fifty cents that an additional 20,000 copies had to be printed to meet the public demand. In addition to the five editors, authors whose work appeared in the American Spector included Sherwood Anderson, Lincoln Steffans, Ring Lardner, and Clarence Darrow, and while it was among the first American publications to denounce Adolf Hitler and the Nazis, it was also accused of anti-Semitism after printing what was intended to be a humorous article on the Jewish homeland movement in the September 1933 issue. Nathan, Boyd, Cabell, and O'Neill all left the paper in February 1935 (Dreiser remained), and it continued as a monthly publication until October 1936, after which it changed to bimonthly before finally closing in May 1937. Light overall tanning, quadrant creasing, one small hole near middle.

Seller Inventory # 370789

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Front Page of The American Spectator, Vol. 1, no. 1, Signed by the Editors and Publisher
• Publisher: The American Spectator, New York
• Publication Date: 1932
• Binding: Folio
• Edition: First edition, signed six times.
• Signed: Signed by Author(s)