Early 20th Century (Post-World War I Era)

U.S. postage stamp from the early 20th century.

THE PUBLISHERS’ SERVICE BUREAU "The Largest Bureau of its kind in the World" A National Medium for Authors and Publishers Washington, D.C. July 23, 1919 Dear Mr. Latimer: We have given the service on your MS. as per contract and have secured one acceptance and payment for your MS. thus far. This was according to the guarantee in the agreement. But as several copies of your MS. are still out with publishers and under consideration, it may be that further acceptance will be made. You will receive check in a short time, direct from the publisher making acceptance. We appreciate your patronage with the bureau. Your MS. may not have succeeded as well as you or we anticipated. We plainly state in our circulars that we cannot tell in advance where any MS. will land or what it will bring. We never guarantee or imply a specified amount for any MS. We have sold MSS. which netted their authors from $15 and $30 up to $75. We wish we could get $75 for every MS. we sell, but that is impossible. We keep standard advertisements in the important publishers' trade magazines, calling the attention of publishers and editors to the material we handle. We do everything we can to get highest prices and to give satisfaction to everyone with whom we deal. The lecture course in Short Story Writing is of great value and we are sure you will enjoy the forthcoming lessons. Many have told us that this course alone was worth more than the fee we charge for the complete service. If you are interested in anything in the line of authors' books, supplies, opportunity books, etc., we shall be glad to give your orders prompt and courteous attention. We trust you have been well pleased with our service and that we may have the pleasure of continuing to serve you. Cordially and sincerely yours, J.S. Clare Secretary, The Publishers' Service Bureau. (Handwritten note at the bottom: "Received a check of one dollar.")