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November 20, 1940 Mr. Marsden Hartley Corea Maine Dear Mr. Hartley: Once again we are pleasantly impressed with your interest in the Maine Author Collection, and with your generosity in making gifts to the exhibit of TWENTY-FIVE POEMS and ANDROSCOGGIN, also Miss Spencer's book. We notice that you request that TWENTY-FIVE POEMS be rebound in stiff covers. We are always glad to comply with the requests of authors in regard to their own books; but we do want to suggest that the books in the collection do not, of course, leave the library. They may not be borrowed, being a permanent exhibit; and while a great many people come in to see them, they do not receive the general wear and tear of our other books which may be borrowed and taken from the library. Frequently the inherent value of a book is lessened, if not destroyed, by binding in other than the original covers. Would it meet with your approval (providing you consider a re-binding essential to the preservation of the volume) if we should send it to our regular library binders, with instruction to re-bind in the original covers? These binders are expert and skilled, and really accomplish amazing results with books that to a layman seem to be hopelessly tattered. We have all our rare and valuable items re-bound in original covers, and have always been satisfied with the work. We will take no steps whatever until we hear from you again about the matter.

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