I recently went to visit the Boston area, and specifically to visit the $1-used-book shelves at Brattle Books, and there I picked up a copy of "Edgar Rice Burroughs Quarterly, vol 1., no. 1, Fall, 1982". Because who wouldn't? (You may know of ERB fandom from things such as Tarzan and the John Carter of Mars books. It has a history almost as long and excellent as ACD fandom, with which it often crossed over.)

What I didn't realize until I got it home is that it contained a bonus: a beautiful example of pristine, vintage, excellent fan history, in the form of an impressively wank-filled open letter sent from the editor to all of his subscribers.

I reproduce it here, unaltered and in full, for your delectation:

( Trouble has been brewing ever since publication of V.I, No.1. )

*fans self* Wank was just so much classier back then.

(There is more to this story - McWhorter eventually managed to start an ERB journal that lasted more than one issue, so there must be - but I think I shall just leave this letter as is, as its own shining jewel.)