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(so update what we know incl. likeliness of the 1948 version) |
(more on →Ghost second edition: and various details, so they're not scattered elsewhere and I can finally close all those PDFs (and start copying to MacDonald's entry?! should have read better yesterday). Sorry, Mark, but have to dispute with you as well re Bennett) |
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| − | The '''''Directory of Anglofandom'''''<ref> Some sources | + | The '''''Directory of Anglofandom'''''<ref> Some sources spell it ''Anglo-Fandom'' or even ''Anglo Fandom'', misled by the ambiguous all-caps [[cover]] <pre> |
DIRECTORY OF | DIRECTORY OF | ||
[pic-] ANGLO- | [pic-] ANGLO- | ||
[ture] FANDOM</pre> | [ture] FANDOM</pre> | ||
| − | but the only | + | but the only occurrence inside is the standard "members of [[Anglofandom]]" (p. 3), which was Rosenblum's usage elsewhere too. As seen further from the "working titles", the very term "Anglo" appeared rather late just for the cover, perhaps as it is slightly shorter to fit beside the picture than "British". It was desirable to differentiate the publication from the US ''[[Directory of Fandom]]'', the second issue of which came out in 1944 and "includes amongst its rolls British fandom of about two years ago" (''FWD'' #37, the same where Rosenblum announced work on his own), especially since many US users were expected.</ref> |
| + | was the [[UK]]'s first [[fan directory]] published by [[J. Michael Rosenblum]] in January 1945 for the [[British Fantasy Society]]. | ||
| − | It had a complicated gestation. In May 1943, ''[[British Fantasy Society Bulletin]]'' 8<ref>included with the ''[[Futurian War Digest]]'' 28 https://efanzines.com/FWD/FWD28.htm#7.NAM</ref> reported that the Advisory Board | + | It had a complicated gestation (and later life, or agony, as well come to think of that; but let us not get ahead of [[ourselves]]). In May 1943, ''[[British Fantasy Society Bulletin]]'' 8<ref>included with the ''[[Futurian War Digest]]'' 28 https://efanzines.com/FWD/FWD28.htm#7.NAM</ref> reported that the Advisory Board |
| − | are very enthusiastic about the project of a Who's Who of British fandom, which would contain [[autobiographical]] details of every fan from whom the required information could be secured, or obtained by indirect means. I understand that [[Dennis Tucker]] is prepared to do the donkey work, including publishing, planning, editing, and so on. The plan hasn't as yet been O.K'd by the Executive | + | are very enthusiastic about the project of a Who's Who of British fandom, which would contain [[autobiographical]] details of every fan from whom the required information could be secured, or obtained by indirect means. I understand that [[Dennis Tucker]] is prepared to do the donkey work, including publishing, planning, editing, and so on. The plan hasn't as yet been O.K'd by the Executive Committee, but there does not seem to be a particular objection - though there may be doubts as to its feasibility. |
| − | This, then, would be a ''much'' more ambitious and extensive project than a simple list of addresses, almost certainly beyond the capabilities of the [[War]]time | + | This, then, would be a ''much'' more ambitious and extensive project than a simple list of addresses, almost certainly beyond the capabilities of the [[War]]time Britfandom – a similar encyclopedia of a substantial set of UK fans was achieved only in the 1961 US-produced ''[[Who's Who in Science Fiction Fandom]]''. (It remains to be researched whether there were any interim reports on the development and narowing the scope to a directory.) In ''[[Futurian War Digest]]'' #37 ("Octember" 1944)<ref> https://efanzines.com/FWD/FWD37.htm</ref> Rosenblum wrote: |
At long last [[Dennis Tucker]] has found it impossible to continue with the production of a Directory of British Fandom, which he undertook on behalf of the British Fantasy Society, so all papers have been turned over to JMRosenblum (me!) and I shall try to get the thing out as soon as possible... | At long last [[Dennis Tucker]] has found it impossible to continue with the production of a Directory of British Fandom, which he undertook on behalf of the British Fantasy Society, so all papers have been turned over to JMRosenblum (me!) and I shall try to get the thing out as soon as possible... | ||
| Line 15: | Line 16: | ||
However, the next issue of ''FWD'' (38, December)<ref> https://efanzines.com/FWD/FWD38.htm</ref> did not mention Tucker: | However, the next issue of ''FWD'' (38, December)<ref> https://efanzines.com/FWD/FWD38.htm</ref> did not mention Tucker: | ||
| − | Within the next couple of months it is hoped that the following will be published from [ | + | Within the next couple of months it is hoped that the following will be published from [''Rosenblum's address: three titles, second of them being'']. A Directory of British Fandom, compiled, stencilled and published by JMR. |
| − | The ''[[British Fantasy Society Bulletin]]'' 21<ref> March 23, 1945; included with the final ''Fido'' https://efanzines.com/FWD/FWD39.htm#16.NAM</ref> reported the Expenditure on "Directory of Fandom" as 1 - 14 - 10 (£/s/d). The ''Directory'' itself also did not acknowledge Tucker in any way:<ref>It is very unlikely that the ever kind and generous | + | The ''[[British Fantasy Society Bulletin]]'' 21<ref> March 23, 1945; included with the final ''Fido'' https://efanzines.com/FWD/FWD39.htm#16.NAM</ref> reported the Expenditure on "Directory of Fandom" as 1 - 14 - 10 (£/s/d).<ref>That is, in decimals, 1.74 pound sterling; for comparison, the "Stencils, paper etc. for Bulletins" were 1 - 11 - 3 = 1.56 £, sum of all other expenses slightly lower, and almost no funds left. Alternatively, divided by the selling price of 1/60 £, this would mean a print run of 105 copies… but significantly more should we factor in the postage; was it a penny? Two?</ref> The ''Directory'' itself also did not acknowledge Tucker in any way:<ref> |
| + | It is very unlikely that the ever kind and generous JMR would just ignore or snub him without reason; possibly even that "at long last" was a veiled barb? So one is led to speculation that despite the earlier optimistic announcement (compare the similar story of the post-war edition) there was little actually usable work done and transferred, perhaps except some raw "papers", and JMR had to compile the directory single-handedly at a short notice and despite "unforeseen circumtances [''sic''] in the shape of ill-health", using especially the BFS and ''FWD'' files. His foreword also speaks about the principal difficulties of such a task, "especially the first edition", and nothing on its history.</ref> | ||
| − | Prepared, produced and published by J. M. Rosenblum […] One copy free to BFS members. Other copies at 4d each. […] Also distributed to all members of the [[Fantasy Amateur Press Association]] alleged to be part of the Spring 1945 Mailing | + | Prepared, produced and published by J. M. Rosenblum […] One copy free to BFS members. Other copies at 4d each. […] Also distributed to all members of the [[Fantasy Amateur Press Association]] alleged to be part of the Spring 1945 [[Mailing]] |
| − | (i. e. #31); | + | (i. e. #31); but there is no trace of this happening in the ''[[FAPA Book]]'' (vol. 2). |
| − | Beside names and addresses – it can be especially useful for establishing full names when initials were usually used, although many are still initials only – Rosenblum identified armed forces personnel, and separately those posted overseas, BFS members with their numbers, and included some 'not in touch at the present moment' and 'one or two people whose connection to fandom is known to be finally severed', marked X. | + | Beside names and addresses – it can be especially useful for establishing full names when initials were usually used, although many are still initials only – Rosenblum identified armed forces personnel, and separately those posted overseas, BFS members with their numbers, and included some 'not in touch at the present moment' and 'one or two people whose connection to fandom is known to be finally severed', marked X.<ref>These are [[Douglas W. F. Mayer|Douglas William Frank Mayer]], somewhat [[revenant]] around 1950, and [[J. Edward Rennison|James Edward Rennison]]. It seems that we do not know what the reason might be for singling them out so from merely inactive; perhaps some [[feud]] or angry [[gafia]]tion statement remained hidden and lost in personal correspondence?</ref> However, especially due to contingencies of its production, the ''Directory'' contains a number of errors, from obvious typos to more insidious, so caution must be taken.<ref> |
| + | To give a few examples: [[Nigel Lindsay]], in the Addenda, is listed as "Norman", and his BFS number as (apparently) 104, while per the ''Bulletin'' it was 103; 104 was [[A. H. March]], announced in the same March ''Bulletin'' as Lindsay but already not included in the Directory. [[Leslie V. Heald]]'s address was misspelled as "Healey Ave." instead of Henley. [[Ron Holmes]]'s street number is manually corrected (on the stencil? or later, even by the copy's owner?) from 32 to 25. </ref> | ||
| − | The 24 unnumbered pages are divided thus: | + | The ''Directory'''s 24 unnumbered pages are divided thus: |
| − | * | + | * Simple pictorial cover (artist not given but similar to [[Joe Gibson]] who provided much material to JMR), empty verso |
* "Foreword" at pp (3–4) | * "Foreword" at pp (3–4) | ||
| − | * Main list | + | * Main list (5–20). There are 14 entries per full page and the final one has 5 plus "Addenda" of 4 (three of them BFS members with numbers 89, 95 and 104[?], reported in ''[[BFS Bulletin]]s'' from Nov 1943, March 1944 and March 1945). This makes for 219 names altogether<ref>[[Peter Weston]] [http://www.gostak.co.uk/bts/bts250.htm wrote of 220], but this seems a numerical error, unless of course there is one more hidden in some irregular page, or he includes dead Lord.</ref> of whom there were "[[Gus Willmorth|one American]] and two Canadians […] resident in thse [''sic''] isles long enough to join the" BFS. |
| − | * "Roll of Honour" | + | * "Roll of Honour" (21), nine<ref>However, as [[British Fantasy Society membership 1942–1946]] details, there were ''eleven'' US honorary members announced over time in the ''Bulletins''. Of these, [[Milt Rothman]], added in January 1943 with 5 others, and [[Bill Watson]], September 1944 with one, are missing.</ref> of BFS's American honorary members, with just cities and not street addresses; plus a notice "of the death by accident of BFS member [[Michael Lord]], Sub-Lieut., RNVR" (not in the main list)<ref>I. e. Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve. Lord's death was announced already in ''FWD'' 36, August 1944.</ref> |
* Advert for / description of BFS exhorting to join (22) | * Advert for / description of BFS exhorting to join (22) | ||
| − | * The final two pages in the Fanac scan look as if they might be switched, judging from the left edge's fraying and traces of the [[staple]] (just one, in the upper third): (23?) as scanned has a list of BFS officers, fanzines etc., while (24?) is empty with a handwritten (might this be Rosenblum's hand?) address of "[[Forrest J Ackerman|F J Ackerman]]", with [[Chicon I Reminiscence (Ackerman)|his street name]] "New North" crossed out and corrected to North New Hampshire. | + | * The final two pages in the [[Fanac.org]] scan look as if they might be switched, judging from the left edge's fraying and traces of the [[staple]] (just one, in the upper third): (23?) as scanned has a list of BFS officers, fanzines etc., while (24?) is empty with a handwritten (might this be Rosenblum's hand?) address of "[[Forrest J Ackerman|F J Ackerman]]", with [[Chicon I Reminiscence (Ackerman)|his street name]] "New North" crossed out and corrected to North New Hampshire. Perhaps it would make some sense to have text on the [[bacover]], of even so modest a production as the ''DoAF'' was, and empty inside rather then simpler vice versa, but then why write the address inside? |
| − | The [[British Fanzine Bibliography]] | + | == Ghost second edition == |
| + | |||
| + | The [[British Fanzine Bibliography]] said there was a second edition in 1948 produced by the [[British Fantasy Library]], but significantly listed no specific details. It would of course make a perfect sense in the post-War era, when old fans moved (or gafiated definitively) and new ones were arriving in great numbers, but sadly this must be considered (as [[SFE]] says) a ''ghost title''. The edition was indeed announced and even over-optimistically promoted – an instance easiest available now is ''[[Fantasy Review]]'' 9, Jun–Jul 1948:<ref> https://efanzines.com/FR/fr09.htm</ref> | ||
YOU WILL find the Directory of Anglo-Fandom invaluable for making contacts. Published by the British Fantasy Library, comprising names and addresses of over 300 fans (members and non-members) in the British Isles, the new issue is now ready. Copies, 1/- post free, obtainable from the Librarian: [[Ron Holmes]] | YOU WILL find the Directory of Anglo-Fandom invaluable for making contacts. Published by the British Fantasy Library, comprising names and addresses of over 300 fans (members and non-members) in the British Isles, the new issue is now ready. Copies, 1/- post free, obtainable from the Librarian: [[Ron Holmes]] | ||
| − | + | The reality was much darker, as [[Walt Willis]] recounted in his characteristically readable [[fanoir]] 'I Remember Me' mere 8 years later:<ref> Instalment 1: "Beginnings", in WaW's [[apazine]]s ''[[Pamphrey]]'' 3, October 1956 and ''[[Woz]]'' 4, February 1957, pp. 9–15. Collected in ''[[Warhoon 28]]'', 1978 (pages quoted are 447 to 448), and then ''[[Harp Remembered]]'', [[Ansible Editions]] 2023, https://taff.org.uk/ebooks.php?x=HarpRem (not to be mistaken for the 1990s column of the same name collected somewhat confusingly as ''I Remember Me and Other Narratives'', 2021).</ref> | |
| + | |||
| + | This ''[[Booklist (BFL)|Booklist]]'' [#6, July 1948] also carried a second reference to the BFL Directory of Anglofandom, a mysterious [[Necronomicon]]-like document which had a curious history. The previous ''Booklist'' had said it was now available. This one formally blacklisted one [[Thomas L. MacDonald|Thomas MacDonald]] of Carlisle, who had 'promised to print it but had not returned the material or answered our letters'. | ||
| + | |||
| + | It must be noted that in this "Emergency Issue" [[Ron Holmes]] announced his dire personal circumstances and [[gafiation]], and both the quality of production, including amount of typos, and some emotional formulations attest to his frayed nerves. It is also interesting that WaW's quote was rather imprecise (even though earlier he block-quoted Holmes's introductory paragraph): | ||
| + | |||
| + | BLACKLIST. We don’t like to do this, but we feel that it is for the comunal good. | ||
| + | THOMAS. T. L. MacDonald [''sic! One other offender is named similarly irregularly as [[J. Frank White|J. FRANK. White]]. Address follows''] He offered to print the directory, accepted the lists and material, and has failed us even to the non-return of lists. | ||
| + | |||
| + | After or despite these strong words, though, the situation apparently improved somewhat somehow (after all, BFL was still running so had to have ''some'' kind of membership list at its disposal), but we have only WaW's tantalising paraphrase below, as the issue is not available. [[John Gunn]] took over and he | ||
| + | |||
| + | distributed his emergency Booklist on 20th October. […] The Emergency Booklist had announced, with apologies to MacDonald, that the BFL Directory of Anglofandom was a splendid job and now in circulation, and copies could be obtained from the Editor. But neither money nor entreaties could produce anything from Gunn but booklists. | ||
| + | |||
| + | Willis managed to persuade Gunn after several months of unanswered letters that to distribute ''[[Slant]]'' 1 as a [[rider]], he would even mail ''Booklist'' himself (that is, with the rest of the [[Wheels of IF]]). On Christmas Day, the 200 copies arrived (of which only "49 noted as fully paid-up members of the BFL") with a letter saying a.o. | ||
| + | |||
| + | I am also enclosing the only copy of the Directory of Anglo-fandom in existence, so please don’t lose it. | ||
| + | |||
| + | This is the strongest possible argument against the up-to-date version existing any time in 1948 (let alone later when the BFL was in its final death throes, clearly unable to find anyone to produce or distribute such a publication. Also, if it existed, surely enough copies would survive to be found in the 21st century, if not earlier). Alas, we do not know and hardly will ever learn what form that "only copy" had ([[stencils]]? a finished manuscript?) and what its final fate was. It is certainly a pity all that toil and trouble was in vain, and who knows – if BFL had left such a legacy, it might have significantly influenced the reshaping of organised UK fandom. But still, what a tale! | ||
| + | |||
| + | ''However''… there is one further claim that a second edition was eventually published. In the first edition of his ''[[Directory of Science Fiction Fandom]]'' (i. e. for 1955, published Feb 1956), [[Ron Bennett]] wrote: | ||
| + | |||
| + | The first Anglo Fan Directory as far as anyone appears to know was compiled by Michael Rosenblum in 1945, followed about seven years later with a photolith production by [[John Gunn]]. Both these efforts were excellent productions but are now sadly out of date. September 1953 saw […] also [[Anglo Science Fiction Fandom|another Directory]] from the hands of [[Vin¢ Clarke]]. Unfortunately this last Directory is also out-of-date after two years. Many of the names of then 'Very-active' fans mean little or nothing to me. Hence this | ||
| + | |||
| + | This would imply that Bennett had ''seen'' the second edition… yet: There are few reports of Gunn being that active "about 1952" so as to undertake such a big project, even [[printing]] while Clarke and Bennett modestly duplicated; and of course no other contemporary news nor later mentions. Is it possible that Bennett might have confused this with the US N3F ''[[1950 Fan Directory]]'', which ''is'' nicely printed – although, as some bibliographies suggest, ''not'' by photolithography, and contains mere 16 names in "England"? (Also, while Bennett does his best to explain why a directory would go out of date just in two, let alone three years, even the most generous 1950s fan could hardly call Rosenblum's wartime austere production "excellent", except to praise the effort.) So this seems rather a ghost sighting than hard evidence. | ||
| − | * [https://fanac.org/fanzines/References/directory_of_anglo_fandom_rosenblum_1945-01_bfs.pdf ''Directory of Anglo-Fandom''] at [[Fanac.org]] (3 MB PDF, poor | + | * [https://fanac.org/fanzines/References/directory_of_anglo_fandom_rosenblum_1945-01_bfs.pdf ''Directory of Anglo-Fandom''] at [[Fanac.org]] (3 MB PDF, poor reproduction / faded) |
| − | * [https://www.arcgis.com/apps/instant/minimalist/index.html?appid=4ea14c7b3ecc4f89ab0307ad5ead2988 "J. Michael Rosenblum's 1945 Directory of Anglo-Fandom": a cartographic visualisation] by [[Doug Bell]], 2021; contains several | + | * [https://www.arcgis.com/apps/instant/minimalist/index.html?appid=4ea14c7b3ecc4f89ab0307ad5ead2988 "J. Michael Rosenblum's 1945 Directory of Anglo-Fandom": a cartographic visualisation] by [[Doug Bell]], 2021; contains several sub-layers |
{{publication | year=1945}} | {{publication | year=1945}} | ||
[[Category:fanzine]] | [[Category:fanzine]] | ||
[[Category:UK]] | [[Category:UK]] | ||
Latest revision as of 15:26, 4 August 2024
The Directory of Anglofandom[1] was the UK's first fan directory published by J. Michael Rosenblum in January 1945 for the British Fantasy Society.
It had a complicated gestation (and later life, or agony, as well come to think of that; but let us not get ahead of ourselves). In May 1943, British Fantasy Society Bulletin 8[2] reported that the Advisory Board
are very enthusiastic about the project of a Who's Who of British fandom, which would contain autobiographical details of every fan from whom the required information could be secured, or obtained by indirect means. I understand that Dennis Tucker is prepared to do the donkey work, including publishing, planning, editing, and so on. The plan hasn't as yet been O.K'd by the Executive Committee, but there does not seem to be a particular objection - though there may be doubts as to its feasibility.
This, then, would be a much more ambitious and extensive project than a simple list of addresses, almost certainly beyond the capabilities of the Wartime Britfandom – a similar encyclopedia of a substantial set of UK fans was achieved only in the 1961 US-produced Who's Who in Science Fiction Fandom. (It remains to be researched whether there were any interim reports on the development and narowing the scope to a directory.) In Futurian War Digest #37 ("Octember" 1944)[3] Rosenblum wrote:
At long last Dennis Tucker has found it impossible to continue with the production of a Directory of British Fandom, which he undertook on behalf of the British Fantasy Society, so all papers have been turned over to JMRosenblum (me!) and I shall try to get the thing out as soon as possible...
However, the next issue of FWD (38, December)[4] did not mention Tucker:
Within the next couple of months it is hoped that the following will be published from [Rosenblum's address: three titles, second of them being]. A Directory of British Fandom, compiled, stencilled and published by JMR.
The British Fantasy Society Bulletin 21[5] reported the Expenditure on "Directory of Fandom" as 1 - 14 - 10 (£/s/d).[6] The Directory itself also did not acknowledge Tucker in any way:[7]
Prepared, produced and published by J. M. Rosenblum […] One copy free to BFS members. Other copies at 4d each. […] Also distributed to all members of the Fantasy Amateur Press Association alleged to be part of the Spring 1945 Mailing
(i. e. #31); but there is no trace of this happening in the FAPA Book (vol. 2).
Beside names and addresses – it can be especially useful for establishing full names when initials were usually used, although many are still initials only – Rosenblum identified armed forces personnel, and separately those posted overseas, BFS members with their numbers, and included some 'not in touch at the present moment' and 'one or two people whose connection to fandom is known to be finally severed', marked X.[8] However, especially due to contingencies of its production, the Directory contains a number of errors, from obvious typos to more insidious, so caution must be taken.[9]
The Directory's 24 unnumbered pages are divided thus:
- Simple pictorial cover (artist not given but similar to Joe Gibson who provided much material to JMR), empty verso
- "Foreword" at pp (3–4)
- Main list (5–20). There are 14 entries per full page and the final one has 5 plus "Addenda" of 4 (three of them BFS members with numbers 89, 95 and 104[?], reported in BFS Bulletins from Nov 1943, March 1944 and March 1945). This makes for 219 names altogether[10] of whom there were "one American and two Canadians […] resident in thse [sic] isles long enough to join the" BFS.
- "Roll of Honour" (21), nine[11] of BFS's American honorary members, with just cities and not street addresses; plus a notice "of the death by accident of BFS member Michael Lord, Sub-Lieut., RNVR" (not in the main list)[12]
- Advert for / description of BFS exhorting to join (22)
- The final two pages in the Fanac.org scan look as if they might be switched, judging from the left edge's fraying and traces of the staple (just one, in the upper third): (23?) as scanned has a list of BFS officers, fanzines etc., while (24?) is empty with a handwritten (might this be Rosenblum's hand?) address of "F J Ackerman", with his street name "New North" crossed out and corrected to North New Hampshire. Perhaps it would make some sense to have text on the bacover, of even so modest a production as the DoAF was, and empty inside rather then simpler vice versa, but then why write the address inside?
Ghost second edition[edit]
The British Fanzine Bibliography said there was a second edition in 1948 produced by the British Fantasy Library, but significantly listed no specific details. It would of course make a perfect sense in the post-War era, when old fans moved (or gafiated definitively) and new ones were arriving in great numbers, but sadly this must be considered (as SFE says) a ghost title. The edition was indeed announced and even over-optimistically promoted – an instance easiest available now is Fantasy Review 9, Jun–Jul 1948:[13]
YOU WILL find the Directory of Anglo-Fandom invaluable for making contacts. Published by the British Fantasy Library, comprising names and addresses of over 300 fans (members and non-members) in the British Isles, the new issue is now ready. Copies, 1/- post free, obtainable from the Librarian: Ron Holmes
The reality was much darker, as Walt Willis recounted in his characteristically readable fanoir 'I Remember Me' mere 8 years later:[14]
This Booklist [#6, July 1948] also carried a second reference to the BFL Directory of Anglofandom, a mysterious Necronomicon-like document which had a curious history. The previous Booklist had said it was now available. This one formally blacklisted one Thomas MacDonald of Carlisle, who had 'promised to print it but had not returned the material or answered our letters'.
It must be noted that in this "Emergency Issue" Ron Holmes announced his dire personal circumstances and gafiation, and both the quality of production, including amount of typos, and some emotional formulations attest to his frayed nerves. It is also interesting that WaW's quote was rather imprecise (even though earlier he block-quoted Holmes's introductory paragraph):
BLACKLIST. We don’t like to do this, but we feel that it is for the comunal good. THOMAS. T. L. MacDonald [sic! One other offender is named similarly irregularly as J. FRANK. White. Address follows] He offered to print the directory, accepted the lists and material, and has failed us even to the non-return of lists.
After or despite these strong words, though, the situation apparently improved somewhat somehow (after all, BFL was still running so had to have some kind of membership list at its disposal), but we have only WaW's tantalising paraphrase below, as the issue is not available. John Gunn took over and he
distributed his emergency Booklist on 20th October. […] The Emergency Booklist had announced, with apologies to MacDonald, that the BFL Directory of Anglofandom was a splendid job and now in circulation, and copies could be obtained from the Editor. But neither money nor entreaties could produce anything from Gunn but booklists.
Willis managed to persuade Gunn after several months of unanswered letters that to distribute Slant 1 as a rider, he would even mail Booklist himself (that is, with the rest of the Wheels of IF). On Christmas Day, the 200 copies arrived (of which only "49 noted as fully paid-up members of the BFL") with a letter saying a.o.
I am also enclosing the only copy of the Directory of Anglo-fandom in existence, so please don’t lose it.
This is the strongest possible argument against the up-to-date version existing any time in 1948 (let alone later when the BFL was in its final death throes, clearly unable to find anyone to produce or distribute such a publication. Also, if it existed, surely enough copies would survive to be found in the 21st century, if not earlier). Alas, we do not know and hardly will ever learn what form that "only copy" had (stencils? a finished manuscript?) and what its final fate was. It is certainly a pity all that toil and trouble was in vain, and who knows – if BFL had left such a legacy, it might have significantly influenced the reshaping of organised UK fandom. But still, what a tale!
However… there is one further claim that a second edition was eventually published. In the first edition of his Directory of Science Fiction Fandom (i. e. for 1955, published Feb 1956), Ron Bennett wrote:
The first Anglo Fan Directory as far as anyone appears to know was compiled by Michael Rosenblum in 1945, followed about seven years later with a photolith production by John Gunn. Both these efforts were excellent productions but are now sadly out of date. September 1953 saw […] also another Directory from the hands of Vin¢ Clarke. Unfortunately this last Directory is also out-of-date after two years. Many of the names of then 'Very-active' fans mean little or nothing to me. Hence this
This would imply that Bennett had seen the second edition… yet: There are few reports of Gunn being that active "about 1952" so as to undertake such a big project, even printing while Clarke and Bennett modestly duplicated; and of course no other contemporary news nor later mentions. Is it possible that Bennett might have confused this with the US N3F 1950 Fan Directory, which is nicely printed – although, as some bibliographies suggest, not by photolithography, and contains mere 16 names in "England"? (Also, while Bennett does his best to explain why a directory would go out of date just in two, let alone three years, even the most generous 1950s fan could hardly call Rosenblum's wartime austere production "excellent", except to praise the effort.) So this seems rather a ghost sighting than hard evidence.
- Directory of Anglo-Fandom at Fanac.org (3 MB PDF, poor reproduction / faded)
- "J. Michael Rosenblum's 1945 Directory of Anglo-Fandom": a cartographic visualisation by Doug Bell, 2021; contains several sub-layers
| Publication | 1945 |
| This is a publication page. Please extend it by adding information about when and by whom it was published, how many issues it has had, (including adding a partial or complete checklist), its contents (including perhaps a ToC listing), its size and repro method, regular columnists, its impact on fandom, or by adding scans or links to scans. See Standards for Publications. |
- ↑ Some sources spell it Anglo-Fandom or even Anglo Fandom, misled by the ambiguous all-caps cover
DIRECTORY OF [pic-] ANGLO- [ture] FANDOM
but the only occurrence inside is the standard "members of Anglofandom" (p. 3), which was Rosenblum's usage elsewhere too. As seen further from the "working titles", the very term "Anglo" appeared rather late just for the cover, perhaps as it is slightly shorter to fit beside the picture than "British". It was desirable to differentiate the publication from the US Directory of Fandom, the second issue of which came out in 1944 and "includes amongst its rolls British fandom of about two years ago" (FWD #37, the same where Rosenblum announced work on his own), especially since many US users were expected.
- ↑ included with the Futurian War Digest 28 https://efanzines.com/FWD/FWD28.htm#7.NAM
- ↑ https://efanzines.com/FWD/FWD37.htm
- ↑ https://efanzines.com/FWD/FWD38.htm
- ↑ March 23, 1945; included with the final Fido https://efanzines.com/FWD/FWD39.htm#16.NAM
- ↑ That is, in decimals, 1.74 pound sterling; for comparison, the "Stencils, paper etc. for Bulletins" were 1 - 11 - 3 = 1.56 £, sum of all other expenses slightly lower, and almost no funds left. Alternatively, divided by the selling price of 1/60 £, this would mean a print run of 105 copies… but significantly more should we factor in the postage; was it a penny? Two?
- ↑ It is very unlikely that the ever kind and generous JMR would just ignore or snub him without reason; possibly even that "at long last" was a veiled barb? So one is led to speculation that despite the earlier optimistic announcement (compare the similar story of the post-war edition) there was little actually usable work done and transferred, perhaps except some raw "papers", and JMR had to compile the directory single-handedly at a short notice and despite "unforeseen circumtances [sic] in the shape of ill-health", using especially the BFS and FWD files. His foreword also speaks about the principal difficulties of such a task, "especially the first edition", and nothing on its history.
- ↑ These are Douglas William Frank Mayer, somewhat revenant around 1950, and James Edward Rennison. It seems that we do not know what the reason might be for singling them out so from merely inactive; perhaps some feud or angry gafiation statement remained hidden and lost in personal correspondence?
- ↑ To give a few examples: Nigel Lindsay, in the Addenda, is listed as "Norman", and his BFS number as (apparently) 104, while per the Bulletin it was 103; 104 was A. H. March, announced in the same March Bulletin as Lindsay but already not included in the Directory. Leslie V. Heald's address was misspelled as "Healey Ave." instead of Henley. Ron Holmes's street number is manually corrected (on the stencil? or later, even by the copy's owner?) from 32 to 25.
- ↑ Peter Weston wrote of 220, but this seems a numerical error, unless of course there is one more hidden in some irregular page, or he includes dead Lord.
- ↑ However, as British Fantasy Society membership 1942–1946 details, there were eleven US honorary members announced over time in the Bulletins. Of these, Milt Rothman, added in January 1943 with 5 others, and Bill Watson, September 1944 with one, are missing.
- ↑ I. e. Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve. Lord's death was announced already in FWD 36, August 1944.
- ↑ https://efanzines.com/FR/fr09.htm
- ↑ Instalment 1: "Beginnings", in WaW's apazines Pamphrey 3, October 1956 and Woz 4, February 1957, pp. 9–15. Collected in Warhoon 28, 1978 (pages quoted are 447 to 448), and then Harp Remembered, Ansible Editions 2023, https://taff.org.uk/ebooks.php?x=HarpRem (not to be mistaken for the 1990s column of the same name collected somewhat confusingly as I Remember Me and Other Narratives, 2021).
