Description: Up for auction "The Best of Botts" William Upson Hand Signed TLS Dated 1940. ES-4452E William Hazlett Upson (September 6, 1891 – February 5, 1975) was an American author, best remembered for a series of stories featuring Alexander Botts, a salesman for the Earthworm Tractor Company. Born at Glen Ridge, New Jersey on September 6, 1891, Upson was the son of William Ford Upson (1857–1930) and Grace (Hazlett) Upson (1861–1911); his older brother was the aeronautics engineer Ralph Hazlett Upson. He graduated from Glen Ridge High School in 1909. Upson attended Cornell University, graduating in 1914. He worked for a short time as a farmer and then served in the United States Army during World War I, after which he was employed as a traveling tractor mechanic by a predecessor of the Caterpillar Tractor Company. Initially drawing inspiration from his actual work experiences, Upson began writing short stories involving "Earthworm tractors," the first of which was published in Collier's Magazine in 1923 but most of which appeared in the Saturday Evening Post. Beginning in 1927, the series focused on the work of Alexander Botts, a salesman for the Earthworm Tractor Company. "Alexander Botts was a tractor repairman who became a salesman (like the author), and relied on his wits, determination, [and] luck to get him out of the messes (usually self-made) he got himself and his company into. His stories were told through the letters and telegrams exchanged between his office and himself.... Botts was usually at war with his boss about his goals, his methods and his expense reports, and managed to get himself fired and hired many times.... The Botts stories are stories of the American dream; of hard work, of salesmanship, good old fashioned Yankee ingenuity." In 1936, the series was adapted into the film Earthworm Tractors, starring Joe E. Brown. It was also adapted as a short-lived comic strip and several radio shows. Upson also write two non-fiction books and several plays.
Price: 129.99 USD
Location: Fort Lauderdale, Florida
End Time: 2025-01-26T01:34:03.000Z
Shipping Cost: 0 USD
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All returns accepted: Returns Accepted
Item must be returned within: 14 Days
Refund will be given as: Money back or replacement (buyer's choice)
Signed: Yes
Original/Reproduction: Original
