Description:

Interesting TLS by American Prohibitionist Traveling in Europe & Africa, on "Anti-Saloon League of America" Letterhead

A 1p typed letter signed in print as "Bill" by an unidentified speaker of The Anti-Saloon League of America (ASLA), possibly a delegate of the ASLA sister organization the World League Against Alcoholism. Written in Biskra, French Algeria on February 22, 1920 on a single leaf of "The Anti-Saloon League / of America" London, England office letterhead. Light toning and expected wrinkles. 8.375" x 10.875." Accompanied by its original transmittal envelope, addressed to Bill's correspondent, one Bess Booth of Roxbury, Connecticut; and its original enclosure, a London-Paris-Lyons-Marseilles railroad ticket. Expected clerical cancellations and weathering apparent.

We speculate that Bill was a member and speaker of The Anti-Saloon League of America, possibly even a delegate of its offshoot organization, the World League Against Alcoholism. In the letter, Bill writes, "I am due at a convention in Paris on March 20 and then I have to speak at another convention at the Hague (Holland) on April 5. Whether I get back to London before April 5 or whether I tarry in France I dont [sic] know yet. Whether or not I go back to America this summer has not been determined yet. I am waiting on Westerville to decide that and I wont [sic] know for some time…"

The Anti-Saloon League of America, which advocated for the prohibition of intoxicating liquors, was established in 1893 in Oberlin, Ohio. In 1909, the group's national headquarters moved from Washington, D.C. to Westerville, Ohio; thus, when Bill says that he is waiting on Westerville to determine if he can return to the United States, he is waiting for a directive from ASLA leadership.

The ASLA became a powerful lobbying force in early twentieth-century America. The 18th Amendment prohibiting all types of alcohol was ratified in 1919 and became law as the Volstead Act in mid-January 1920, just one month before Bill's letter. Encouraged by its progress implementing prohibition initiatives in the United States, the ASLA established an offshoot, the World League Against Alcoholism, in 1919. Local branches were soon founded in 50 countries on six continents.

Bill's springtime convention line-up could not be exactly pinpointed. Perhaps the meetings scheduled in Paris and the Hague were temperance conventions similar in nature to the 15th International Congress Against Alcoholism, a world-wide reunion of prohibitionist advocates, which would take place in Washington, D.C. seven months later, in September 1920.

In addition to its terrific prohibition content, the letter also gives us some insights into early twentieth-century French colonial Africa: "Down here, the people are mostly Arabs, with a sprinkling of Kabyles, Bedouins, Moors, French, Sudanese, Senegal ni[--]ers and some British tourists…Practically all the jabbering is done in French and Arabic…The people are all Moslems…"

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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