Original Manuscript of a Short Story ‘Oh Say Can You See’ by Day Keene

Original carbon typescript manuscript, 25 leaves, of a short story titled ‘Oh Say Can You See’ by mystery and detective writer Day Keene. With “Sold Roy Palmer” written in pencil on the first page and “Day Keene, Gulfport, Florida” typed to the upper left-hand corner of the first page. Unbound copy with only slight signs of use and very minor edge wear. Day Keene is the pseudonym of Chicago-born mystery and detective writer, Gunard Hjerstedt (1903 - 1969). After initially pursuing a career as an actor, he turned to writing for radio and for the short story pulp trade (Ace G-Man Stories, Dime Mystery, Black Mask) where an editor suggested that Gunard change his name to something more American sounding, which he accomplished by adapting his mother’s maiden name, Daisy Keeney, to Day Keene. Keene was part of a lively and creative community of writers, including Mickey Spillane, Harry Whittington, Gil Brewer, Talmage Powell, and John D. MacDonald - the competitive nature of which inspired some of the best hardboiled crime paperback original novels of the early 1950s, published by Gold Medal, Ace, Avon, Graphic, among others, with Macfadden reprinting much of Keene’s work to wide success in the late 1960s. Unlike many of his writing peers, Keene had only one recurring character - the Hawaiian private detective, Johnny Aloha. (Inventory #: 17515E)