“We are not superwomen”: Navigating Finances, Identity Politics, and Vision of a Feminist Press


Introduction to Documents 1 and 2: “Unbusinesslike” Conduct   |   Document 1      |     Document 2
Introduction to Documents 3 and 4    |     Document 3: Feminist Publishing Ethics    |     Document 4: Women in Print Publishing Accords
Document 5: Feminist Publishing Proposal From Ruth to Barbara
Introduction to Documents 6, 7, and 8: Seal Books   |    Document 6     |    Document 7     |     Document 8
Document 9: Women Who Dared    |     Document 10: “Cheat to Eat”
Introduction to Documents 11 and 12: Hate Mail      |     Document 11       |    Document 12
Document 13: Outreach to Women of Color        |       Document 14: Letter to Angela Davis      |     Document 15: Letter from Audre Lord      |    Document 16: “No More ‘Social Problems’ Projects”
Bibliography


Document 6

 Author: Heather Grant Florence

Recipient: Barbara Wilson

Date: 19 March 1985

Document Type: Typed Letter, Signed by Author

Location: Series II, Box 1, File 14: Bantam Correspondence, Seal Press, Oberlin College Special Collections

Original                       Both                    Transcription

 

bantam letter

Transcription:

Seal Press Logo
Seal Press Logo, Seal Press, Source

[Letterhead: Bantam Books Inc – 666 Fifth Ave., New York 10103 – Tel. 212 765-6500 – Telex 1-2402]

March 19, 1985

Ms. Barbara Wilson

The Seal Press

312 S. Washington

Seattle, Washington 98104

Dear Ms. Wilson:

I was quite surprised to see reference to your company in the March 1, 1985 issue of Publisher’s Weekly. Bantam Books is a shareholder in a Canadian publishing company which uses the trade name “Seal Books”. [sic] Seal has been in business for a substantial period of time and has registered the trade name.

Accordingly, I would welcome information about your firm including, particularly, how you use the name “Seal”, [sic] how long you have been doing so, and whether or not you have registered it as a trademark. While I hope we will not have a problem here, obviously it’s best to focus on it quickly before any conflicts become deeper.

Seal Books Logo
Seal Books Logo, Penguin Random House, Source

Thank you.

Very truly yours,

[Signed: Heather Grant Florence]

Heather Grant Florence

Vice President

Secretary & Gen. Counsel

Transcribed by Natalia Shevin