1899- Journey to Mars

All the best,

Your friend,

Nikola

P.S. I have been thinking a great deal about our dear friend Koothrappally over these last five years. I wonder if there is any hope for him.

Letter from Billy Gostman to Percival Lowell

June 2, 1896

Dr. Percival Lowell

General Delivery

Flagstaff, Arizona

Dear Dr. Lowell,

I am intrigued by your studies of the Martian canal system on the distant red planet. I read your paper on dying Mars with a great interest.

Would you have a chart showing the orbit of Mars in relation to Earth, and possibly a table for the next several years depicting when Mars goes into retrograde with its relation to the Earth? I need to know the optimal times and closest approaches, so that I may study it in my new telescope.

Thank you for your assistance. I wish to verify and expand upon your findings. You may send me letters and parcels care of the postmaster (general delivery), Waco, Texas.

Your colleague,

Billy Gostman

Letter from Percival Lowell to Bill Gostman

July 1, 1896

Mr. Billy Gostman

General Delivery

Waco, Texas

Dear Mr. Gostman,

I have enclosed the charts and tables you requested, and I would dearly enjoy a report of your findings.

The inner solar system chart shows when Mars will go into retrograde in relation to Earth over the next decade. Additionally, the tables delineate optimal viewing times (weather permitting) from the Northern Hemisphere.

You did not advise me of the power of your telescope. I need verification of possible anomalous structures near the Great Canal, and I have marked the location on my map of Mars, which I have also enclosed. A telescope of eight inches or greater may suffice to provide proper illumination. I have begun experimenting with photographic equipment (a Kodak camera, properly fitted) so that I may obtain pictures of my discoveries, but thus far I have been unable to produce an image of sufficient resolution, although the structures appear largely as squashed squares and perfect circles. I suspect that at some time in the primordial past, a culture flourished on Mars.

Please advise soonest of your findings, and whether—if positive—you would be amenable to their publication, either under your name solely, my name, or as a collaboration.

Thank you for your interest, Mr. Gostman. And good luck.

With courtesy,

Percival Lowell

Flagstaff, Arizona

Letter from the Maharajah of Jaipur to John Carter