The Comet (1930s zine)

Zine
Title:	The Comet / Science Correspondence Club Organ and ? / Science Correspondence Club Organ / Science Correspondence Club Bulletin / Cosmology
Publisher:	Science Correspondence Club
Editor(s):	Raymond A. Palmer (1930), Walter Dennis (1930); Arthur Gowing (1930-1931), Aubrey MacDermott and Clifton Amsbury (1932); Connie Ruppert (1933)
Type:	fan club newsletter
Date(s):	May 1930-1933
Medium:	Print
Size:	8" x 11"
Fandom:	Science Fiction
Language:	English
External Links:	Fanac.org, scan of issue #1
Click here for related articles on Fanlore.

Front cover of Issue #1

The Comet - renamed Cosmology by its fourth issue - was the official newsletter the Science Correspondence Club. It was created and edited by Chicago branch members Raymond A. Palmer and Walter Dennis and is believed by many to be the very first fanzine ever published. There is some controversy to this - the SCC focussed more on science than science fiction and for this reason is not considered a fanzine.

Coming from a correspondence background, the letter section of this zine was a prominent feature, with readers discussing science, science fiction and fiction. Other segments focused on scientific discovery and theory, with the club's belief that reading science fiction could - and should - lead to a career in science; therefore, the zine tended to publish more about science fact than science fiction.

In his Recollections on the Origins of Science Fiction Fandom 1917 to 1948, Aubrey MacDermott (editor January 1932-1933 with Clifton Amsbury) had this to say about the zine:

In May 1930 Palmer and Dennis published the COMET as the official organ of the Science Correspondence Club. The second issue was entitled “?” and announced a title contest. It became COSMOLOGY. As far as I know this was the first fan magazine.

...

As of January 1932 Frank Eason of Atlanta, Georgia became president of I.S.A. Palmer, due to ill health, had turned the editorship of “Cosmology” over to Arthur Gowing of Springfield, Mass. In 1931 Palmer told me that he had won a prize of $100 for a story about a cover of AMAZING STORES. He bought an A.B. Dick mimeograph on which Gowing produced eight issues of “Cosmology”. Later, when I became editor Gowing sent me a “rocker” with a straight-up handle on top. I was never able to obtain the original mimeograph.

...

In May [1932] I became the editor and publisher of “Cosmology” with the 13th issue. Clifton Amsbury was associate editor and did most of the struggling with our blotter-mimeo. He also translated the two articles on rockets by Willy Ley. This was Ley’s first publication in the United States and probably his first in English.

...

In January 1933 the last issue of “Cosmology” was printed by Connie Ruppert, and paid for by that wonderful fan, Bob Tucker. With the 15th issue my mother had said “Not another cent”. It took me years to pay the bills of the issues Clif and I had published.

 

Seventeen issues were published in total before the zine (and the club, which had been renamed the International Science Association in 1931), ceased operations in 1933. Even in 1935, only two years after it closed, copies of the zine were hard to find:

Copies are now so rare that they are almost unobtainable at any price. Featured were letters and articles by Willy Ley, the German rocket experimenter, Miles J. Breuer, R. F. Starzl, Lillith Lorraine, P. Schuyler Miller.

 Science Fiction Bibliography, William Crawford and D.R. Welch, quoted in the "Cosmology" article in Fancyclopedia 3 (via Wayback May 1/24)

Due to this rarity (and expense if found!), the contents of the zine beyond Issue #1 are largely apocryphal, based on reports from those who were remembering the zine years alter.

Issue#1

From Issue #1 - "Guess the Scientist", with art by members Stanley Osowaki and Harold Scott.

The Comet. Vol. 1, No. 1, published May 1931. Editors: Raymond A Palmer and Walter Dennis. 8 pages.

Contents:

• Science Correspondence Club - office-holders, committees, branches, etc.
• "A Brief History of the Science Correspondence Club" by unknown and "Evolution" a poem by Frank Eason Sr.
• Candidates for Presidency - profiles for members running for presidency of the SCC: Frank Eason Sr., Arthur Gowling, Edward Smith and Arthur Stephenson.
• Presidential Ballot, Resignation of President (Aubrey Clements) and status updates for the secretary and treasurer.
• "Open Letter to Members of the SCC Who Are Delinquent in Dues" - Frank Eason Sr.
• "Announcement of the Formation of the S. Lynn Kohrer Society of Greater America, A Branch of the SCC" by Frank Eason (secretary) - named in honour of S. Lynn Kohrer, organizer of the Southern Cross Observatory and a noted Amateur Astronomer recognised by leading authorities and the discoverer of a new star.
• "Trends in Psychology" by Lillith Lorraine, member of the above branch. Includes a request for reactions from the editors and a clip-out feedback form.
• "Odd Notes":

The list of members, which will be distributed soon is being printed and will be ready soon.

Several complaints have been received or [sic] the commercialization of the club by certain individuals who desired to sell Xmas Cards, greeting cards, etc. Any such complaints are noted and the offender dealt with immediately. The humiliation of an individual who joins a club like ours, and is met with the news that he is an "agent" for some doo-fangle, is self-evident and all possible efforts to curb this will be made.

Send in your suggestions on departments for the bulletin, such as the Readers Page, Science Notes, New Theorys [sic], etc. Your ideas will be appreciated.

Budding authors may have the opportunity to see the public's reaction to their work by contributing short SHORT stories to the bulletin. The views of the members are sure to improve their style and gain them many good suggestions.

"Odd Notes" - The Editors - The Comet #1

Issue #2

Science Correspondence Club Organ and ?. Vol 1, No. 2, published July 1930. Editors: Raymond A Palmer and Walter Dennis. 12 pages.

This was the first issue to reference science fiction.

Issue #3

Science Correspondence Club Organ Vol 1, No. 3, published in August 1930. Editor: Raymond A Palmer. 10 pages.

Issue #4

Science Correspondence Club Bulletin Vol. 1, No. 4, published in September 1930. Editor: Raymond A Palmer. 11 pages.

Issue #5

Cosmology. Vol. 1 No. 5, published in October 1930. Editor: Arthur Gowing. 13 pages.

Issues 6-17

Issue	Date	Pages	-Notes
V1.6	November 1930	21
V1.7	December 1930	7
V2.1	January 1931	23
V2.2	February 1931	23
V2.3	March 1931	23
V2.4	April 1931	23
V2.5	May 1931	23
V2.6	July 1931	23
VV.1	January 1932	15	Eds. now Aubrey MacDermott and Clifton Amsbury
VV.2	March 1932	30
VV.3	Fall 1932	6
VVI.1	1933	20	Connie Ruppert