October 2023 Auction Ends Thursday, October 26th, 5pm Pacific
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 10/26/2023
Ernest Hemingway autograph letter signed with exceptional content on hunting grizzly bears for the first time. Written to his friend Charles Thompson, Hemingway describes the grizzly bear in exuberant detail and even compares the danger of hunting grizzlies to that of lions. Undated but likely written by Hemingway sometime in 1936 during his stay at the L-Bar-T Ranch in Wyoming. Letter reads in part,
''...I wish to hell you were here for the grizzlies. There is much more game than before. I want to get you a good grizzly for your trophy house. So far the hides are beautiful, long thick hair as pretty as your black bear but even much longer and like a silver fox in color almost. But Lawrence let my best one go bad by not cleaning enough fat off the big back hump. It may be only a spot. Hope so. He felt so bad he cried but a little more salt at the beginning better maybe. Every time I've killed one I wished for McCola.
I wrote Georgie Barber about working for me because Jose said he had offer as quartermaster on P and O and 'wasn't decided yet' as to whether to take it. We will see how he is.
Jose works hard to keep boat clean but he is so dirty himself that he dirties everything he cleans - He is like an animal too and slightly (sometimes more than) goofy. But he is a good sailor in a storm or anything like that. But will be glad not to have the dirt and goofyhood. He is a good painter but no mechanic. Geo is supposed to be a moderate mechanic. If he keeps boat up properly and is reliable will be O.K. I know enough now about keeping boat up so I can check. I told him to get from you what he needed for the boat...
I will try to buy some pheasants - that man Leahy we met in Havana and fished (caught him a marlin) asked us to shoot with them in S. Dakota. Tommy was good in the hills - Shoots badly but walks well and is a good kid. He shot at the grizzlies shoulder at 50 yards and hit it in base of jaw - would have missed at 100 - but he got it.
P.O. Mama is crazy about grizzly hunting says they make more impressive noises than lion - they are handsome and big as hell. But believe you me there is no comparison in danger. I'd guaranty to kill grizzlies 3 a day for a month without accident because they (1) haven't the speed - (2) Knock down easy (3) I don't think have such bad ideas on acct of killed more chipmunks than wildebeastes.
So long, Mr T. thanks for sending the rod to Aksel. / Love, again, to Mrs. T. / Papa''.
Hemingway then adds a postscript, writing in part, ''I hit 93 X 100...he hit 78 X 100. I hit 17 X 20 doubles...Now if [?] only write a novel we're set!...''
Two page letter on a single sheet measures 8.5'' x 11''. Composed in pencil and numbered 3 and 4 at top, with first two pages no longer present. Uniform toning and chipping to edges, with splits along a few fold lines. Overall in fair condition but with only a small portion of writing affected. A rare letter by Hemingway as he discovered grizzly hunting for the first time, giving an engaging flash into his passion for sport hunting.
Ernest Hemingway Autograph Letter Signed After His First Time Grizzly Hunting -- ''the grizzlies...hides are beautiful, long thick hair as pretty as your black bear but...like a silver fox in color''
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