January 2020 Auction Ends Thursday, January 30th, 5pm Pacific
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 1/30/2020
Ernest Hemingway autograph letter signed, composed on Hotel Statler St. Louis stationery, undated but circa October 1931 when Hemingway was writing ''Death in the Afternoon''. Hemingway writes Charles MacGregor, secretary to Robert Benchley and founding member of the literary group Algonquin Round Table (or ''The Vicious Circle'' as they called themselves), to which Hemingway and Benchley belonged.
Letter reads in full, ''Dear Mac: - If you have not received the camera it is because it was packed in the trunk Monday morning in my absence and shipped direct for Kansas City by Gabrielle (Gaby) Jacquot Patrick's new nurse. She also packed and shipped all my clean shirts my slippers etc. If they can't fix it in Kansas City maybe I'll send it to you.
Owing to the depression the only size 17 plain white shirts with attached collars on sale here are those that have been on sale in the windows. It has not been considered smart business to stock clean shirts until these slightly soiled shirts have been sold at reduced prices. You can get a pretty nice soiled shirt now for around $1.79.
If you ever become dissatisfied with your life with [Robert] Benchley and that whole gin crazed Saturnalia and want to lead a cleaner life bring your shortwave set down to Key West and we could try to turn an honest penny running Chinamen.
The goddamned Chinamen are still crazy to get into this country and we could bring them in and then have a hearty laugh at their expense. / Ernie''. Two page letter on single sheet measures 6'' x 9.5''. Folds, otherwise near fine condition.
Ernest Hemingway Autograph Letter Signed -- ''...bring your shortwave set down to Key West and we could try to turn an honest penny running Chinamen...''
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