March 2020 Auction Ends Thursday, March 26th, 5pm Pacific
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 3/26/2020
Hunter S. Thompson typed letter signed ''Dr. Yamba'' in type, with Thompson circling his sobriquet, and with handwritten notes on a second page. Although letter is dated only ''Fri late'', letter is from late October 1965, corroborated by another item Thompson includes that's dated 20 October 1965. On bright orange paper, Thompson first writes about visiting Arthur Sheridan, the African American editor of ''Black Dialogue'', to retrieve his friend Paul Semonin's manuscript: ''Tonite got your ms. from Sheridan. He acted a bit funny and at first I figured it was because he didn't like the idea of a white devil claiming something in his possession, but when I saw the crumpled ms. I realized he was just embarrassed. The thing looks like four people slept and fucked on it. But it's legible, so I'll suck it up and render a massive judgement. Sandy's boss got busted in Berkeley last night for some terrible, unexplained felony and her job ends next Friday. So if my Playboy loot doesn't materialize, yours better. The bike is out, half-fixed. They were trying to fuck me for $180, so I took it to another mechanic and got the job done for $22...
The book limps, constant rewriting, I can't get any momentum. There is talk of British publication and a Hell's Angels vs. VDC [Vietnam Day Committee] piece for the Times magazine, but I'm not thinking about any of that right now. When I am not asleep or writing I am either drunk or on the bike, or both. Acceleration above 60 has been substantially increased by this repair; I now get the same sort of leaping action at 75 that I get at 30 in first. Last night about four I circled the park for an hour or so at unholy speeds. Send word on your plans and action. Dr. Yamba''.
Single page letter measures 8.5'' x 11''. Shallow folds and staple puncture at top left, overall near fine condition. Lot also includes a letter by Thompson and Semonin's mutual friend Eugene McGarr, which Thompson edits by writing ''???? from McGarr'' at top left. McGarr's funny letter takes Thompson to task for writing ''cryptograms'', and asks Thompson to explain a recent invective, and also to begin spelling his name correctly.
Hunter S. Thompson Letter From 1965 While Writing ''Hell's Angels'' -- ''...I am either drunk or on the bike, or both. Acceleration above 60 has been substantially increased...''
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