May 2020 Auction Ends Thursday, May 28th, 5pm Pacific
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 5/28/2020
Hunter Thompson typed letter, with subtly humorous content regarding his friend Paul Semonin's desire for Thompson to give him photos, to be used for the dust jacket of an upcoming book. The photos in question are from their cross-country trip in the fall of 1960, one of which was used on the cover of ''Proud Highway''. Dated 28 March 1961 from the Manor House in Big Sur, letter reads in part, ''Dear Jackwit: Glad to get your correx [correction] on the 'illustrated manuscript' rumor...The book-jacket idea is not much better; normally, we writers don't worry about dust-jacket photos until the book is in the hands of a publisher -- however, I know better than to ply you with anything rational.
So, here are all the negs I have of you...If you can find nothing in this batch to equal your vision of yourself, I can only wonder what the snow has done to your mind...'' Thompson then lists six photos before writing, ''You need not be told how important it is for me to get all six of these back -- UNDAMAGED. They are among my best shots, and I'm sending them with a queasy heart. I know how you are with envelopes and things of a similar nature. For god's sake take care of them & get them back soon. No finger-prints (I handle them with tweezers), no creases, no spots, and no LOSS. / Big Kansas Mover is tops, to my mind...If, by some odd chance, you put any of these shots to work, I will want a credit-line. And money.
Just sold a Big Sur piece to Chicago Tribune. Earlier sold same to NY H-T [''New York Herald Tribune''], and probably to C-J [''Louisville Courier-Journal'']. We shall see. / Currently await Playboy verdict on Big Sur. Will advise...I urge you for the good of your soul to swing down this way for a few days before shoving east. No fool would hitchhike across the north country -- the logical shot is Rt. 66, which you can grab just south of here...Ran into your twin yesterday -- an iron sculptor who lives across the canyon. Strikes me as a real talent, with over-tones of a rare decency...My plans are to hang on here at least until August, then aim again for Europe. Money, of course, remains the big Question. Now working on Rum Diary & will finish it before leaving. / That's it for now. Try & get here. You will dig it. / HST''. Single page letter with a hand-correction by Thompson measures 8.5'' x 11''. Light creasing and folds, overall near fine condition.
Hunter Thompson Typed Letter -- ''...we writers don't worry about dust-jacket photos until the book is in the hands of a publisher...Now working on Rum Diary & will finish it before leaving...''
Click above for larger image.