Ernest Hemingway hand-edited draft typescript of his short story, ''The Capital of the World'', originally titled ''The Horns of the Bull'' when it was published in ''Esquire'' in 1936. With numerous edits and descriptions handwritten by Hemingway, including the entire first page describing the protagonist Paco:
''Insert page 1 / He was a well built boy with very black rather curly hair, good teeth and a skin that his sisters envied and he had a ready and unpuzzled smile. He was fast on his feet and did his work well, and...''
Paco is a waiter at Cafe Luarca in Madrid, who dreams of becoming a matador as he serves famous matadors who visit the restaurant. The story ends when the dishwasher, Enrique - in an attempt to warn Paco of the dangers of a matador, straps knives to the legs of a chair, pretending to be a bull, and charges at Paco who uses an apron for his cape. One of the knives pierces Paco, who dies, still ''full of illusions'' about his future, the city of Madrid, and bullfighting.
Draft consists of 17 pages:
1) Hemingway's autograph manuscript page, inserting the description of Paco;
2) Original typed page comprising the first page of draft, with Hemingway's pencil edits throughout, including re-naming the restaurant from ''Aguilar'' to ''Luarca'' and also handwriting the phrase ''romantically beautiful'' to describe Paco's job serving matadors at the restaurant;
3-4) Two carbon copy pages of the draft's first and second pages. Portion of type missing on first page;
5) Original typed page comprising part of the third page of draft, with Hemingway's pencil edits, crossing out several sentences and handwriting the phrase, ''but the knowlege [sic] of his slowness would mean that he would be...'', describing one of the old matadors at the restaurant.
6-17) Twelve carbon copy pages, comprising pages 3-14 of the draft, with numerous edits by Hemingway in both ink and pencil, including the handwritten words, ''the table he looked a moderately prosperous business man (leave it blank) it's about losing his speed of foot...'' Hemingway also writes ''The matador'' on this page.
Typescript drafts by Hemingway, especially with his handwritten notes and edits are very rare. After its publication in ''Esquire'', this short story was included in ''The Fifth Column and the First Forty-Nine Stories'', published 1938. Pages measure approximately 8.5'' x 11'', except typed pages which measure 8.5'' x 6.75'' and 8.5'' x 4.25''. Pages silked on verso. Toning and light chipping, overall very good plus condition. Housed in a cloth clamshell case and then a custom slipcase.