This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 8/1/2025
John Steinbeck autograph letter signed, dated Tuesday, circa 1958. Steinbeck writes to his typist Mary Morgan on a variety of subjects including what Steinbeck writes in the middle of the night when he can't sleep. Lengthy letter completed in blue ballpoint reads in part,
''Dear Mary: / The recording station is held up due to circumstances beyond control like rewriting and the delay in certain source materials. But I have tried my barber shop soprano out on the squawk box and it sounds just as mellifluous as always - like the rattle of bones in a garbage can. And you should hear me pronounce those California Spanish names. Anyway, I hope to get some belts off to you toward the end of the week. You'll be sorry.
Viking has done it again - spelled it La Batts. Well all I can say is screw them. I shall personally correct any number of copies you wish and by hand. If they can't do any better than that, I hope they die of parched throats.
Elaine is in town. Coming back tonight. I stayed up and worked last night. She worries about not sleeping. To me it's a state of being. And sometimes, I like it very much. I wrote an essay and a 20 page psychoanalysis of someone I barely know, two poems and a plate of hors d'oeuvres.
I just looked at your letter again and I think you should get your mind off marriage and think of something a little more elevated like sex. / First good white frost this morning. Now I begin to live. / Let's see -manuscript. Three copies - double space two copies on good sturdy paper and the third on thin paper simply for filming. When I really get moving I will send both the belts plus the manuscript so you can check one against the other but I will send them separately in case either gets lost because I have no carbons. When I come in I will bring the I.B.M. and I don't think I will bring it back out here. Too much trouble moving it. I'll keep this Olivetti out here. The I.B.M. is going to need a checking over and oiling etc. That's for you to take care of, old girl. You've had your fling. Now it's back to the slave quarters. And the mail - that lousy stinking mail that is always the same. You had better start thinking up 250 ways of saying no and draft some form letters.
Well enough of this silly love making. I must [go] to the village for papers and to post this and others. / yrs. / J.S.''
Two page letter on singe sheet of yellow lined paper measures 8'' x 12.5''. Folds, overall near fine condition.