This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 11/21/2025
John Steinbeck autograph letter signed, a lengthy letter spanning four legal sized pages, composed to his typist Mary Morgan with whom Steinbeck had a flirty and warm relationship. Composed in pencil, letter is undated but circa 1958. Steinbeck begins the letter by wanting to know who ''George'' is, perhaps a man that Morgan was dating. Letter reads in part,
''But who is George? Who is George? Who is George George is who? / After all the turmoil and fuss and feathers of research and travel I have finally got to work at the translation and do you know - I like what I am doing and I think you will like it too. And I want to find out some of your plans because I hope you are going to want to help me with it. Do you still? You said you would.
I believe you said you were going to spend August in Nantucket. Good for you. You will love it there. It is a fine place for children too and cool.
Now let me tell you my plans so that we can see whether they match yours in any way. I am doing my translating with pencil in my horrible hand writing. Then I shall read what I have written on the dictaphone. Then I can send both the handwritten copy and the belts to you so you can check my handwriting against my miserable voice with mumbling and vice versa.
Now this need not be terribly soon because I would like to get a good swatch of it done before I set you on it. Also I want to lay out here just as long as I can. But do you still want to work half days with or for me come - say September?
I don't know anyone else I can trust with this very special material. Besides, in typing the notes, you became familiar not only with the subject but with my working methods. Only you have never seen me work at completely high speed and full concentration. The first type script will be only a working script made for change and correction. And only when it is all done and checked and rechecked will we go into a final draft. So the first typescript need not be perfect by any means. Only the final.
If you have any change of plans or desires or directions, such as love or marriage or homesteading in Alaska I will be very sad because I like working with you, and so far you have not had to defend yourself although I can't absolutely defend that immunity. You see I don't want to have to find someone else but if you have other plans, I will have to. Will you let me know?
The English trip was perfect. It did just what I wanted it to. I am full up with it. Vinaver was a darling man to us. He travelled with us and I learned so much from him and he did me the honor of saying he learned from us but I don't see how that can be.
Catbird is acting up at camp. I must go over this afternoon and try to straighten him out. Maybe I can and maybe I can't. But, good lord, how I would love to have a year without complications, family or otherwise. In fact I am going to demand it. I have put too much time and effort into this thing to let it be nibbled to death...I just won't allow it
Would you do something for me, Mary. Will you go by Jackson's stationery store, you know the one on Third Avenue where I have an account. I want them to order and send to me here at Sag Harbor - 4 dozen pencils thus specified and no other kind - Eberhard Faber Mongol 480 No. 2 3/8 F. These are round pencils. I write so much that the octagonal pencils tear up my fingers. They have got the pencils for me before and will do it again. Also I want two packages of yellow legal pages like this one. I think they come a dozen to a package...You know, when you write a great deal by hand, the quality and texture of the pencil becomes terribly important. I sharpen about a hundred pencils a day when I am really going. And I am really going.
Not much in the way of Friday right now but later I hope you can come out with your friend as we planned and go fishing with us...In England with all the bread and potatoes and beer I gained 9 pounds. And I had been real slim. You haven't seen me since I lost 35 pounds. Anyway, I have taken off eight of the 9 pounds in one week. Before I set myself at 170 pounds, I will have lost 43 pounds. And I have only 8 more pounds to go to make that weight. Then I will try to set it at that. You wouldn't know me. I have a waistline and hip bones and all such things I had forgotten were under the layer of blubber. And I feel much better with less weight. None of my clothes fit anymore but who cares. I don't wear much but army pants or a bathing suit out here. Please let me hear from you, Mary, at your earliest.
I enclose the dust jacket for the new book. It will be out in the Fall.
Incidentally the inscription to my sister is being done on ancient vellum by a scrivener in middle English script with illuminated capitals. Vinaver is having it done. I will give it as a scroll to my sister, Mary, but I think a copy of it would be very pleasant as end papers for the book…yours / John".
Four pages on two sheets of yellow lined legal paper measures 8" x 12.5". Folds, overall near fine.