January 2024 Auction Ends Thursday, January 25th, 5pm Pacific
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 1/25/2024
Hunter S. Thompson typed letter signed, with interesting content on a possible article about Big Sur for ''Playboy'', ultimately published in ''Rogue'' magazine as ''Big Sur: The Tropic of Henry Miller''. Undated letter was sent in early February 1961 to Thompson's friend Paul Semonin in Aspen. Letter begins ominously, ''Bad news everywhere. We now have a three week wait before the dinga reveals itself -- it if exists at all...Got this thing from [David Porter] Bibb today [a wedding announcement]. It really staggers me...only the steamship of god will get me to Greenwich on May 13. / Here is a shot you might like...It is the apex of my genius. / For the past week Sandy has been in SF (dealing with clinics, etc) and I have turned my genius to re-creating Big Sur in the image of Playboy. If it bounces I will do the blood-dance because the past six days have been nerves and dexamel. When the big money is there in front of you -- and I have it pinned to the wall right zap in my eyes -- strange things will happen in a poor-boy's brain. If it ever sees print I will have to leave here in the dead of night, but until then I suppose I shall live as usual on the sun-tanned brink. Dennis Murphy [whose grandmother owned the Big Sur property] struck me yesterday & seems decent...I now have a home-beer recipe that will turn it out for 8 cents a quart -- 13 per cent and warm to the tongue...zip down here before the moon-shot...Muggily, [signed] H''. Single page letter measures 8.5'' x 11''. Chip to left side and uniform toning, overall very good condition.
Hunter S. Thompson Letter Signed -- ''...I have turned my genius to re-creating Big Sur in the image of Playboy. If it bounces I will do the blood-dance...''
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