$4,920
Kerouac, Jack (1922-1969) Typed Letters, Fragments, [February 1941] Two separate letters, each a single page with substantial damage due to a leaking can of paint, with loss to the paper and text, both written from Columbia in 1941. To George J. Apostolos, describing football practices, upcoming visits, romantic liaisons, big meals, loneliness, and other subjects. Both letters stained and discolored, and chipped with substantial loss, the first fragment has a large rift down the center, the original sheet in both cases was 8 1/2 x 11 in., the second letter consists of only the top half of the sheet, 8 1/2 x 7 in. Despite their condition, these letters do contain a little over 2,000 legible Kerouacian words. "I struggle and work and cry and boast and ponder and laugh. I do all these things; they are the components of life. I have all my work, my duties, my studies, my responsibilities. I do them all---oftentimes in a lousy manner and in a lazy manner---but I always manage to scramble to that level that we call "Reasonable." I know that the world is in chaos, and that my precious individualism will not last. But I also foresee things….great, awful, dark things… and I foresee a terrible […] of beauty and stark horror for both of us (and everyone else) […] that I am chosen by God to become a writer. For, the Lord […] will be needed in the days to come."
Auctioneer:
Skinner
Date:
2014-11-16
