Kerouac, Jack (1922-1969) Typed Letter, with Manuscript Additions, 1-5 June 1940.
Five leaves (ten pages), typed, 1 1/2 space, comprising one letter on two sheets (four pages); and an experimental writing piece titled "Morning Mist" comprising two pages of a six page letter (three leaves). To George J. Apostolos, written after Kerouac's graduation from Horace Mann School; the first letter discussing their shared future as writers, the upcoming summer in Lowell, memories of Lowell, and a detailed description of new jazz records Kerouac recently purchased. The piece on "Morning Mist" is a juvenile poetic prose piece influenced by Whitman; the letter containing more plans for the summer in Lowell, discussion of intellectual pursuits, reading, music, drinking, and women. Typed on five leaves of wove marigold-colored writing paper, with a typed envelope postmarked June 5, 1940, Brooklyn, New York, 12:30 am; the envelope chipped with loss, with an unfortunate paint leaking flaw in the upper right corner; the letters themselves with old folds, each page marked with a spot of discoloration, ranging in size from a 3/4 inch round, to a 1 x 2 inch splotch, one page unaffected, 8 1/4 x 7 5/8 in.
"I don't like to see you say that you can't 'equal my amazing eloquence.' In the first place, it is eloquence in every sense of the word, but it is not amazing. (You'll find that out if you read something by Noel Coward, Jules Romains, Max Beerbohm, or the like.) However, it is an immature beginning----and the same applies for your flawless composition----into the field of unusual writing. We are both well on our way, and I might add that we each possess a unique style apart from each other, and neither is better than the other. That's a fact. As the years roll on, we shall develop styles of writing that may throw us into a literary spotlight. That book we're going to write together will be the most sensational one since "The Tales of Gamberhousing" by Roland Everhard II."
Estimate $3,000-5,000
To download a pdf file of all of the Kerouac letters, lots 44 through 50 inclusive, cut and paste the following link into your web browser: assets.skinnerinc.com/documents/2764B_Kerouac_Letters.pdf
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