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CHARLES A. LINDBERGH

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles Start Price:350.00 USD Estimated At:700.00 - 800.00 USD
CHARLES A. LINDBERGH
"I do no want to open my private life… my personal publicity has mounted much too high…"

(1902 - 1974) American aviator who, in his "Spirit of St. Louis", was the first to fly solo non-stop across the Atlantic Ocean.Very fine content T.L.S. "Charles", 2pp. 4to., "Switzerland", Aug. 16, 1971 to Alden Whtiman at The New York Times voicing his opposition to cooperating with Whitman on a planned book. He writes in part: "...I thought I had made clear in my last letter my position in regard to this book project... I do not desire to have published a book of the kind you are planning. However, I have no objection to your publishing such a book if you do so entirely on your own responsibility, basing on the three trips we made together and in accord with our agreement that the resulting articles would be primarily to increase interest and activities in conservation and only secondarily Lindbergh. Also, with the understanding that my private life be invaded to a minimum. I do not want to take any part in the book myself by endorsing it, contributing to it, or criticizing the manuscript. Alden, the possibility of a book was no part of our agreements in relation to the Times articles. I am sure you will recall that the first Times-article project was based on wild life conservation in the Philippines, and we had no agreement about anything to follow... The third (Sunday Magazine) article arose from the lunch at the Times Building that Mr. Sulzberger so considerately invited me to and arranged... I spoke about the changes I had seen take place on the surface of the earth during the half century I have flown over it. One of the editors suggested that an interesting article could be written along this line, and I said that if there could be a constructive result from a conservation standpoint, I would be willing to take part in it. There was nothing in our agreement about a book to follow... I have told you even more often that I do no want to open my private life or take part in a biography. Our understanding from the beginning has been that in the articles emphasis would be primarily on conservation and secondarily on Lindbergh... I feel that my personal publicity has mounted much too high. I want to return to a quieter life, and I am setting trends in that direction...". Lindbergh was still smarting from the rekindling of interest in his questionable politics in the years leading up to America's entry in to World War II as illustrated in the publication of his wartime journals in 1970. Lindbergh may have also had other personal reasons for avoiding the limelight. Interestingly, it is believed that apart from the "secret" German family, Lindbergh may have fathered two children in Switzerland as well. Light folds, paperclip stain at top left, otherwise fine condition.

Estimate: $700 - 800.

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Part I: Lots 1-979 - September 27th, 2012

Part II: Lots 980-1845 - September 28th, 2012