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F. Scott Fitzgerald

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles / Autographs Start Price:NA Estimated At:50,000.00 - 60,000.00 USD
F. Scott Fitzgerald

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Auction Date:2014 Mar 12 @ 18:00 (UTC-05:00 : EST/CDT)
Location:236 Commercial St., Suite 100, Boston, Massachusetts, 02109, United States
ALS - Autograph Letter Signed
ANS - Autograph Note Signed
AQS - Autograph Quotation Signed
AMQS - Autograph Musical Quotation Signed
DS - Document Signed
FDC - First Day Cover
Inscribed - “Personalized”
ISP - Inscribed Signed Photograph
LS - Letter Signed
SP - Signed Photograph
TLS - Typed Letter Signed
Two letters and a handwritten poem from Fitzgerald to his college friend Tom Lineaweaver. First ALS, signed “Scott,” two pages, 8.5 x 11, Ellerslie letterhead, no date [but circa 1927-28]. In part: “I’m afraid I was the world’s greatest bore that night. I was in the resistant mood—you know, the resistant mood? I’m afraid I irritated both you and Eleanor, and I wanted to please you more than anyone there. It’s all very dim to me but I remember a lot of talk about fairies and the managing type of American women, whatever that means. It’s possible I may be apologizing to the wrong people—anyhow if I was lousy please forgive me and tell Eleanor I can be almost human when sober. We are on the wagon....Tell Eleanor I love her and I want to marry her. Does that fix everything?”

Second ALS, signed “Your devoted friend, Scott,” three pages, 6 x 9.25, Hotel Rennert, Baltimore, Maryland, letterhead, no date [but circa 1932]. In part: “Had rather a run-in with your friend Davis—all my fault & yet unfortunate if it had any consequences. Leaving the Poes shortly after you, we went to a friend of his & from there called up Bryan Dancy. My idea was to drop in only, & on arrival, I called up the Rennert & asked them to send out a boy to drive any car. Some smart alec at the party met the man & sent him back so much against my will I had to stay to dinner. I wanted to be home. Anyhow it seems that I said to the assembly at dinner that ‘I was living in a state of mild masturbation at the Rennert.’ It seemed to me an entirely innocuous remark. I’d said the same thing to Eleanor a few hours before and she didn’t collapse, but Massa Davis & Wife decided to be offended. Then also I was unwise as to mention the word virginity in conversation. I realized about then that I was being to them, offensive. I sent for my man to come & drive me home & this time he appeared. This morning I sent Mrs. Dancy flowers & know there’s no harm done there, but what version that flowery ass, Davis, will give you I don’t know. I know that whenever I’m nice to people I don’t like or respect I’m sooner or later rude to them as a sort of compensation. I had heard the story of the Portsmouth Priory once too often.”

Also included is an unsigned, unpublished handwritten poem, across two adjoined sheets, 11 x 7, circa 1920. Fitzgerald writes 20 lines of verse, in pencil, about the courtship and marriage of Tom and Eleanor. Poem begins: “I remember—yrs ago / When a deb was desperate for / a beaux / She could phone to any / Princeton Club / And get a dancing, if alcoholic / sub.” Final two lines read, “So now we’re gathered here today / To celebrate the initial jump in the hay.”

In very good condition, with dampstaining and toning to first letter, resulting in a few light, but still legible words, and mild curling; second letter in uniformly toned, with a few partial separations to the horizontal folds, with a complete separation to top fold of third page, not affecting any text. The poem is also lightly toned.

Two years after publishing The Great Gatsby, Fitzgerald’s literary career began to stagnate as he found himself at the center of the wild social scene of the roaring twenties. Frustrated with his lack of progress, he and Zelda moved into the decadent Ellerslie mansion in 1927 so he could concentrate on writing his next novel. While he did begin work on Tender Is the Night, the bulk of his time continued to be spent hosting extravagant parties, and his reputation as a notorious alcoholic grew. Written from Ellerslie, the first of these two extraordinary letters to his longtime friend and former Princeton classmate, Tom Lineaweaver, reveals the embarrassment of the wild author for his self-indulgent behavior, deeply apologizing for his drunken social missteps and begging forgiveness from his friends. Indicating his willingness to change, he writes, “I can be almost human when sober…We are on the wagon.” The second letter, however (likely written four or five years later, when Fitzgerald moved into the Hotel Rennert in Baltimore) belies the previous claim, as he again finds himself explaining his “offensive” behavior. After leaving a party at the Poes—the grandsons of Edgar Allen Poe’s cousin, who attended Princeton as well—Fitzgerald was seemingly forced into company that he had little patience for, leading to a series of off-colored comments that shocked the guests. With the additional unpublished poem—which gives insight and depth to this friendship that spanned decades, as it was seemingly written for Tom and Eleanor’s wedding on June 28, 1920—this is a remarkable collection from the highly sought-after American icon, with abundant references to his notorious drinking and riotous parties.