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322

J.D. Salinger ALS

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles Start Price:1,000.00 USD
J.D. Salinger ALS
Virtually unheard of six-page autograph letter signed “Jerry” and, at head of first page, “Cpl. J.D. Salinger.” Written from France while Salinger served in WWII to Terry (Mrs. Frances Thierolf ''Terry'' Glassmoyer), Salinger's friend from Ursinus College and inspiration for his literary character Franny Glass in ''Franny and Zooey.'' Headed by Salinger “August 7 [1944] / Cpl. J.D. Salinger, 3232520 / C.I.C. Section, 4th Inf. Div. / APO #4, c/o PM, N.Y.C.” C.I.C. was the Counter Intelligence Corps. In near fine condition on six separate pages measuring 6'' x 9''. Letter reads in full, ''Dear Terry – I think you should name your production ‘Sawyer.’ Mull the whole business in your mind. I’ve been in France since D-Day, as you can see by the Division to which I’m attached. It’s swell over here. Wish I were thirty years younger so I could be with you now. If only I had known how M.H. Stoudt felt about me. I’d have walked into her sorority house, with my guitar, wearing a high silk hat and an athletic supporter. – Matter of fact, I liked M.H. Her affectations were so rigidly disciplined. Loved reading the Sigma Nu news. Give me more. I want to be twenty and back at Ursinus. Over here I met and have had a couple of long talks with Ernest Hemingway. He’s extremely nice and completely unpatronizing. He’s here for Colliers. Sitting in my jeep as I write this. Chickens and pigs are walking around in an unbelievably uninteresting manner. I dig my fox-holes down to a cowardly depth. Am scared stiff constantly and can’t remember ever having been a civilian. Apparently you missed the July 15th issue of S.E.P. – Read ‘Elaine’ in STORY, on the stands now or next month. Watch for ‘I’m Crazy’ and ‘Boy Standing in Tennessee’ in S.E.P. ‘Two Lonely Men’ in Esquire, and ‘The Children’s Echelon’ in Cosmopolitan. Lippincott is bringing out all that crap in a book, probably in the Fall. I left America and went to England in January, in the year, I believe that Wilson delivered his fourteen points. It’s been miserable right along, no holds barred. I’ll tell you, and Glasswafer all about it while we motor through Yellowstone Park. (or have you forgotten so soon?) Write again and remind me when you have time. I’m a condition, not a man, so Glasswaller won’t mind, will he? I can imagine, you know very well, that he must be a very nice guy. Glad of it. You’re a pretty special girl. Love to you and little Sawyer. Jerry”. In this letter, Salinger reacts to Terry telling him how Mary Helen Stoudt felt about him; in the 12 December 1938 issue of his college newspaper, “The Ursinus Weekly,” freshman Jerome Salinger reviewed the Senior Play, mentioning M.H. Stoudt’s performance: “On the evening of December tenth, the Senior Class, under the direction of Dr. and Mrs. Reginald S. Sibbald, offered “Lady Of Letters,” a three-act farce by Turner Bullock…Mary Helen Stoudt filled the insignificant role of Daughter Susie to its scant capacity…” Salinger’s short story “Elaine” appeared in the March-April 1945 issue of “Story” magazine, not in late 1944 as he expected. “Boy Standing in Tennessee” was never published and its existence is unknown. It is said to be the original version of “This Sandwich Has No Mayonnaise” which was published in the October 1945 issue of “Esquire.” In it, a character named Vincent Caulfield mentions his brother Holden and his sister Phoebe. “I’m Crazy” was in “Colliers” on 22 December 1945, not S.E.P., (“Saturday Evening Post”) as Salinger had thought. In “I’m Crazy,” Salinger used Holden Caulfield as the narrator. The story included an early draft of portions of chapters 1, 2, and 22 of “The Catcher in the Rye.” “Two Lonely Men” and “The Children’s Echelon” were never published. “The Children’s Echelon” is a story told by an 18-year-old girl, Bernice Herndon, through her diary. In one entry, she mentions that she loves to watch children at the merry-go-round – just like Holden Caulfield in “The Catcher in the Rye.” Accompanied by copy of original envelope postmarked 9 August 1944.
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