Letter handwritten and signed by Jack Kerouac, containing a quote from "Desolation Angels."
$15,000 · Offered by Biblio
First edition · Signed
no place: Unpublished, 1967. Book. Very good+ condition. Unbound. Signed by Author(s). First Edition. Quarto (4to). One page letter, handwritten and signed by Jack Kerouac. Folded into thirds, with one tiny tear at one crease, two stains in the margin, and minor browning to the edges. It is addressed to Marshall and starts by quoting a passage from Desolation Angels where Kerouac writes about the deaths of his brother and father after apparent contemplation of reincarnation For if the soul can t escape the body give the world to Mao Tse-Tung. The events described in the novel take place from 1956-1957, and were written years prior to the publication of Desolation Angels which was published in 1965. The letter is undated, but occurred between the date of publication and when Kerouac died on October 21, 1969. The next paragraph predicts You will be elevated in your time as I shall in mine. The closing paragraph states I hope you re not really as sick as you think or say. Without a mailing envelope, the recipient of the letter has not been identified. The previous seller s catalogue description contains speculation that it could be Marshall McLuhan. McLuhan was diagnosed with a brain tumor while at Fordham in 1967. It is possible that the letter is addressed to Ed / Edward Marshall (1932-2005) who along with Kerouac was published by LeRoi Jones and Hettie Cohen in Yugen No. 4. This issue contained Jonah at Danbury and At Tudor City by Marshall and 2 Blues and 4 Haikus by Kerouac
- Publisher: Unpublished
- Year: 1967
- Edition: First Edition
- Binding: Paperback
Found via Rare Books Intel, a search across rare-book dealers, auction houses and marketplaces worldwide.