Description:

Tilden William 1893 - 1953 Bill Tilden ALS 2x signed letter from prison to his family



Single page ALS scripted recto and verso in graphite on ruled paper, 5" x 8". Signed by Bill Tilden as "Bill", and accompanied by his handwritten envelope signed by him as "W.T. Tilden" and postmarked May 5, 1949. Both in near fine condition.

A warm letter from then 56-year-old Tilden, the greatest tennis player of the first half of the twentieth century, who at the time was recently incarcerated for a second offense on charges stemming from homosexual encounters with young boys. Tilden writes from prison to his closest friends Marrian and her son Arthur Anderson, the latter whom he affectionately calls "Bratto", who was Tilden's tennis protͩgͩ. Tilden lived with the Andersons twice for an extended period, and they were the only close family he ever had. The Andersons never deserted Tilden, even in this, his darkest hour.

According to Deford, Tilden was released on December 18, 1949, just a few days before the Associated Press poll of the half-century voted Bill Tilden "the greatest athlete in his sport by a margin larger than any other _„î Babe Ruth, Jack Dempsey, Bobby Jones, Red Grange. Of them all, Tilden was voted the most dominant ... ". He consorted with movie stars and kings. Unfortunately, Tilden's well-chronicled and shameful off-the-court troubles toward the end of his life tarnished his legacy, and he died destitute and devoid of the fame tennis brought him. While Tilden's off-court actions are unforgiveable, his on-court prowess must not be forgotten. Tilden's legacy is the basis for today's champions.

The letter shown in full below:

"Dear Marrian + Bratto Wed

Tis Wednesday and I am thinking about the Brat + how he is coming out in the school match and know he is winning. I am fine and my story is really going well now. Please Marrian be sure to bring me two of the tablets as I am all out now and can't work until I get it. I have had no work from anybody at all. Since I saw you both, so have no news of any kind. I will have the picture marked which are OK and which to do over, so Marrian can bring them in Sunday.

I'm crazy to see who you draw, Bale in the So. Cal. Surprize the old fogies and lick a few seeded stars or some of Jones (illegible). It would do me good to know it. I miss you both and wish I were with you, but I am really fine and getting fat I'm afraid. I'm really excited about the story. Please arrange with the gal about typing it.

Love to you all

Your Bill"

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