Description:

"Born Free" Lion Content Joy Adamson TLS Ahead of Release for the Motion Picture (1966) Outstanding!

TLS, 1p, measuring 7.5" x 9.25", dated February 10, 1965, Republic of Kenya [likely Isiolo]. A moving letter from Joy Adamson, wildlife conservationist and author of the autobiographical book Born Free (1960), addressed to one Evelyn Akerley of Alexandria, VA after her donation to Adamson's foundation dedicated to Elsa the Lioness. Elsa (1956-1961), whose life and upbringing is the main subject of Born Free, was brought up by Adamson and her husband after the lioness and her other two siblings were orphaned. The letter, written a year before the international release of the 1966 film of the same name, is signed "Joy Adamson" at conclusion in blue ballpoint pen. Various African animals and plains motifs adorn the page, forming an eye-catching border. Exhibits moderate wear, including faint odor, expected toning, darkened edge soiling, and areas of creasing throughout, commensurate with age. Overall, a fantastic letter with interesting connections to Born Free (1966) and the book that inspired it.

Reads in part:

"Since last July I have been camping on location with COLUMBIA pictures who are making a film of Born Free not far from our Isiolo home. At present we have 20 lions, a young elephant, 2 hyrax, a buffalo and a cheetah (Who is my private pet) to act the various animals in Elsa's story.

Virginia McKenna and her husband Bill Travers play the parts of George and myself and it is largely due to their infinite patience and affection for these animals that they respond absolutely voluntaily [sic] to all the tasks required by the film. Together with my husband and other trainers thay [sic] take the lions daily out on to the open plains and let them run free, chase footballs, climb trees, swim through rivers and ambush their human friends just for the fun of all. As a result, a deep mutual affection has developed which makes the often difficult and intimate scenes in the story possible. The film will be internationally released at the end of this year when I hope you will enjoy seeing it."

Joy Adamson (1910-1980) was a wildlife conversationist, artist, and writer most associated with her rehabilitation of, and subsequent relationship with Elsa the Lioness. Joy's three books Born Free (1960), Living Free (1961), and Forever Free (1962), chronicle Elsa's life from the time of her adoption by the Adamsons as a cub to the couple's later efforts to conserve and transport her own cubs after the lioness' premature death caused by a tick-borne disease. In turn, Adamson's work with Elsa would mark the first successful release of a lion back into the wild, and subsequently, the first time contact was made with a released lion.

Columbia Pictures would approach Adamson due to the growing popularity of her books as international bestsellers with the intention of producing a movie based on her experiences. As she recounts in this letter, the film's leading roles were played by real-life husband and wife Virginia McKenna (as Joy) and Bill Travers (as George). During production, George Adamson served as a chief technical adviser, with himself and Joy also working alongside the film's many animals. The Adamson's story greatly affected McKenna and Travers, inspiring them to become wildlife activists themselves and, in 1984, to establish the Born Free Foundation which today works to fund several cross-continental projects, as well as operate their own big cat sanctuaries in Africa and India.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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