Description:

Eleanor Roosevelt & Duchess of Windsor
n.p., March 7, 1950
Eleanor Roosevelt & Duchess of Windsor Discuss TV Programs, Memoirs & the Duke's "inferiority complex"
Archive comprised of AL and AN

A very interesting selection of correspondence exchanged between former First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt (1884-1962) and Wallis Simpson, Duchess of Windsor (1896-1986). March 7, 1950. N.p. The lot is comprised of a 3pp partial autograph letter inscribed by the Duchess of Windsor, which has been pencil-inscribed with about 38 words in Eleanor Roosevelt's hand alongside the right margin of the first page. Also included is a 1p retained printed copy of Eleanor Roosevelt's reply to the Duchess of Windsor. Provenance: Ex-Robert Black, 1968.

The former First Lady had invited the Duke and Duchess of Windsor to attend one of her informal talk shows on Sunday, March 12, 1950. This was most likely Roosevelt's first-ever television program, "Today with Mrs. Roosevelt," which aired on NBC in 30-minute segments on Sundays between February 12 - May 28, 1950. In her letter, the Duchess of Windsor explains that preexisting travel plans prevent their appearing on the show. The first of these was a visit to Palm Beach, Florida to play golf, attend baseball games, and socialize; and the second was a trip to the Duke's 4,000-acre ranch, E.P. (Edward Prince) Ranch, in Alberta, Canada, which the Duke had not visited since 1941. Contemporary newspapers from March 1950 confirm the Duke and Duchess's transnational itinerary. In lieu of the royal couple, Eleanor Roosevelt entertained Henry G. Waltemade and Tighe Wood on Sunday, March 12, 1950; the topic was rent controls!

The lot includes:

1. A 3pp autograph letter in the Duchess of Windsor's hand, with the signature clipped from the bottom of the third page. March 7, 1950. N.p. Inscribed in dark blue ink on three sheets of onionskin stationery embossed with a crowned "W" at top. Expected wear including wrinkles, isolated staple holes, and a few stray pencil marks and torn paper hole punches, else near fine. 7.25" x 10.325." Eleanor Roosevelt has pencil-inscribed about 38 words alongside the right margin of the first page; her notes appear to relate to the Sunday program slot.

The Duchess of Windsor wrote in part, with punctuation silently corrected for clarity:

"March 7th 1950 -

My dear Mrs. Roosevelt -

The Duke and I feel most flattered that you have asked us to appear on your television-radio program. Unfortunately we expect to leave for Florida Sunday the 12th and I am afraid that our plans are not flexible due to our reservations - which are made from there to Alberta where we are going to the Duke's ranch. We shall be back in New York in the early Spring and I do hope we may both have the pleasure of seeing you again. We enjoyed your book 'Things [sic] I remember' very much; in fact I am afraid it gave the Duke quite an inferiority complex, your memory and the easy style with which you write of the past, are something the Duke would like to possess in writing his memoirs…"

2. A 1p retained printed copy of Eleanor Roosevelt's response to the Duchess of Windsor. Pencil-inscribed by a former collector towards the upper left corner, which has staple holes and wrinkles. Else near fine. 6" x 9."

Eleanor Roosevelt's response is as follows:

"March 7, 1950

My dear Duchess:

While we are disappointed at not having the pleasure of seeing you and the Duke this coming Sunday, we understand perfectly that plans have to be made ahead and are difficult to change.

We shall count on seeing you and the Duke when you return to New York City.

I deeply appreciate your kind words about my book.

Very cordially yours…"

After leaving the White House, Eleanor Roosevelt had remained extremely active in all forms of media: printed, audio-recorded, and televised. For example, after her program "Today with Mrs. Roosevelt" concluded in May 1950, she started a NBC radio program, which aired early afternoons between October 1950 - August 1951. During roughly this same time period, Roosevelt also hosted a NBC television program called "Mrs. Roosevelt Meets the Public" (October 1950 - July 1951.) All of this while Roosevelt also contributed to her long-running syndicated newspaper column, "My Day" (1935-1962.) Plus, as mentioned by the Duchess of Windsor in her letter, Eleanor Roosevelt's second of four autobiographies had just been published the year before, in 1949. "This I remember" (not "Things I Remember," as the Duchess accidentally miswrote) covered Roosevelt's life between the 1920s and FDR's death in 1945.

The Duchess of Windsor mentions in the context of memoirs that the Duke of Windsor was working on his own recollections. She breezily contrasts the two authors, writing dismissively that Roosevelt's book gave the "Duke quite an inferiority complex." The Duke of Windsor's autobiography was published the following year: "A King's Story: The Memoirs of H.R.H. The Duke of Windsor, K.G." (London: Cassell and Company, Ltd., 1951).

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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  • Dimensions: larger sheets measure: 7.25" x 10.325"
  • Medium: Archive comprised of AL and AN

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