Description:

Hunter S. Thompson
New York, NY, March 11, 1962
Hunter S. Thompson TLS Mentioning "The Rum Diary": "I...feel certain it will never be published. No matter. Just to finish...is enough"
TLS

Hunter S. Thompson (1937-2005). Typed Letter Signed, "H," 1p, 8.5" x 11", New York City, New York, March 11, 1962. A few manuscript corrections to type in Thompson's hand. Age toning throughout. Show-through from notations at an otherwise blank verso. In very good condition.

Thompson writes to his friend Paul Semonin, who was traveling through Europe at the time. Thompson writes about nearly finishing "The Rum Diary," and also photography. In part:

"Dear Humbert: Here is the shot you took in Big Sur. I knew you'd want it. It is a good shot and I admire your technique. / As for ni**er-child [racial slur], I almost believed you in the first few lines...but what you've either forgotten or repressed is that we both took that shot with 2 different cameras...Anyway, it doesn't matter. I sent ni**er-child, [a photo of an African-American child taken by either Semonin or Thompson] to PRNS - with no credit line - and they bounced it. I also showed it to a photo agent and she pointed out about 40 faults. In short, no sale. And no money...Anyway, you are getting around. Madrid sounds better than the others. I figured you might stay a while in Paris. Why not? No nymphet linguists there? Beware, Semonin, Spanish law deals unkindly with your sort."

Thompson then goes into detail about sophisticated camera equipment he intended to buy, "I have gone hammer & tong at this photo business & am now an expert. The next time I do your portrait will cost you $100."

Thompson concludes with an update on his writing, "The RD [Rum Diary] is almost there. I can hardly believe it, but feel certain it will never be published. No matter. Just to finish the bastard is enough...If you are going back to Aspen, I might pawn you my rifle. There is no luck and only madmen pay debts."

Thompson did, in fact, finish "The Rum Diary," but the novel wasn't published until 1998, by Simon & Schuster (US) and Bloomsbury Publishing (UK). It was assumed to have been lost, but Thompson had always felt it was too weak to sell, as noted in our present letter, but now he needed money. His assistant, Lynn Nesbit, explained: "The Rum Diary came out when it did because he needed money, absolutely. He never would've published that twenty years before." The book sold well, but Thompson was disappointed, calling it "the sloppiest job of Book Publishing I've ever seen." The novel was even adapted into a 2011 film starring Johnny Depp, with audiences rating the film a "C" out of an A+ to F scale.

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: 8.5" x 11"
  • Medium: TLS

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