Lot 357

Jack Kerouac Wants To Be on the Road Again "to come back to Denver someday in a Buick convertible with a case of scotch." Fantastic Literary Content

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Jack Kerouac Wants To Be on the Road Again "to come back to Denver someday in a Buick convertible with a case of scotch." Fantastic Literary Content

Estimate: $13,000 - $18,000

Current Bid: $4,500

(1 Bid)

June 17, 2026 10:00 AM EDT
Live Auction
Wilton, CT, US

Description:

Jack Kerouac
[Marin City, CA], [Sat.] August 16, 1947
Jack Kerouac Wants To Be on the Road Again "to come back to Denver someday in a Buick convertible with a case of scotch." Fantastic Literary Content
ALS

A lengthy autographed letter from Jack Kerouac to Edward White, discussing his travels to California and a 40,000-word screen story he wrote. 1p on lined notebook paper, 8.5" x 11", [Marin City, CA], August 16, 1947. Signed at conclusion as "Jack", with a short postscript in ink demanding his friend to "WRITE!" The screen story in question is very likely to be "Christmas in New York", although the work remains unpublished. Accompanied by its original mailing envelope hand addressed by Kerouac to White, postmarked from Sausalito on August 21. Letter features general toning throughout, with traces of folds and minimal tearing to the margins. Isolated water staining to the upper left of envelope, where Kerouac has written his return address. Otherwise, very good with fantastic contents. 270 words in his hand!

In full:

"Dear Ed-
Finally got to San Francisco, thanks to everything you and the others did for me. Had an interesting trip, although we crossed the divide somewhere in Wyoming (Creston) where it wasn't too noticeable, let alone spectacular. Will see it at steamboat yet.
Here in 'Frisco I'm promptly getting a job as some sort of cop (of all things) guarding dormitories for an overseas construction unit (of Morrison + Knudsen) with a .32 automatic on my hip. It's a very funny twist, waiting for the right ship to come along, a 'round-the-world passenger ship, on which I could sign on as a yeoman (gen. clerk.).
Meanwhile I actually knocked off a full-length 40,000-word screen story in six days of 'feverish labourings,' while waiting for the guard job to come through. Never worked so intensely. Having it copyrighted. Then, in two weeks, on my days off, flying down to Hollywood to try to sell it. It may or may not be a good story, I don't know. But there it is. I'd appreciate your mentioning it to Brierly and writing back any suggestions he might venture (or should I write to him?) Let me know.
Say hello to glorious Beverly B. for me- I'm writing to Bob. Say hello to Bill, wonderful guy. My ambition is to come back to Denver someday in a Buick convertible with a case of scotch. If the story sells, who knows. I'll be seeing you in N.Y. around November (barring a 'round-the-world trip) where, I hope, we'll be at Ben Johnson's and anything new that comes up. So long for now-"

Neither the "round-the-world trip" nor the sale of his screenplay in Hollywood ever materialized. Kerouac returned to New York in early October 1947, where he reunited with White and anxiously waited for the studios to respond. By late November, he took "Christmas in New York" to the literary agency Bergh & Winner but, again, nothing became of it. Today, the 99 page-strong autograph manuscript is in the collection of Jack Kerouac Papers at the New York Public Library (box 10, folder 3).

Justin W. Brierly (1905-85), the later teacher and lawyer mentioned in the letter, is best known for discovering and supporting a young Neal Cassady. The "glorious" Beverly Burford briefly dated Edward White and was involved with Kerouac in the spring of 1950. She served as the model for the character Babe Rawlins in "On the Road". Her older brother, Bob Burford (1924-2004), was an editor of the New Story magazine together with Robert Lax. Kerouac's lifelong friend, White inspired characters such as Tim Gray ("On the Road"), Ed Gray ("Visions of Cody"), and Al Green ("Book of Cody").

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: ALS

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