'But this is a real revolution'
Autograph Letter Signed ("Love, Papa") to His Son, John ("Dear Bum").
Finca Vigia, San Francisco de Paula, Cuba: March 30, 1959.
Price:
$9,500.00
One leaf, recto and verso, on his Finca Vigia onion skin stationery; in blue ballpoint ink, with autograph note in red pencil at upper left of recto.
Item #378658
A warm letter from Hemingway to his eldest son, John — addressing him as "Bum," the diminutive of his childhood nickname Bumby — written just after his return to his Cuba following an extended road trip with his wife, Mary, and his friend and collaborator, A. E. Hotchner, through the western and southern United States and Mexico. "We had a good trip. 4097 miles via Elko [NV], Vegas, Phoenix, Tucson, El Paso, Eagle Pass (Piedras Negras [Mexico] lovely town), Corpus Christie, New Orleans (where left Hotch at airport and I drove rest of the way via Panama City, Sarasota, K. W. Flew over yest."
Hemingway had been somewhat concerned about Cuba since the overthrow on January 1st of the Batista regime by the forces of Fidel Castro, but he states that upon their arrival, "Customs etc. treated us same or better than ever — But this is a real [emphasized] revolution — something like what we hoped for in Spain when set up Republic. Will give you gen later."
He then references his middle son, Patrick, by his nickname, noting, "Hope you don't miss Mouse as he was coming to S.F. especially to see you. Talked to him at length twice. He should be going to S.F. now from Baltimore."
Hemingway also apologizes for the brevity and overall sloppiness of the letter, jokingly paraphrasing a famous quote, "Am writing like man at Little Big Horn — Send up the packs. — P.S. Send up pacs [sic]. (Last message received by Benteen.)" Part of the reason for Hemingway's rush concerns the autograph note in Hemingway's hand at the upper left corner of the recto, "En. ck / $93.38 / John," which relates to the first line of the letter, "Just got in last night and found your letter of March 20 and hasten to send check."
He closes with, "Everything fine here. Rene did wonderful job. But bad drought. No mangoes — No hay corriente [This is not normal]." ("Rene" was Rene Villarreal, who began working for Hemingway at Finca Vigia in 1946, and eventually managed the household for him.)
Hemingway, sadly, was not to remain in Cuba much longer: while on the road trip with Mary and Hotchner, he had purchased a new house in Ketchum, ID, which they were staying at in 1960 when Castro — whom Hemingway had been on good terms with — expropriated all foreign-owned property, including the Finca Vigia; he never returned.
Item #378658
A warm letter from Hemingway to his eldest son, John — addressing him as "Bum," the diminutive of his childhood nickname Bumby — written just after his return to his Cuba following an extended road trip with his wife, Mary, and his friend and collaborator, A. E. Hotchner, through the western and southern United States and Mexico. "We had a good trip. 4097 miles via Elko [NV], Vegas, Phoenix, Tucson, El Paso, Eagle Pass (Piedras Negras [Mexico] lovely town), Corpus Christie, New Orleans (where left Hotch at airport and I drove rest of the way via Panama City, Sarasota, K. W. Flew over yest."
Hemingway had been somewhat concerned about Cuba since the overthrow on January 1st of the Batista regime by the forces of Fidel Castro, but he states that upon their arrival, "Customs etc. treated us same or better than ever — But this is a real [emphasized] revolution — something like what we hoped for in Spain when set up Republic. Will give you gen later."
He then references his middle son, Patrick, by his nickname, noting, "Hope you don't miss Mouse as he was coming to S.F. especially to see you. Talked to him at length twice. He should be going to S.F. now from Baltimore."
Hemingway also apologizes for the brevity and overall sloppiness of the letter, jokingly paraphrasing a famous quote, "Am writing like man at Little Big Horn — Send up the packs. — P.S. Send up pacs [sic]. (Last message received by Benteen.)" Part of the reason for Hemingway's rush concerns the autograph note in Hemingway's hand at the upper left corner of the recto, "En. ck / $93.38 / John," which relates to the first line of the letter, "Just got in last night and found your letter of March 20 and hasten to send check."
He closes with, "Everything fine here. Rene did wonderful job. But bad drought. No mangoes — No hay corriente [This is not normal]." ("Rene" was Rene Villarreal, who began working for Hemingway at Finca Vigia in 1946, and eventually managed the household for him.)
Hemingway, sadly, was not to remain in Cuba much longer: while on the road trip with Mary and Hotchner, he had purchased a new house in Ketchum, ID, which they were staying at in 1960 when Castro — whom Hemingway had been on good terms with — expropriated all foreign-owned property, including the Finca Vigia; he never returned.
