ANS signed “John,” one page, 4 x 6, Marcella Rabwin letterhead, no date. Brief note to socialite Marcella Rabwin, written at the bottom of a note to Lennon from Rabwin. At the top, Rabwin writes: “John L – You are here in the history of music—where you belong.” Rabwin had given Lennon a book on music in which he was featured. At the bottom Lennon writes, “To Marcella, With love & thanks, John 74,” adding a small self portrait caricature under his signature Several horizontal folds and bends, scattered light toning, and some light creasing and wrinkling, otherwise fine condition. Rabwin was a Hollywood figure and civic leader. She served as David O. Selznick’s executive assistant on the production of Gone With the Wind. Accompanied by photocopies of two newspaper articles from the Los Angeles Herald-Examiner from 1974, one mentioning “A prominent Los Angeles and la Jolla socialite is seriously considering adopting John Lennon…John wants to remain in this country and the socialite and her equally-prominent husband are asking the advice of friends on whether they should or should not adopt the onetime Beatle…Lennon has asked her to adopt him…How many people in this town can go around saying ‘I’d like you to meet my son the Beatle?’” At the time, Lennon was under FBI surveillance and constant harassment from the Immigration & Naturalization Service (INS) as officials looked for ways to revoke his visa. The INS had spent millions of tax dollars to deport him as he protested social injustices in the United States, politically rallied against the Republican Party, and advocated peace. An affectionate note, highlighted with a great self-portrait, made even more interesting by the offer of Rabwin to become Lennon’s adoptive mother. Pre-certified Roger Epperson/REAL and RRAuction COA.
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