World-champion Cuban chess player (1888-1942) considered one of the greatest of all time. ALS in Spanish, signed “J. R. Capablanca,” two pages on two adjoining sheets, 5.25 x 7, June 20, 1939. Handwritten letter to fellow Cuban chess champion Juan Corzo, who years earlier had passed the torch to Capablanca, which discusses the latter's potential participation in the historic 8th Chess Olympiad in Buenos Aires. In full (translated): “Two lines to thank you for your letter of May 30, including another from Honduras. I follow the march of the Tournament there on posters. The Tournament of Nations begins on August 23. Would have to embark here at the end of July and at this time I do not know anything about the fundamental: money. Please talk to Figueredo [Migeul Figueredo, president of the Havana Chess Club] who I also write to today to find out what to decide. If I don’t go to B.A. I will play in two small tournaments in England. Get a big hug from your old friend.” In fine condition, with scattered small stains, and trivial loss to the bottom edge of the signed page. Accompanied by a full letter of authenticity from Beckett Authentication Services. Capablanca writes from Paris, where shortly thereafter he and his wife would be guests of the President of France at a celebration of the non-aggression pact signed by Germany and France. Capablanca would ultimately attend and star at the Olympiad, which would be famously interrupted by World War II, and won its top individual prize. It was Capablanca’s last ever tournament.
