ALS signed “Mayo & Bogie,” two pages both sides, 8.5 x 11, no date. Letter to Eric and Gertie Hatch who had invited the Bogarts to a debutante party. In part: “We, Mr. & Mrs. Bogart are so distressed…because we really feel it’s going to cost much too much. For instance, just a glance at our estimated expenses should convince you that the matter is out of the question.”
Bogart goes on to write a list of expenses including: “Railroad—$600; Side trip to Grand Canyon (no sales resistance) $150…Liquor on trip and in Twenty One (God Knows!) Breakage (couple of hundred).
So as you can see the trip is really out of the question—Please explain this to the Timpsons. Incidentally, how well do you know the Timpsons—are you sure they aren’t using you to further their own ends.
I simply want to ask you one question—why should Miss. Timpson come out before Miss Hatch—after all H comes before T in the alphabet, if we’re being fair and democratic about all this.
Oh, and one more question—’What are they coming out of”—because I gather this is a mild ‘coming out party.’
And dear Mr. & Mrs. Hatch we haven’t been to a tea dance…Cinamon [sic] toast and martinis—never!!
And the name of the Club—Rockaway Hunting Club—filled with Jews my dears—Rockaway you know…Anyway Mr. & Mrs. Bogart refuse with pleasure your kind invitation on account of how its too far away—and anyway how do Mr. & Mrs. Timpson know our company would be pleasant. You see, the whole thing’s silly.” In very good condition, with intersecting folds, one through a single letter of signature, scattered toning, two small holes at fold intersections and slight paper loss to second page, and scattered light creasing and wrinkling.
This letter is featured and quoted in the book Bogart by A.M. Sperber and Eric Lax, and is accompanied by a 2004 letter of provenance stating the letter was acquired in 2004 from Eve Holmes, the daughter of screenwriter Eric Hatch.
According to that publication, this very interesting—if decidedly politically incorrect—correspondence probably dates to August 1941, the year of Bogart’s rise to stardon and one that saw the release of All Through the Night, The Maltese Falcon, and High Sierra. Great references to liquor and (gasp!) cinnamon toast and martinis...perhaps the very reason behind some of his more inappropriate comments. Pre-certified PSA/DNA and RRAuction COA.
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