ALS, one page, lightly-lined, 5.5 x 8, November 23, [1961]. Letter written in Oswald’s hand for his wife to his mother, signed by Oswald on her behalf, “Marina,” and signed again by Oswald at the conclusion of a short postscript, “Lee xx.” In full: “Today we received your grand gift, I am very surprised that you guessed my taste in color and fabric. Here it is already very cold so your wool stole will be very useful. It is very nice to feel that you are so attentive to me, more so, even, than to Lee. I shall always remember your gift as a mark of our friendship. I hope you won’t be nervous for us, you shouldn’t worry about us too much. I have never seen you (except on a photograhp [sic]) but I have a lot of affection for you allready [sic]. I hope you shall be well and thank you again for the fine present.” At the bottom Oswald writes, “(I wrote it for her but the words are hers), Lee xx.” This letter was an official exhibit (No. 185) in the Warren Commission investigation into JFK’s assassination and, like most of the exhibits, is protectively and permanently soft-laminated. In fine condition. Oswald noted in a diary kept during this period—with the sentiment clearly expressed here as well—that Marina’s mother-in-law seemed more attentive to her than to her own son. Two years after composing this letter for his wife—almost to the day—Oswald assassinated President John F. Kennedy. The Warren Commission used Oswald’s correspondence in their determination of what drove this assassin to make his appearance on the sixth floor of the Texas School Book Depository that November afternoon. From the collection of Dr. John K. Lattimer, the first non-governmental medical specialist to review evidence in the Kennedy assassination.
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