Handcrafted card with original hand-drawn artwork made by Tupac Shakur while incarcerated at the Clinton Correctional Facility in New York and sent to his friend Desiree Smith. The card measures 8.5 x 11 closed, and features a number of foam hearts affixed to the front, with a purple "I Love You" foil appliqué and handwritten inscription, "To 'Desiree,' And Daddy is…," with the artwork inside continuing, "…Missing you deeply!" Inside, Tupac fills the page with a detailed, graphic drawing of himself during an intimate moment with Desiree (the explicit image available upon request). Inside the cover, he writes: "Just a lil something 2 get u hot & make u reminisse! 2Pac." Includes the original mailing envelope, addressed in Shakur's hand to Smith, and signed in the return address area: "Tupac Shakur #95A, Clinton Correctional Facility, P.O. Box 2001, Dannemora, N.Y. 12929." The back of the envelope is marked: "Fragile, Please Don't Bend, Thank U!" In fine condition, with a few edge tears and creases to the envelope. Accompanied by a full letter of authenticity from JSA.
Shakur had begun serving a sentence at the Clinton Correctional Facility in February 1995 after being convicted in a sexual assault case. His album Me Against the World was released a month into his sentence and made an immediate impact on the charts, debuting at number one on the Billboard 200. Tupac's confinement proved an important period in his artistic development as he took the time to read philosophical works including many by Niccolo Machiavelli, which inspired his pseudonym 'Makaveli.' Handwritten material from Tupac is very scarce and highly sought after, and this handmade card clearly demonstrates his artistic skill—as well as what was on his mind while locked up.
