Steinbeck John

Steinbeck John — marelibri

ARCHIVE OF 8 SIGNED LETTERS and a Sweatshirt

1961Best.-Nr. 0225581961-1967. Letter. Some folds clean. Near Fine. Includes 6 AUTOGRAPH LETTERS SIGNED John Steinbeck John or JS 1 TYPED LETTER SIGNED John and a partial AUTOGRAPH LETTER SIGNED John all to Willard Bascom regarding Project Mohole and other matters 11 pages total various sizes and papers from Barbados Singapore and New York 15 February 1961 to 4 March 1967 including autograph transmittal envelope for March 4. Willard Bascom was a scientist and adventurer who in 1961 led the first phase of Project Mohole the worlds first attempt to sample the Mohorovicic discontinuity Moho where the earth's mantle and its crust meet. Bascom invited Steinbeck to join the expedition and Steinbeck wrote about the venture in an April 1961 LIFE MAGAZINE article. These letters reveal the foundations of their relationship as well as Steinbeck's participation and assistance to the projects beginnings exhibiting Steinbeck's relationships to the President and Washington: "It occurs to me to ask whether you will have motion picture cameras for recording purposes. Such a record would be valuable. It might also have some value in prying more money for future experimental work either from the congress or from the president. For my own part I intend to make the President personally aware of the project as soon as I have a proper understanding and basis." He also offers insight into the TIME MAGAZINE relationship: I made them read it back to me on the phone so I was sure that I had written what they printed. The letters show a developing friendship with Bascom and reveal the personal Steinbeck as he moved through his final years. Of a potential trip Steinbeck writes I am not going any places any more without Elaine. Life is too short to be away from her. He continues discussing his work presumably on TRAVELS WITH CHARLEY I have been living a fairly anchoretic life in this tower their NYC apartment. Working like a death watch beetle. Not only am I interested in what I am doing I want to get it finished. These letters reveal the life of Steinbeck in the 1960s both professionally and personally. WITH: A sweatshirt given to Bascom by John Steinbeck on the expedition navy blue knit cotton hooded sweatshirt front pouch pocket without maker's label or size indication unevenly faded soiling stains and some paint flecks. Steinbeck who bunked with Bascom on the Mohole expedition bought the sweatshirt for Bascom fearing that he would be cold as he was working his tail off on board ship. It matches one Steinbeck wore himself on board. See Benson JOHN STEINBECK WRITER New York 1984 pages 894-6. unknown