A humorous letter in which Steinbeck explains to Shumlin the story behind his characteristic pigasus motto.

"...Sorry that you should have been worried by a dreadful pun and moreover, one which commits the unpardonable sin of mixing languages. and alphabets. I don't have greek letters on this typewriter but it is pigasus rather than pegasus, a small joke and only considered funny by certain unsmiling polylingual Florentines.. The motto is not so funny but leans more to the true side I took this rubric and this seal long years ago when it became apparent to me that my equipment did not match my aim. It means To the stars on the wings of a pig, that being the only way I was ever likely to get there. The design, (below) was made for me by an ancient Tuscan nobleman who asked whether I wished a Raphael pig or a Cellini pig. He made both for me and naturally I chose the Cellini pig.. The Rafaelo ran more to lard and the Cellini more to muscle. It is just that simple and rather stupid but mine own, and the observation does seem to be accurate..."