HEMINGWAY, Ernest. Autographed letter signed ("Papa") to Jane Mason ("Poor Dear Old Daughter") at Doctors' Hospital in New York; on board the Reina del Pacifico at sea between Havana and Bermuda on its way to Santander, Spain, 10 August [1933]. 4 pages, 8vo, and 2 pages, small 4to (total 6 pages), in black ink on two pieces of ship's stationery, the last page with heavy ink "Black Border for your illness" by Hemingway, with the envelope hand-addressed by him.
HEMINGWAY, Ernest. Autographed letter signed ("Papa") to Jane Mason ("Poor Dear Old Daughter") at Doctors' Hospital in New York; on board the Reina del Pacifico at sea between Havana and Bermuda on its way to Santander, Spain, 10 August [1933]. 4 pages, 8vo, and 2 pages, small 4to (total 6 pages), in black ink on two pieces of ship's stationery, the last page with heavy ink "Black Border for your illness" by Hemingway, with the envelope hand-addressed by him.

Details
HEMINGWAY, Ernest. Autographed letter signed ("Papa") to Jane Mason ("Poor Dear Old Daughter") at Doctors' Hospital in New York; on board the Reina del Pacifico at sea between Havana and Bermuda on its way to Santander, Spain, 10 August [1933]. 4 pages, 8vo, and 2 pages, small 4to (total 6 pages), in black ink on two pieces of ship's stationery, the last page with heavy ink "Black Border for your illness" by Hemingway, with the envelope hand-addressed by him.
CAUGHT IN THE CUBAN GENERAL STRIKE

The Hemingway party had arrived in Havana from Key West on 4 August, just as a general strike was beginning against the Machado regime. During the three days in Havana before embarking for Europe on 7 August, Hemingway had a good view of the violence (later echoed in To Have and Have Not). "The air mail never came, the P. Office closing tight!...along with my proofs [of Winner Take Nothing] sent air-mail by Max [Perkins] to do on the boat -- lose a month of sales before Xmas they feel (their bad luck -- Scribners)...Hell of a fine strike...preferred to walk [from dock] on account of sympathy with strike...The dirty bloody nigger supported tyrant [Gerardo Machado] killed 26 and shot down 200 more day before yesterday when they paraded in the park on news that he had abdicated (given falsely by my pals who must share the guilt). But the people stuck...without food, transportation, ice or any cockeyed thing, glad to go without anything to get rid of him -- all markets closed...this boat reaches the Bermudas (unscheduled stop) tomorrow -- will send this from there...Havana was strange -- like a...Sunday punctuated by shooting... Everybody missing you frightfully -- You'd have had a fine time -- you like action -- really there was a lot...Been drinking gin and tonic and a little Chilean wine...Poor Old Daughter, I think about you very often (some of every day) and feel like hell about you [around this last page Hemingway has drawn a thick black ink mourning border and labeled it 'Black Border for your illness']..."

More from Fine Printed Books and Literary Manuscripts

View All
View All