Beschreibung:

13 Autograph Letters Signed, ("Grace de Monaco," "Grace de M," "Grace," and "G"), 31 pp recto and verso, various sizes (4to to 8vo), various places including Monaco, Paris, London, and Japan, April 10, 1980 to June 1982, to Jeffory Fitzgerald, on various stationeries including royal monogrammed stationery, "Rocagel" (the country home of the Grimaldi family) stationery, and Princess Grace's Paris apartment stationery. Together with 1 Typed Letter Signed, ("Grace de Monaco"); 6 Autograph Notes Signed, ("Grace," "G"); 8 Autograph Postcards Signed, ("Grace," "G"); 3 Autograph Notes; and 1 Autograph Postcard, most with original transmittal envelopes addressed to Fitzgerald in Grace's hand. For the remainder of the archive, please see the condition report. Also in this archive are 17 xerographic copies of letters that Fitzgerald wrote to Grace during the years of 1980 and 1981; approximately 30 pp of correspondence and notes pertaining to Fitzgerald's involvement in the Ballet Russe de Monaco; a folder containing 15 pp of correspondence from December 1996 to January 1997 involving 10 shares of stock that were allegedly left to Fitzgerald in Grace's will but which were never given to him (in his correspondence, he writes, "Grace was my pal and best friend and we shared many plans for the future together"); a copy of Judy Balaban Quine's book, The Bridesmaids (Weidenfeld & Nicholson, New York, 1989), inscribed to Fitzgerald by the author (water damaged); and various other correspondence, clippings, pamphlets, invitations, and documents pertaining to his relationship with the Princess (a detailed list is available upon request). Jeffory Fitzgerald lived in New York and met Princess Grace of Monaco (née Grace Kelly of Hollywood) in 1980 through mutual friends. They struck up a friendship which consisted of letter writing, phone calls, and occasional get-togethers, both in public and in private. Grace's letters are filled with information about her travels, her children, and her daily activities, and as they continue, they indicate a deepening friendship, cautious flirtation, and strong emotions between the two. In one letter, Grace refers to one of their recent dinners together: "...quite marvelous -- I am longing to return -- lovely atmosphere -- great food and wine and very personal attention -- it couldn't have been nicer." In another, she states: "Sorry to sound so dreary on the telephone -- hearing your voice cheered me." As their friendship progresses, the letters become more personal, playful, and affectionate. She writes: "Have tried to call several times -- but no answer. Not even the answering service -- what gives? Where are you?" For Fitzgerald, the attachment was just as strong; in his letter to Grace of April 8, 1981, he states: "...there are some tender thoughts that stay with me. There is a lingering warmth that feels quite good. My hope is that we share in this." In 1982, the friendship was cut short with the untimely death of Princess Grace at the age of 52.