Beschreibung:

MANUSCRIPT ARCHIVE. This lot features a tremendous collection of letters and manuscripts of screen legend Katharine Hepburn actress and iconoclast, winner of a record four Best Actress Academy Awards. 1.Autograph Manuscripts, approx. 70 individual pages, legal folio, n.p., [1980s-1990s] on yellow legal paper, various notes to herself and secretary, many relating to the writing of her autobiography or speeches, most leaves heavily creased and crumpled, some leaves torn and reaffixed wit tape on verso. Some leaves contain the germ of ideas for Me. Hepburn's autobiography: "What is this thing I'm trying to do - writing my life story - what the hell is a Life story. Is it I was born I did I died. Or is it a sort of summary of all the happenings which have really made mine personal ___." Some appear to relate to her support of Planned Parenthood: "There was a desperate need for this hate law. Now almost 20 years later a new group is threatening to repeal this law. They are threatening to reduce this freedom for woman to decide whether or not they wish to produce a child - Why They say human life is sacred - I agree but which human life - and very the fact of why women a single six should bear this burden. Must we not begin to consider quality of life Must we without thinking open the door to all possible sperms & egg combinations we are seriously over populated this . . ." Other notes seem to relate to her efforts to preserve the Connecticut River. 2.Approx. 100 autograph inscriptions on letters and on envelopes of correspondence addressed to Hepburn, 1980s-1990s, some wear and staining throughout, a few with typed transcripts of Hepburn response. Hepburn's method, apparently, was to read her correspondence, jot notes on the envelope, then turn the letter and her notes over to her secretary, Sharon Powers, to respond. Content includes her health, her friends and family, and the writing of her book. Also, she responds to inquiries from fans. 3.Typed Letter with Annotations, 1 p, 4to, n.p., n.d., to Anne Lindbergh recommending Scott Berg as biographer, page creased, torn, reaffixed on verso with tape. "Dear Anne Lindbergh: / I want to tell you what I know about Scott Berg who is anxious to do a book on you two. / He has been a friend of mine for a long time. / He is a gent and a really careful worker God knows someone is certainly going to do a book on you the minute you disappear - What should one do? / He has taste and discretion - so superior to most." Lindbergh went with Hepburn's reputation and Berg's book won the Pulitzer Prize in 1998. 4.Typed Note with Annotations, 1 p, 4to, n.p., n.d., on lined paper, reminiscing about working on the RKO lot with Fred Astaire, page torn, repaired on verso with tape. In part: "Fred Astaire - alas - alas - alas - I didn't really know him. He was on the RKO lot when I was there - early '30s. He was magic. Everyone had the highest regard for him. We all tried to sneak onto the set to watch him. George Cukor and I used to go to all the previews of his pictures. We'd watch the audience see him fly through the air. They would moan with joy. And George and I would seethe with jealousy. Ginger was like an enchanting bouquet in his arms - his perfect compliment. He was absolutely unique. He could do it better than anyone else and he was a man who was only interested in perfection. That's quite a combination." This lot also includes to original sketches, self portraits of Hepburn in profile, one in pen and one in pencil; a partial notebook with speech ideas; a TLS mentioning Hepburn's old friend and traveling companion, American Express heiress Laura Harding; several checks, a signed voter registration card; a signed vaccination card; and two pillowcases and a blouse from Miss Hepburn. A tremendous archive that must be seen to be appreciated.