Beschreibung:

Title: Six Autograph letters or notes from William Randolph Hearst to longtime private secretary Joseph Willicombe, initialed WRH; one autograph letter to a Captain Olson, regarding his yacht, signed W.R. Hearst; one typed note with a few pencil comments by Hearst Author: Hearst, William Randolph Place: San Simeon, etc. Publisher: Date: c.1925-35 Description: In ink or pencil, various sizes. Each of the letters/notes with a number stamped in upper left, which are here referenced: 778. Typed note on orange paper, regarding various improvements, etc., to the house in Santa Monica Hearst had built for Marion Davies: “Mr. Williams is sending the Susanna Statue to Santa Monica and I have told Mr. Hellenthal where you want it placed… Mr. Hellenthal says the Carrousel will weigh 6 tons in center and 2 tons on outside edge…” With pencil notes. * 841. Letter to Captain Olson: “Mr. Willicombe is going back on the yacht. We prefer to go by train. Mr. Willicombe has full authority… I am sorry to hear that the speed launch was wrecked. You might explain to Mr. Willicombe by whose authority the launch was being used in my absence…” * 942. Short letter to Willicombe: “Did we ask Miss Head to send us about one half of the fine Rhine wine… How can we get some sparkling Mosalle of fine quality. Marion likes it.” * 947. Short note to Willicombe, on the back of a menu from La Cuesta Encantada, San Simeon: “Mrs. Patterson is going with us on the Rex. She would like a deck room…” * 951. Letter to Willicombe, but not addressed: “Please tell Mr. Loon I would like to have a wall around the upper part of the road…” * 954. Letter to Willicombe, “The Mellon document including the letter I would like bound and put in the library…” * 965. Letter to Willicombe, on San Simeon letterhead with picture of Casa del Mar. “An institution which made electric clocks (with batteries) went out of business about six months ago. Still there must be some such clocks left unsold either in wholesale or retail stores. Please ask the various cities in which we have papers to look up cloth and jewelry stores and see if they can find any of these clocks. They are fine for the ranch where the electric current is irregular…” * 999. Letter to Willicombe: “We ordered at desk. If it has not been shipped let’s get a modernistic one. The Chippendale looks very badly in these simple pine rooms. We will not use the desk in the office if it comes, so better get a modernistic one like the table.” The little archive presents an interesting glimpse at the minutiae Hearst concerned himself with in ordering his life and many residences. Provenance: Joan Willicombe, daughter of Joseph Willicombe. Lot Amendments Condition: Generally very good. Item number: 229049