?Final Price Realized includes Buyer’s Premium added to Hammer Price
Estimate: $ 3,500 - $ 5,000
DISCUSSING TERMS FOR FILMS OR PLAYS ADAPTED FROM HIS BOOKS HEMINGWAY, ERNEST. Two items, each Signed "Ernie," to his attorney Maurice J. Speiser: Autograph Letter * Autograph Note. The letter, to "Dear Moe," in pencil, reporting that he could find no copy of the contract with Al Woods and [Laurence] Stallings [producer and writer of the 1930 stage adaptation of A Farewell to Arms], assenting to $12,500 for "Have and Not" [likely film rights to 1937 novel To Have and Have Not] but willing to accept less "due to the censorship angle" [Detroit, MI, censored the book in 1938], reporting that his work is proceeding well, and requesting confirmation that he has read the letter Hemingway sent to Barney [Balaban?]. The note, written in blank spaces of Speiser's note to him, agreeing to foreign language rights terms [likely for A Farewell to Arms], with postscript, additionally signed "Ernie", in pencil, giving travel plans and requesting documents, written in upper margin. Together 3 pages, 8vo or 4to, onionskin paper, letter on two sheets of "Hotel Ambos Mundos" stationery; short closed separation at left edge of note repaired recto with cello tape, two punch holes in upper margin of note, few closed tears at right edge of note, faint scattered stains to letter, folds. Letter with the original "Ambos Mundos" stationery envelope, addressed in holograph and additionally signed "E. Hemingway." Havana, [March 1939?]; Honolulu, 14 February [1939?]
[March 1939?]: "I hunted all through my papers for the Al Woods-Stallings contract but could not find it. But Howard Rheinheimer--Stallings' lawyer--of N.Y.C. drew it up and he would certainly have a copy. About the Have and Not price, I would take 12,500. As matter of fact, would take 10 cash due to the censorship angle. . . ." With--Three Typed Letters, each Signed by film producer Samuel Goldwyn or publisher Maxwell Perkins, to Speiser: Goldwyn. Requesting Hemingway's reactions to his proposal • Perkins (2). The first, sending copies of a New York Times review [not present], and promising another from the Tribune. The second, reporting Book of the Month Club sales figures [likely for For Whom the Bell Tolls (1940)]. Together 3 pages, 8vo or small 4to. Los Angeles, 18 June 1940; New York, 16 October 1940; 15 March 1941.
