Lot 385

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Description:

Ex-Jack Kerouac Estate 35+ Pc Archive Incl. Super Rare Sebastian Sampas WWII-Dated ALS Mentioning Jack! He Was Jack's Best Friend & the Inspiration of Many Characters

An extraordinary archive related to the Sampas Family (also Sampatacus, Sampatacacus, Sampatakakis) from the estate of the iconoclastic Beatnik writer Jack Kerouac (1922-1969), who married Stella Sampas (1918-1990) in 1966. The archive consists of autograph letters signed, typed letters, typed letters signed, vintage photos, bills, certificates, cards, unmated envelopes, and other ephemera, approximately 35+ pieces, dating ca. 1930s-1973, with the majority of the material dating from 1941-1949. Included in the collection is a very scarce 2pp autograph letter signed by Sebastian "Sammy" Sampas (1922-1944), Jack's best childhood friend, mentioning a young Jack Kerouac in the letter. The majority of the letters were written by Stella Sampas, Sebastian's older sister and Jack Kerouac's third wife. Stamped throughout with the Jack Kerouac Estate stamp, "Property of the Estate of / Jack Kerouac / John Sampas, Executor / the Estate of Jack Kerouac." Expected wear related to age including toning, folds, wrinkles, and isolated loss, else in generally near fine condition. Please refer to catalog photos for additional information related to condition.

The archive is mostly related to the Sampas Family and includes many letters divulging news about Sampas family members, including Stella's siblings (and Jack's future siblings-in-law): Nicolas Sampas (1916-1986), Claire Sampas (1921-2014), Anthony Sampas (1924-1999), and Michael Sampas (1929-1990). There are many references to the Greek-American community in Lowell, Massachusetts, Kerouac's and the Sampas Family's hometown; and news or commentary about Lowell, then deteriorating into a postwar industrial ghost town.

Jack Kerouac, who was of French-Canadian heritage, bonded with other ethnic groups in Lowell, like its vibrant Greek-American community. Stella's parents George and Maria immigrated to the United States from Pyrgos Dirou, at the southern tip of Greece, making their children first-generation Americans. The textile industrial complex of Lowell had attracted many Greek immigrants, making it the most populous Greek-American community (after New York City and Chicago) by the early 20th century. Greek-Americans in Lowell were also entrepreneurial, starting up grocery concerns, coffee shops and restaurants, shoe stores, barber shops, and fruit stands. Lowell had one of the first "Greektowns," one of the first Greek Orthodox churches, and one of the first Greek day schools in the United States.

Sebastian Sampas was Kerouac's best childhood friend, with whom he had attended Lowell High School. Sebastian, a fine poet himself, first encouraged Kerouac to write at age 18. During World War II, Sampas served as a volunteer army medic. Sadly, he died at age 21 on March 2, 1944 of wounds received at the Battle of Anzio. His wartime death, along with that of another old Kerouac friend, Billy Chandler, contributed to Kerouac's depression and increased drug use in 1944.

The significance of Sebastian Sampas on Kerouac's life and work should not be underestimated. Sebastian was the inspiration of multiple characters in major Kerouac works such as "The Haunted Life and Other Writings" (1944) (Garabed Tourian); "The Town and the City" (1950) (Alexander Panos); "Vanity of Duluoz: An Adventurous Education, 1935-1946" (1968) (Sabby Savakis). Sebastian Sampas is buried next to Jack Kerouac in Edson Cemetery in Lowell, Massachusetts.

The lot consists of:

- A group of 16 pieces of correspondence, mostly written by Stella Sampas, including autograph letters signed, typed letters, and typed letters signed. Many of the letters include their original transmittal envelopes, and 3 envelopes are unmated. 3 pieces are undated or only partially dated.

- 10 vintage photos, including 1 black and white school picture, ca. 1930s; 1 black and white World War II-era portrait of an unidentified soldier; 5 color 5" x 3.5" snapshots from a July 1973 trip to Pyrgos Dirou, Greece; and 3 Kodacolor Print snapshots.

- 10 pieces of ephemera, including 1 Western Union telegram; 2 invitations or ticket stubs to Lowell and Lowell-area events, one from the "Pallaconian Association"; 1 card; and 3 1919-1921 bilingual Greek and English school certificates from the Greek Orthodox Parochial School of Lowell. Of especial interest in this group is a cluster of 3 New England Telephone bills showing Long Distance Calls and Telegrams; among the phone numbers listed is 813-343-1477, which possibly corresponded to Jack Kerouac's last home at 5169 10th Ave. North in St. Petersburg, Florida.

Highlights include (divided by category):

Related to Sebastian Sampas


- A remarkable 2pp autograph letter signed by Sebastian Sampas, as "Sebastian" at the bottom of page 2. October 16, 1943. 8th Evacuation Hospital, A.P.O. 464. On two sheets of blue-lined paper. Expected wear including minor chipped edges and wear to hole punches, else very good to near fine. 8.375" x 11." Included with the letter is a vintage photograph of an unidentified World War II serviceman who bears a small resemblance to Sebastian (cleft chin) but is perhaps a Sampas relative or sibling.

Sebastian Sampas wrote this letter to his brother "Jim":

In part:

"I think of a Sunday when Jack Kerouac, myself and Billy Chandler staggered toward the wilderness of Pipp Brook after a night of drinking and eger [sic] discussion. We went swimming at dawn and as the sun filtered through the trees, it made the teeming vapors on the stream like copper-colored clouds - 'Chambers of beauty' I called them… Well, I'm here and Billy was last heard of in Bataan and Jack has just been released from a naval hospital…"

There are no auction returns for Sebastian Sampas autograph letters signed in either RareBookHub or Biblio. There are some in the collection of the New York Public Library among the Jack Kerouac Papers, 1920-1977.

Other Kerouac buddy Billy Chandler inspired the characters of Dick Sheffield in "The Haunted Life and Other Writings"; Tommy Campbell in "The Town and the City"; and Dickie Hampshire in "Vanity of Duluoz." Whereas the characters based on Sebastian Sampas are dreamy, cerebral, and dramatic, the characters based on Billy Chandler are sage, blue-collar, and jaded.

- A Western Union telegram dated May 30, 1946 from Munich, reading: "Send Via Radiogram to me care of Burgerbraukeller Red Cross Munich Sams [sic] Serial Number and Unit He was in When He Died Send Same to My APO Address Via Airmail…Jimmy"

Related to Stella Sampas (spelling and usage have been silently corrected)

- July 26, 1946 autograph letter signed by Stella Sampas, addressed to "Jim," in part: "…Joe isn't bothering with me and I'm having a lot of time on my hands hanging around the house hoping. I've decided that it's true, that men do really love them and leave them. He doesn't know it but he sure is missing out by not seeing me. I'm quite the gal."

Related to Lowell, Massachusetts (spelling and usage have been silently corrected)

- May 1, 1941 autograph letter signed by Stella Sampas, addressed to "Jim," in part: "Deane is now used to Lowell and knows that there isn't much we can do around here…"

- July 26, 1946 autograph letter signed by Stella Sampas, addressed to "Jim," in part: "I'm back working at G.E. but I shouldn't complain. Looks like that Co. has plans about [L]owell. They've bid for the former Remington Arms Plant. They must want to buy it very bad. They are willing to pay as much as 2,200,000 which you and I know isn't worth it. Now that they have their foot in the doorway of the labor market they are planning to shove it wide open."

- October 26, 1948 autograph letter signed by Stella Sampas, addressed to "Mike," in part: "Diane is still working at the Blue Moon + I at the G.E. In fact many of the girls have been laid-off but not me. The boss has filled me up with all the odd jobs…"

- March 12, 1949 typed letter signed by Stella Sampas, addressed to "Mike," in part: "The G.E. on Marginal St. has had a big lay-off. In fact most of the fellows are out of a job right now and the one on Jackson St. is due for a large lay-off next week. I doubt that it would affect me, but if it does, I would not mind it too much, after all, I have been working steady for a long time now and it's beginning to affect me. It seems that I don't care to do anything but hang around all night waiting for six o'clock the next morning to go to work."

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This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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