Lot 369

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Description:

Jack Kerouac Profound ALS & Signed Cover, "Would I piss right in front of God on Judgement day"

A handwritten letter and original postmarked cover addressed to Kerouac's longtime friend, Ed White, sending his apologies for an incident in which he missed a phone call and signed "Jack" at conclusion. 2pp front and back, measuring 5" x 8", dated April 28, 1966, Hyannis, MA.  The letter has retained its original cover, hand-addressed and initialized "J.K." in the return address. Expected letter folds with minor tear to spiral notebook paper at top edge near light paperclip indentation, neither affecting text. Very fine- a pensive, retrospective account of an otherwise insignificant interaction.

Ed and his wife, Anne, called Jack one night from a local club in Denver when, as Anne held up the phone so he could hear the live music, Kerouac rushed to the bathroom. The confused couple, thinking they had lost connection, ultimately hung up the phone. Jack later wrote this letter explaining "the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak", in reference to his leaving to relieve himself during the conversation.

In full, with original punctuation maintained:

"April 28, 1966
Box 809
Hyannis, (High Anus) Mass.

Dear Ed;-
When your phone call rang this night I already needed to relieve myself of a Bom-load of liquid- I squirmed while talking, but when Anne said she'd hold up the phone for me to hear the band, I rushed to the bathroom- On returning, you all'd understandably hung up in Denver- That's what happened- The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak- Would I piss right in front of God on Judgement Day, Sir? Afraid I'd have to, right in the air, but luckily, or mayhap alas, sir, cherubim don't need to pee, or drink-
Anyway, if Rome pays me to go there, as planned for last week of May, I'll fly back to Rome- N.Y.- Denver, see you, then back to Boston-
Write you in plenty time. Meanwhile, when thinking your inward thoughts in your chair, realize that I do the same- What caverns around the eyeballs of both of us…
Hic calix
Jack"

Edward D. White Jr. (1925-2017) was a Denver-based architect and close friend of Kerouac who would become the model for the character Tim Gray in his pivotal, semi-biographical novel On the Road (1957).

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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March 15, 2023 11:00 AM EDT
Wilton, CT, US

University Archives

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