Lot 140

Previous image preload Next image preload

Description:

Kerouac Jack

Jack Kerouac's Personally Owned HS Football Letter, W/Estate Cert.

 

Jack Kerouac's personally owned High School Maroon Football Letter, loop stitched on 8" x 7" canvas backing with a stitched football along the arm of the "L". Kerouac was the running back for Lowell High School in Massachusetts. In good condition. Provenance: This piece will be accompanied by our Certificate of authentication as well as an estate certification signed by John Shen-Sampas, executer of the Kerouac Estate. John Shen-Sampas is the son of John Sampas, friend and brother-in-law of Jack Kerouac, and the brother of Stella Kerouac, Jack's wife.

 

Before Jack Kerouac's early death  in 1969, he published more than a dozen books that earned him a devoted underground following. But it was his early triumph on the football field that gave him his biggest thrill. Kerouac once said: "There is nothing like being a football star, not even publishing your first novel."

 

Kerouac wanted to be a writer, an unlikely career choice for someone who was poor, French-Canadian and lived in the Pawtucketville section of the city. A priest advised him to get a scholarship to college. Kerouac knew football. Although he was small for football at 5’7” and 150 pounds, but he had powerful legs and could run fast. He made the varsity team, and impressed the coaches with his determination, but he used his head a lot. Some physicians speculate that may have contributed to his mental health issues later in life.

 

Jack Kerouac developed into a speedy halfback who attracted college scouts.  He had his heart set on going to Columbia College in New York City. The climax of his senior season came in the final game, a Thanksgiving Day grudge match between Lowell and Lawrence high schools. A record 14,000 people came to Lawrence Memorial Stadium to watch the game. With the game nearly over, Lowell led 2-0 and was on Lawrence’s 17-yard line. The Lowell quarterback tossed a screen pass to Kerouac, but it was tipped by a Lawrence defender. Kerouac managed to catch the ball inches off the ground and sprint toward the goal line with Lawrence players at his heels. On the five-yard line he dropped his shoulder and barreled through two Lawrence defenders, then dived over the goal line to score the only touchdown of the game. When he returned home to Pawtucketville, neighbors called from upstairs windows or rushed into the streets to congratulate him. The touchdown won him a scholarship to Columbia. “The Town and the City,” his first novel, it stands as his only major writing about his football career.

 

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.

 

WE PROVIDE IN-HOUSE SHIPPING WORLDWIDE!

Accepted Forms of Payment:

American Express, Discover, MasterCard, Money Order / Cashiers Check, Paypal, Personal Check, Visa, Wire Transfer

Shipping

We do our own in-house worldwide shipping!

Applicable shipping and handling charges will be added to the invoice. We offer several shipping options, and remain one of the few auction houses who proudly provides professional in-house shipping as an option to our clients. All items will ship with signature required, and full insurance. Most items are sent via Federal Express, with P. O. Box addresses being sent through USPS. We insure through Berkley Asset Protection with rates of $.70 per $100 of value, among the lowest insurance rates in the industry. Our shipping department cameras document every package, both outgoing and incoming, for maximum security. In addition, we compare our shipping and handling rates against those of other auction houses, to ensure that our charges are among the lowest in the trade.

Upon winning your item(s), you will receive an invoice with our in-house shipping and handling fees included. ***We will ship to the address as it appears on your invoice, unless you inform us otherwise, immediately upon your receipt of invoice***

International shipments: In order to comply with our insurance provider, all international shipments will be sent via Fed Ex and customs paperwork will show a value of $1.00. International buyers should contact our office directly with any questions regarding this policy.

Third Party Shipping Option: If a third party shipper is preferred, the buyer is responsible for contacting them directly to make shipping arrangements. For your convenience, we have provided some recommended shippers. For your protection, we will require a signed release from you, confirming your authorization for us to release your lots to your specified third party Please copy and paste this following link into your browser: http://universityarchives.com/UserFiles/ShippingInfo.pdf. At that point, our responsibility and insurance coverage for your item(s) ceases. Items picked up by third party shippers are required to pay Connecticut sales tax. Items requiring third party shipping due to being oversized, fragile or bulky will be denoted in the item description.

Please see our full terms and conditions for names of suggested third party shippers.


After payment has been made in full, University Archives will ship your purchase within 5 business days following receipt of full payment for item.


Please remember that the buyer is responsible for all shipping costs from University Archives' offices in Westport, CT to the buyer's door. Please see full Terms and Conditions of Sale.

February 26, 2020 10:30 AM EST
Wilton, CT, US

University Archives

You agree to pay a buyer's premium of up to 25% and any applicable taxes and shipping.

View full terms and conditions

Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $99 $10
$100 $299 $20
$300 $499 $25
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $2,999 $200
$3,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 + $5,000