Lot 308

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Description:

Lee Harvey Oswald Among Finest Known On Trying to Return to the USA: "If I can get the government to drop charges … and get the Russians to let me out…" 3pg. ALS

Lee Harvey Oswald, a politically passionate teen turned into a disillusioned dangerous adult? A CIA or KGB plant? A person with a split personality? A Manchurian Candidate sleeper agent? A pawn for the Mob? Trying to further the Cuban Revolutionary cause? Did he act alone? The bizarre anomalies of Oswald's life just lends itself to make one constantly question what really happened and who Oswald really was. For every question, there is another theory. Oswald's handwritten letters during key events of his life, with this being one such letter, are extremely scarce. They are also studied for insight into this complex man hoping to spot a missing piece of the puzzle. The letter offered here has the coveted chain of custody coming originally from Lee Harvey Oswald's brother, Robert Oswald.

Three page autograph letter signed on a bifolium of lightly lined paper, 5.5" x 8". Dated "May 31, (1961)" and signed by Lee Harvey Oswald at the conclusion as "Your Brother / Lee", additionally signed within the body of the document after he translates Marina's note "Oswald", and again as "Lee" located during his reference to his brother's son. Strong vivid ink. Fine condition. Accompanied by a photocopy of the original mailing envelope which confirms the date of the letter. The original envelope is also being offered in this auction as lot # 309. Provenance: From the collection of Ron Hoskins, assassinologist, and will include the original purchase receipt in which Ron Hoskins purchased two Oswald letters directly from Robert Oswald in 2007 for $25,000.00.

A revealing and important autograph letter signed by Lee Harvey Oswald. The letter offers superb content and insight into the period of Oswald's life as he comes to grip with the realization that he wants to return to the United States after having defected to Russia. This phase of Oswald's life and his odd, abrupt change of political devotion may merely reflect something as simple as a change of heart, or a change social/political views, or disillusionment with Communism as its practice does not reflect the theories of Marxism studied by Oswald. Or, as some believe, his change in political views was only a "front" to allow for his return to the United States as he became intertwined in a larger conspiracy which was slowly being executed to perfection. Still others do not even believe it was actually Oswald himself who returned to the United States but instead an Oswald "double". In this letter, one does not see Oswald expressing immense disdain for Russia, or it's society, nor his job. In fact he seems perfectly at peace with his day to day life making the need to return to the US that much more suspect. He writes, "..My work here is also not too bad, but in the U.S.S.R. there is no unemployment so a job is not an exceptional thing..." but he does show a longing to return to the United States, although his statements are unaggressive and not yet frantic; "…I can't say wether (sic) I will ever get back to the States or not, if I can get the government to drop charges against me, and get the Russians to let me out with my wife, than maybe I'll be seeing you again, But you know it is not simple for either of those two things. So I just can't say for now. I am in touch with the American Embassy in Moscow so if anything comes up I'll know…".

To put the timeline in perspective, Lee married Marina in April of 1961 (one month prior to this letter). By June of 1962, one year after this letter, Oswald returned to the United States with Marina and his daughter.

Many questions and accompanying theories exist regarding Oswald's intent upon his return to the United States - what happened to Oswald while he was in Russia, whether he had a split personality, was a CIA plant, or was just a crazy dis-satisfied person. However what does shine are the bizarre inconsistencies that are woven throughout his life, with just a few highlights noted below and the nagging question of when was the trajectory and mission of his path to assassinate Kennedy engaged?:

-After Oswald left the Marine Corps in September of 1959, ostensibly to care for his mother, he almost immediately left for the Soviet Union where he attempted to renounce his citizenship.

-While his defection resulted in part from Oswald's commitment to Marxism, it appears that personal and psychological factors were also involved.

-The extent of Oswald's desire to go to the Soviet Union can best be understood in the context of his concomitant hatred of the United States, which was most clearly expressed in another letter from 1959 to his brother Robert. Lee noted "I and my fellow workers and communist's would like to see the present capitalist government of the U.S. overthrown" Oswald stated that that government supported an economic system which exploits all its workers and under which art, culture and the spirit of man are subjected to commercial enterprising, [and] religion and education are used as a tool to suppress what would otherwise be a population questioning their government's unfair economic system and plans for war.

-He believed the Soviet Union was a country which "I have always considered ... to be my own" and that he went there "only to find freedom. ... I could never have been personally happy in the U.S." and he would "never return to the United States which is a country I hate." (NOTE- this is a complete contradiction in thought to the letter offered here). 

This revealing letter is shown in full below:

"Dear Robert

I was glad to hear from you, and really surprised that you have a new son, that is really great. Congratulations to you and Vada.

My wife's name is Marina, I am sorry I forgot to write it last time.
Marina works in a pharmacy at one of the hospitals here (almost all girls and women in the U.S.S.R. have some kind of profession and work at it.) She sends her regards to you and Vada and the kids.

I'm glad you have a good job and are thinking about the future. My work here is also not too bad, but in the U.S.S.R. there is no unemployment so a job is not an exceptional thing.

There's nothing you can send me, thanks anyway, maybe you could send something, real small to Marina as a sort of wedding present I think she would get a kick out of something coming from the states. And let us have (sic) some pictures of the new baby, I still have Cathy's picture, but I guess she is all grown up by now. Also a picture of the house, since here 90% of living is done in apartment house's (sic), like we have, they are comfortable, but still a house is a home.

I can't say wether (sic) I will ever get back to the States or not, if I can get the government to drop charges against me, and get the Russians to let me out with my wife, than maybe I'll be seeing you again, But you know it is not simple for either of those two things. So I just can't say for now. I am in touch with the American Embassy in Moscow so if anything comes up I'll know.

Well that about all for now, say hello to Robert Lee jr. for me.

Followed by a note from Marina which is translated by Oswald below her note of:

(I send a thousand thanks for your good wishes. I am very glad to be a member of the family. I congratulate you and your wife on the birth of a son. I wish you and yours good health and happiness for all of you, forever) Sincerely Marina Oswald"

Fully autographed and signed letters by Lee Harvey Oswald are scarce. This letter would be an important canon for the collector of Oswald and Kennedy history and is accompanied by impeccable outstanding provenance. 

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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January 6, 2021 10:30 AM EST
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