BABE RUTH SIGNATURES COLLECTED BY CARL SANDBURG. Three Signatures (“Babe Ruth”), on single sheet of typing paper, paper folded into thirds but not separated, page mildly soiled. Together with Typed Letter Signed (“Carl”), 1 p, 4to, St. Petersburg, FL, March 25, [1928], to Oliver Barrett, on letterhead of the Princess Martha Hotel, light creasing and toning, otherwise fine. In 1928 poet Carl Sandburg traveled to St. Petersburg, FL, to watch professional baseball’s annual spring training and to try to garner an interview with Yankee legend Babe Ruth. About 10 days before he actually filed his story, another reporter with the Chicago Tribune described Sandburg’s frustration at trying to reach the baseball star (and expressed premature outrage that Sandburg might possibly make fun of the intellectual shortcomings of the Babe). Sandburg did eventually get his interview, filing it on March 24. In it, he asked Ruth what his favorite books were, who his favorite historical figures were, what his favorite flower was, and who was the best U.S. President, all of which were met with variations of “I don’t care.” At the conclusion of the interview, Sandburg did get Ruth to sign autographs for his friend Barrett, Barrett’s son Roger, and another man. The signatures were mailed along with the enclosed letter: ”Dear Oliver-- / Enclosed are authentic autographs for you, Roger, and Al Hannah. I am having the Colliers article typed. I will mail it to you this week. The sooner it can go on then, with Photostat copies, the better for the state of the nation at large and the welfare of mankind in general.” Sandburg’s Collier’s article, titled “Yr Obedt Servt,” was an overview of amusing intimate letters from some of history’s most notable figures, and relied heavily (if not exclusively) on Barrett’s personal collection. See illustration.
BABE RUTH SIGNATURES COLLECTED BY CARL SANDBURG. Three Signatures (“Babe Ruth”), on single sheet of typing paper, paper folded into thirds but not separated, page mildly soiled. Together with Typed Letter Signed (“Carl”), 1 p, 4to, St. Petersburg, FL, March 25, [1928], to Oliver Barrett, on letterhead of the Princess Martha Hotel, light creasing and toning, otherwise fine. In 1928 poet Carl Sandburg traveled to St. Petersburg, FL, to watch professional baseball’s annual spring training and to try to garner an interview with Yankee legend Babe Ruth. About 10 days before he actually filed his story, another reporter with the Chicago Tribune described Sandburg’s frustration at trying to reach the baseball star (and expressed premature outrage that Sandburg might possibly make fun of the intellectual shortcomings of the Babe). Sandburg did eventually get his interview, filing it on March 24. In it, he asked Ruth what his favorite books were, who his favorite historical figures were, what his favorite flower was, and who was the best U.S. President, all of which were met with variations of “I don’t care.” At the conclusion of the interview, Sandburg did get Ruth to sign autographs for his friend Barrett, Barrett’s son Roger, and another man. The signatures were mailed along with the enclosed letter: ”Dear Oliver-- / Enclosed are authentic autographs for you, Roger, and Al Hannah. I am having the Colliers article typed. I will mail it to you this week. The sooner it can go on then, with Photostat copies, the better for the state of the nation at large and the welfare of mankind in general.” Sandburg’s Collier’s article, titled “Yr Obedt Servt,” was an overview of amusing intimate letters from some of history’s most notable figures, and relied heavily (if not exclusively) on Barrett’s personal collection. See illustration.
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.jpg "Source: Christie's")
.jpg "Source: Christie's")
