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A Rare and Extensive Archive of Love Letters, Leading up to Elizabeth Taylor’s First Engagement

Unprecedented, one–of–a–kind collection of over sixty love letters handwritten by Elizabeth Taylor, a Hollywood legend infamous for her many love affairs and marriages. Written during 1949, at age seventeen, to fiancé William Pawley, Jr the son of a wealthy American businessman and ambassador, they encompass her first engagement and perhaps even the beginning of her love affair with jewelry—Pawley gave Taylor her first white diamond ring.

The letters begin in late March 1949 after Taylor and her parents left her uncle Howard’s vacation home in Florida, where Pawley was located, for California so Taylor could get back to work for MGM. So much in love, Elizabeth began writing Bill as early as on the plane home, evidenced by the first letter of the archive dated March 22 and penned on Delta airlines stationery. The archive dries up around the beginning of October of that year as their relationship ended. A true piece of Hollywood history, the final letter postmarked October 9, was actually written on the set of A Place in the Sun.

Each letter is beautifully scripted in Elizabeth’s graceful hand, most all in bold fountain pen and several pages long, with the majority being four pages but some ranging to as many as ten pages in length. These heartfelt letters reveal a blossoming woman of seventeen, who even though called the most beautiful woman in world, had insecurities just like the rest of us.

Elizabeth reveals having to watch her weight and even feeling a little depressed at times—truly showing her humanity. What really shines through is the virtuousness of this amazing young woman, who had distractions abound as one of the most beautiful girls in Hollywood but who saved herself for that one true love.

Interestingly enough, even while Taylor and Pawley were engaged, she was advised to publicly date Heisman Trophy Winner Glenn Davis. This archive includes several interesting letters discussing the issue and her personal disdain for the ruse orchestrated by her mother Sara and the studio meant to maintain her girl–next–door persona.

Much to the delight of movie buffs, Taylor goes into detail about two movies she made during this era—A Place in the Sun and The Big Hangover. Taylor candidly shares what she really thinks of the massive and controlling studio machine that was MGM. Showing her keen eye for a good script she openly denounces her role in The Big Hangover, which turned out to be a flop, yet is ecstatic to be part of A Place in the Sun—a future classic—even calling director George Stevens “The best in the business.”

With these priceless letters comes a rare glimpse into the mind of a Hollywood legend and a newfound understanding of her misunderstood larger–than–life celebrity. A once in a lifetime chance to own a piece of the ‘most beautiful girl in the world’s heart gracefully penned on paper

RR Auction’s exclusive Hollywood Auction will run for one week
May 12th–19th, 2011


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