Singer-songwriter (1912–1967) best known for such iconic folk songs as “This Land Is Your Land,” which glories in the spirit of the American landscape and its people. Unsigned handwritten lyrics to a song Guthrie wrote for his daughter, Cathy, one vertically lined page, 8 x 12.25, April 23, 1946. In part: “My green turtle ran away from my red turtle and he ran under the cedar chest to see his uncle turtle and my doggie some and he saw the pussy cat up in that tree and he said let’s go in and see the turtles And the pussy cat and the doggie came in and they broke my polka record and my disk And the little green turtle ran out from under the cedar chest and made the doggie go home.” The reverse of the document features a pencil sketch by Guthrie of a female face. Inspired by his daughter, Guthrie had begun writing children’s songs, which he then recorded for Asch Records, beginning in February 1946. Released later in the year on the album Songs to Grow On: Nursery Days, these became one of Guthrie’s most popular recordings. Cathy Ann Guthrie died on February 10, 1947, in one of a bizarre series of accidental fires, which sent him into a serious depression. Also included is the original mailing envelope, addressed in Guthrie’s hand to “Asch Record Studio” and signed in the return address area, “Pvt. W. Guthrie 42234634, 3520 Mermaid Avenue, Brooklyn, 24, NY.” The envelope, which is postmarked January 8, 1946, also bears the franking notation “free” in Guthrie’s hand. Guthrie had unsuccessfully lobbied the United States Army to avoid the draft, believing that his anti-fascist songs and poems were the best use of his talents in the war. Pressured by his friend Cisco Houston, Guthrie, along with Jim Longhi, then joined the U. S. Merchant Marine. The musician’s association with communism would eventually render him ineligible for further service in the Merchant Marine, causing him to be drafted into the Army near the end of the war. In very good condition, with several storage folds, scattered toning, paper loss to bottom edge, and scattered light creasing. Auction LOA John Reznikoff/PSA/DNA and R&R COA.
