ALS signed “Lee,” two pages, lightly-lined on two adjoining sheets, 5.5 x 8, August 19, 1961. Letter to his mother. In full (with spelling and grammar retained): “I reviewed your package several days ago Thank you very much I was very glad to get those things. I only would like something to read if they allow it to be sent here. Things are about the same ere, I expect that the Russians will give me an exit visa soon, and later one for Marina. The weather is already turning cold here and its been raining for the last few days. Last weekend we went up into the forest about 50 miles from Minsk to look for mushrooms. Everybody does this in the fall. We only found a few but we had a good time, Marina collected flowers at the time also. Did you get my last letter where I told you how we went to Moscow to the American Embassy there? Marina says ‘hello’ dear mother, and thank you for the nice towels and scarf, also she sends a big ‘thank you’ for the pictures which we really enjoyed. Write soon xxx. Love, Lee.” Letter is preserved in light flexible acetate but was never exhibited before the Warren Commission and bears no government markings of any sort. In fine condition.
This letter was originally offered in the Charles Hamilton Auction #25, held on March 7, 1968, and is accompanied by a photocopy of the original catalog entry which states the letter is being “offered for sale because of her urgent need for funds to continue her independent investigation into her son’s guilt or innocence, in the process of which she has exhausted all her funds.”
In this letter to his mother Marguerite, Oswald was preparing to return to the United States. He had become disenfranchised with Russian life in January 1961 and toyed with the idea of returning to the United States after rejecting Russian citizenship. By February, he notified the American Embassy in Moscow that he wanted to return home, reopened communications with family members, and later informed the embassy of his marriage and that his wife intended to accompany him to America. In July the American Embassy returned his passport, but Russia had not issued the exit visas, leaving little hope for a speedy exit. Oswald worried that his passport had jeopardized his request to leave Russia, but his biggest fear remained his possible arrest upon reentry to the United States for his "defection." In December he wrote Texas Senator Tower for assistance and finally the Oswalds’ exit visas were granted. Further complications arose in early 1962, delaying Marina's exit visa until March, but Oswald calmly informed his brother he was in no hurry to leave now that the Russian winter was over. On June 13, the Oswalds arrived in the Hoboken, New Jersey with only $63, returning to Texas only after Oswald's brother gave him $200 to pay their way home. Pre-certified John Reznikoff/PSA/DNA and RR Auction COA.
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