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Lot #198
Melvin Purvis

Over forty handwritten pages from the FBI G-Man to his beloved wife

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Description

Over forty handwritten pages from the FBI G-Man to his beloved wife

Collection of twenty-four letters to his wife Rosanne, including twenty-two ALSs totaling over forty pages and two TLSs totaling five pages, dated from 1927 to 1944. The earliest, May 24, 1927, in part: “The intervals between your letters have grown perceptibly and have shown me that you do not love me as you once did—you have changed—you do not write as though you wanted to—I love you more than anything, and I do not want to lose you, Rosanne, but I will surrender to the inevitable.” A later letter, November 24, 1943, in part: “I have thought and thought about how fortunate we are to have the two finest little boys in the world…I think you handled the situation perfectly—about his hitting the boy with the toy gun…Tell Melvin I am sure he will not touch the light plugs or the wires again because I have confidence that he will mind his Mommie.” Another, April 11, 1944, in part: “Tell Philip…I appreciate his going over the guns and other things in the chest. I hope nothing has been ruined…we might take out such leather items, and other things, that get musty or rusty or mouldy down there, and put them in the den—provided they can be put out of Melvin’s reach. I am afraid he might hurt himself if he were allowed access to some of the things, like the riding crop with sword inside, etc. I hope the guns have not become rusted.” Several letters are also signed at the top in addition to at the conclusion. Also includes nineteen of the original mailing envelopes, most of which are signed three times, in the address, return address, and with a censor signature. In overall fine condition. An impressive archive covering a broad period of his life, most from after his career in the FBI, rich with content revealing his great love for his wife and children.

Auction Info

  • Auction Title: Fine Autographs and Artifacts
  • Dates: #462 - Ended October 14, 2015