Sold For $334
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Jack Kerouac's personally-owned user's manual for his famous Hermes 3000 typewriter, which he used to compose most of his 1968 autobiographical novel Vanity of Duluoz. The manual is nine pages with a fold-out specification diagram, 8.25 x 5.75, detailing machine preparation, general typing rules, maintenance, changing the ribbon, and the tabulator. The repair slip, issued by Accurate Business Machines of St. Petersburg, Florida, to "Stella Kerouac, 5169 10th Avenue N.," documents that the Hermes typewriter was brought in for repair on January 21, 1969, having been "Dropped." In fine condition, with light soiling to the manual. Accompanied by a certificate of authenticity from University Archives.
Christie's sold Kerouac's 'last typewriter'—a mint green Hermes 3000—in 2010 for an impressive $22,500. Kerouac acquired the typewriter in 1966, explaining in a letter to his agent that the machine was necessary, 'as the old one broke in two, but, and that's what broke my budget, and now it'll be taxes.' The Christie's listing noted that the typewriter's manual and a repairman's receipt survived in the Kerouac Papers—now offered together here. Kerouac did in fact buy one more typewriter, a Smith Corona in May 19, 1967, to finish up Vanity of Duluoz.
