Sold For $16,423
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TLS signed “Martin L. King, Jr.,” one page, 8.5 x 11, Southern Christian Leadership Conference letterhead, February 25, 1963. Letter to Charles D. Wherry, in part: "First, let me say how deeply grateful I am to you for inviting me to speak in Los Angeles under the auspices of CORE sometime in the near future. Please know that I do not limit my appearances to church groups or under the auspices of church groups, and would be happy to serve you if I did not confront such an extremely crowded schedule. My calendar reveals that I have accepted as many speaking engagements for the next eight or nine months as my schedule will allow. But for this I would be more than happy to serve you." In fine condition, with blocks of faint toning. Accompanied by the original mailing envelope.
Written just six months before his historic “I Have a Dream” speech at the March on Washington on August 28, 1963, this letter dates to a pivotal moment in Martin Luther King Jr.’s leadership of the Civil Rights Movement. At this early stage of the year, King was already facing an overwhelming national demand for his voice—as reflected in his reference to an “extremely crowded schedule”—while preparing for a series of landmark actions, most notably the Birmingham Campaign that would begin that spring. The letter underscores King’s broad commitment to civil rights activism beyond the church, aligning closely with secular organizations such as CORE—the Congress of Racial Equality—and illustrates the accelerating momentum that culminated later that summer.
From the personal collection of a lifelong collector, teacher, and traveler with a passion for world history. His collecting years ranged from the 1970s to the present day, meaning that several of the premier pieces have not been on the market in decades.
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