E.E. Cummings 2x Signed TLS Regarding Poetry: "but with art there's no hurryX [sic]"

A 1p typed letter signed by poet Edward Estlin "E.E." Cummings (1894-1962), as "EEC" at center; also signed a second time on the return address panel of its original transmittal envelope as "Cummings." Written at Cummings's longtime flat at 4 Patchin Place in Greenwich Village, New York City on March 22, 1944. On simple typing paper typed "4 Patchin Place" at top. The envelope is entirely engrossed by Cummings, with his name and address verso, as well as the address of the recipient as "Professor Theodore Spencer / 20 Oxford Street / Cambridge / Massachusetts" recto. Expected paper folds and a minor chipped edge along the left margin, else near fine. 8.5" x 11." The envelope postmarked from New York on March 22, 1944 has a wartime cancellation and is gently letter-opened verso.

E.E. Cummings, best-known for his experimental poetical style, employs some of the same unconventional literary elements in this letter to friend and fellow poet Theodore Spencer (1902-1949).

Some of these unexpected oddities of usage, typical of Cummings's work, include:

- A lack of capitalization, though selective, not exclusive (ex. beginning new sentences with lower case letters, but capitalizing the proper noun "Marion");

- A lack of spacing between characters and words (ex: "hurryX"), in this last example, the "X" appears purely ornamental as there is no corresponding typographical mistake to cross out;

- A scattering of French words and phrases seamlessly intermixed with English (ex: "Am awaiting avec [with] more than interest");

- Disturbing, dream-like imagery (ex. "walking a tightrope uphill…").

"Marion" referred to Marion Morehouse (1906-1969), Cummings's last romantic partner and possibly his third wife (their marital status remains unclear.) Morehouse was one of the most famous fashion models of the 1920s and 1930s, posing for "Vogue" and "Vanity Fair." She met E.E. in 1934 and the couple lived together at 4 Patchin Place until the poet's death in 1962.

The book of Spencer's poems on Marion's bedside table may have been Theodore Spencer's 82pp poetry collection "An Act of Life," published by Harvard University Press in 1944. Spencer had earned his doctorate at Harvard University (Cummings's alma mater) in 1928, and served as a Professor of English there between 1927 and his death in 1949.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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