Fitzgerald, F. Scott

Autograph letter signed ("Scott Fit-"),  1 page (10 5/8 x 8 1/4 in; 270 x 210 mm), Hotel Bellevue, Salies-de-Béarn, Basses Pyrénées, France, n.d. [January or February 1926], to Gilbert Seldes; in blue ink on light blue paper, slight marginal age-toning, a corner a bit creased.

Not in the M. J. Bruccoli or A. Turnbull edition of Fitzgerald letters and apparently unpublished.

Autograph letter signed ("Scott Fit-"), 1 page (10 5/8 x 8 1/4 in; 270 x 210 mm), Hotel Bellevue, Salies-de-Béarn, Basses Pyrénées, France, n.d. [January or February 1926], to Gilbert Seldes; in blue ink on light blue paper, slight marginal age-toning, a corner a bit creased.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

Scott and Zelda.  "I was delighted, as was Zelda, to hear that you're back in Europe. Ring [Lardner] sent me clipping about your play — I know how it feels to see one go pop before your eyes and I deeply sympathized with you. [Fitzgerald refers to his own play, The Vegetable, which went "pop" during its tryout in Atlantic City in November 1923.]  Now as to my plans — Zelda has been sick off and on [with abdominal pains] for a year and we've come to this little lost town for a widely famed salt cure for her. We'll be here till March first when with Zelda well and me with lots of work done we go to Nice or Juan-les-Pins or wherever we can get a villa. If we can't find a villa we'll spend spring in a hotel and get a villa for the summer ... After that our plans depend, as usual, on finances ... Always Your Friend ..."  During his two months stay at Salies-de-Béarn, Fitzgerald wrote just two minor stories and an essay-review of Hemingway's In Our Time. The couple found the spa a dull place and did leave by 1 March for the Riviera.