John Lennon

A four page handwritten letter in John Lennon’s hand to his cousin Liela Birch (Harvey).

• John Lennon (English).
• The letter is on four pages of yellow palm tree letterhead 
• The letter is written in black pen and was penned in John and Yoko’s home in the Dakota building, New York.
• John has written ‘later on Jan 79’ in the top right corner of the first page.
• He has also added a drawing of a man waiving from behind a palm tree.
• On page two he has drawn two pyramids, a sun and a camel.
• On page four he has drawn an image of a man waving from behind a palm tree and a facial doodle of himself.

The letter itself has fantastic content including John reminiscing about childhood holidays, sharing news of his young son, Sean, and revealing his trepidation about a potential visit to Aunt Mimi Smith in England. Lennon never returned to the United Kingdom, but, as this letter indicates, he did find his way to Egypt with his wife Yoko Ono for a planned ‘archaeological dig’ arranged by art collector and family friend Sam Green. The proposed excavation never happened, but Lennon, an ardent history buff, spent several days sightseeing and exploring attractions like the Great Pyramid of Giza and the Step Pyramid of Djoser where he explored the underground chambers. Yoko Ono referred to her Egyptian trip with Lennon in her 1984 song ‘Let Me Count the Ways’.

This letter was included as part of the 2012 book The John Lennon Letters, a collection of almost 300 letters and postcards that was edited and annotated by Hunter Davies whose 1968 authorized biography The Beatles was published to great acclaim. The letter is referred to on page 349 with Davies writing the following:

‘In January 1979, John wrote one of his longest letters to his cousin Liela. In contrast to his letters to Derek Taylor, there is no wordplay, no silly jokes, no obscenities. He has just celebrated Christmas, following on from Thanksgiving, and is feeling nostalgic for his boyhood Christmases in England, painting a rather poignant picture of the games they played as children and the songs they sang.

Among other things, he tells her he is a Zen Pagan, moans a bit about Aunt Mimi and Cousin Stanley, and raves about how beautiful Sean is. He also comments on Liela getting upset over something he is supposed to have said in a newspaper. It must have been an old interview, as in theory John was still in retirement.

The remarks about Egypt refer to Liela personally, as she had been born there. The reference to ‘Russian affair’ is not clear, but it can perhaps be assumed that it was something predicted for her in a tarot card reading.’.

The letter reads as follows:

‘Dear Leila (sic),

It’s snowing — outside the window in Central Park — I can see the Plaza Hotel across the way — it’s beautiful. I’m exhausted (still) after Xmas/New Year — they even have a thing called Thanksgiving a few weeks before Xmas (by the way I’m a Pagan — a Zen Pagan to be precise — but that’s another story!)

It looks as if we got our wires crossed on the ‘newspaper story’ — ie. Mimi (who else!) told me you were upset about something I said (supposed to have said) in the newspaper about myself — anyway enuff of that — it’s obviously nothing — so let’s forget that which we cannot remember anyway!

I don’t know why you were surprised by what I wrote you about your ‘Russian Affair’ — I thought I’d made it clear to you that the words were from a TAROT CARD READER — ie: I told him your story / birthdate etc — the words came through him — I just wrote down his prediction (whatever) re: your situation! — See? — so don’t shoot the bearer of news!!

Sean is a beautiful wise 3 yr old (born Oct. 9! — in case you didn’t know) — what a handful one is — I don’t know how you manage all yours — well done! The fact that they have all their limbs & faculties is an accomplishment in itself!

Sounds like a good idea about giving yourself some time to ‘play’ — 8 days doesn’t sound like you’ve turned gypsy tho’! — by the way —

You better give us a fair warning if your serious about ‘popping over’ here — ie: make sure I’m here — eg. Tomorrow we leave (Yoko & me) for…Cairo, Egypt (ring a bell?!) — via Geneva — on a business trip — for about a week — I wish we could dig up some of your father’s relatives — do you know anyone there? Any uncles / aunts? I’ll send you a postcard.

I’m 40 next year — I hope life begins — ie I’d like a little less ‘trouble’ and more — what? I don’t know — I sent Steve a Xmas card (up North) — I don’t know what is wrong with him — is he resentful of me because I’m not dumb or what?! I guess he was always jealous of you — anyway I still think it’s pretty mean of him — I heard a lot from him when he was piss poor — I shouldn’t be surprised after all the bastards I’ve met the last 40 yrs or so —

If you’re ever in North Wales — look up Julian — he’s in Rutlin School — poor sod.

I thought about you a lot this Xmas — the cottage — the record player — ‘Good Ship Lollipop’ — ‘I found my love on TREASURE ISLAND’ — the Owl(s)? the shadows on the ceiling as the cars went by at night — putting up the paper-chains — even Norman turns into Santa Klaus in my memory! (muttering in the chair by the fire). Enuff of that too!

Lots of love, to all of you, I’m sure we’ll see each other v. soon — somewhere or other — I’m almost scared to go to England, ‘coz I know it would be the last time I saw Mimi — & I’m a coward about goodbyes… Have a good year, keep healthy.

John xxx love from Sean + Yoko xx’.