JOHN STIENBECK MOMENTOS TO BE AUCTIONED

JOHN STEINBECK KEPT HIS CALIFORNIA ROOTS CLOSE WHEN WRITING SUCH MASTERPIECES AS 'GRAPES OF WRATH' AND 'EAST OF EDEN', BUT THE NOBEL PIECE WINNER ALSO LOVED NEW YORK AND MADE IT HIS HOME FOR MUCH OF HIS LIFE. NOW, A TREASURE TROVE OF HIS PERSONAL LETTERS, MANUSCRIPTS AND PHOTOGRAPHS FROM HIS SUNNY THREE-BEDROOM APARTMENT ON MANHATTAN'S UPPER EAST SIDE, WHERE HE LIVED UNTIL HIS DEATH IN 1968, IS BEING OFFERED AT BLLOMSBURY AUCTIONS IN NEW YORK ON 23.JUNE. EXPECTED TO BRING A TOTAL OF $200,000 TO $250,000, HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE STEINBECK'S ACCEPTANCE SPEECH FOR HIS 1962 NOBEL PRIZE FOR LITERATURE AND NUMEROUS MANUSCRIPTS WRITTEN IN HIS NEAT SCRIPT ON LINED YELLOW PAPER, ON TOPICS AS DIVERSE AS HIS IRISH ROOTS AND OBSERVATIONS ON CAMPING. ADDITIONALLY, HIS LIBRARY OF SOME 800 BOOKS, INCLUDING 400 HARDBOUND REFERENCE VOLUMES, FIRST EDITIONS AND PRESENTATION COPIES, MANY WITH HIS RUBBER STAMP OF SIGNATURE, IS BEING OFFERED AS A SINGLE LOT WITH A PRE-SALE ESTIMATE OF $15,000 to $20,000. CONSIDERED ONE OF THE GREATEST WRITERS OF THE 20th CENTURY, STEINBECK IS HAILED FOR HIS KEEN PORTRAITS OF THE HUMAN CONDITION AND FOR SERVING AS A VOICE FOR THE DISENFRANCHISED AND DOWNTRODDEN WHILE CELEBRATING THE HUMAN SPIRIT. HE PENNED 27 NOVELS, MANY OF WHICH WERE ADAPTED FOR FILM AND STAGE. HIS BEST-KNOW WORK IS 'THE GRAPES OF WRATH', A DEPRESSION-ERA NOVEL OF MIGRANT FARMERS WHO TRAVEL TO CALIFORNIA AFTER LOSING THEIR LAND IN THE DUST BOWL. IT WAS AWARDED THE PULITZER PRIZE FOR FICTION IN 1939 AND MADE INTO A MOVIE THAT STARRED HENRY FONDA AND EARNED JOHN FORD AN OSCAR. A VIKING PRESS UNCORRECTED GALLEY PROOF OF THE GREAT NOVEL, ON ORIGINAL PLAIN BROWN UNPRINTED BUTCHER PAPER, IS PART OF THE BLOOSBURY FINE BOOKS SALE. THE SECOND ISSUE GALLEY MISSPELLS BOTH THE TITLE (GROPES OF WRATH) AND THE AUTHOR'S NAME (STEINBACK). AN EXTERIOR LABEL GIVES THE PUBLICATION DATE OF APRIL 21, 1939, WITH A PRICE OF $2.75. NOT SEEN ON THE MARKET SINCE 1977, IT HAS A PRE-SALE ESTIMATE OF $8,000 TO $12,000. IT HAS BEEN COSIGNED BY A PRIVATE COLLECTOR, AND IS NOT PART OF THE STEINBECK APARTMENT ARCHIVE. AMONG HIS PERSONAL EFFECTS ARE HIS LEATHER CHAIR AND GLOBE, AND A COURVOISIER COGNAC BOX FILLED WITH TOBACCO PIPES, READING GLASSES AND LEATHER BILLFOLDS.