Katharine Hepburn

Katharine Hepburn (May 12, 1907 - June 29, 2003), classic American film actress, authentic, autographed vintage typed letter (TLS), two pages, dated January 21, 1988. Over the course of her illustrious career, Hepburn won a record four Academy Awards for the films "Morning Glory," "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner," "The Lion in the Winter" and "On Golden Pond."

This piece comes from a vast collection of letters spanning a 12 year correspondence between the elusive actress and an avid admirer, Alice Hicks. Within these pages, Hepburn's typically short and brief responses to fan mail take on a seemingly invested, almost poetic form, suggesting a deeper, more intimate relationship between the two women. In this letter, Hepburn sends advice regarding Hicks' "damned foot without the toes." She instructs "that if you can remember to walk from the heel toward the front of your foot, rather than from the front of your foot backwards, you will find that you have a much better balance." These words of wisdom come as a result of Hepburn's own surgery: "When I first had my operation and they took off the long cast, my temptation was to limp. This I refused to do. It has made a great difference to me. I hope that you will find the same is true for you."

Typed on personal stationary with red printed lettering, the letter measures approximately 6 x 8 inches in size, and has been signed in black ink, "Affection, Katharine." Each page has a central horizontal mailing fold. Accompanied by the original mailing envelope.