Katharine Hepburn

Katharine Hepburn (May 12, 1907 - June 29, 2003), classic American film actress, authentic, autographed vintage typed letter (TLS), three pages, dated December 26, 1990. 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. This lengthier example boasts several choice references from the sultry actress; Hepburn begins the letter by thanking Hicks for "a bountiful present," which she follows up with the flattering sentiment, "And more and more I feel that between us we are producing character - sometimes like you - sometimes like me."

Hepburn goes on to list the grandiose assortment of gifts that Hicks has compiled for Christmas, including a magnifying glass she deems as a "godsend," as she is "having a lot of eyelid trouble." She takes particular delight in "white pajamas," describing them as "a sensation," and is "thrilled to have the Sony and all those tapes...and best of all that bicycle seat - that will be a blessing because I'm dying with the one I've got."

Hepburn also makes two exceptionally noteworthy references: the first, which makes mention of "glass hearts," which are "perfect in the background of Spencer's [Tracy] photograph." The next celebrity nod is to that of the American Express heiress, Laura Harding, with whom Hepburn was rumored to have carried on a relationship from 1928 to Harding's death in 1994. She explains to Hicks that the Hepburn camp "opened them [gifts] the day before Christmas because I had to take care of my friend Laura Harding in New Jersey."

In closing, the actress teases, "Will you marry me before you die? You're too too much -"

Typed on personal stationary with red printed lettering, the letter measures approximately 5.5 x 8.5 inches in size, and has been signed in black ink, "Kate." Each page has a central horizontal mailing fold. Accompanied by the original mailing envelope.