2176
MALCOLM X.

CONTRACT AND CORRESPONDENCE REGARDING "THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF MALCOLM X."
1. Document Signed ("Malcolm X" and "Alex Haley"), 4 pages recto and verso, legal folio, New York, NY, May 27, 1963, being an agreement between Doubleday & Co. and Haley and Malcolm X regarding "an untitled non-fiction book," additionally initialed by the authors, pages thumbed.
Malcolm and Haley agree to split the proceeds from the publication of The Autobiography... 50/50, with Malcolm's half going to Muhammed's Mosque Number Two.
2. 7 Typed Letters Signed ("A HAley" and "Alex"), 22 pages recto and verso, quarto and legal folio, Rome, New York, September 25, 1963 to October 14, 1964, to Malcolm X, some on personal letterhead, many with inscriptions, 3 with original transmittal envelopes, overall thumbed. Present also are 4 carbons of other correspondence forwarded to Malcolm with inscriptions by Haley.
This correspondence covers the period during which Haley was working on The Autobiography ... , and features the two men debating over the best way to develop the story (including a long discussion of the "Detroit Red" chapter), as well as other issues relating to publication. Their friendship extended beyond the publication of the book,however, and in one undated letter Haley warns Malcolm to take care not to put himself in harm's way. In part: " Dear Malcolm my friend: / You love "Little Red" Attilah, and Quibilah and Ilyasah. If they are proximate as you read this, or the next time they romp and tumble about you, look them over. Look in their delighted faces, look into their eyes fairly shining 'This is my daddy.' And look into what's deep for them in your own heart. / And Sister Betty. Look at her. I did, when I met her. This strong, fine black woman with her bone-marrow-deep and follow-him-to-the-end-of-the-world love for you which has sustained her and which has helped, you have said, to sustain you through more trials, for each of you separately, and both of you together, than most men and women ever face in ten lifetimes ... Hell, think of me! I have a selfish motive in this letter. I never have had a close friend die. I don't want to go throught that...." Present also is related ephemera, including tear sheets of articles written by Haley for Playboy before being hired to work on the Autography.
See Illustration.

Lot no. 2176
Sale no. 7308z

Estimate 8000 / 12000

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