Lot 1459: Bill Tilden

Bill Tilden
Famed American tennis player (1893-1953) whose major tournament victories number in the dozens (including six consecutive years as U.S. Singles Champion). Though his reputation was tainted by a pedophilic scandal and a jail term in the 1940s, a 1950 Associated Press poll named him the greatest tennis player of the first half of the twentieth century. ALS in pencil from prison to Bratto and Marrian Anderson signed "Bill," one page both sides, 5 x 8, no date, but postmarked May 5, 1949. Letter to one of his tennis students. In full: "Tis Wednesday and I am thinking about the Brat & how he is coming out in the school match & know he is winning. I am fine & my story is really going well now. Please Marrian be sure to bring me two of the tablets as I am all out now & can't work until I get it. I have had no work since I saw you last, so have no news of any kind. I will have the pictures marked which are OK and which to do over, so Marrian can bring them on Sunday. I'm crazy to see who you draw, Bratto, in the So Cal. Surprize the old fogies & lick a few seeded stars or some of Jones pets. It would do me good to know it. I miss you both and wish I were with you, but I am really fine & getting fat I'm afraid. I'm really excited about the story. Please arrange with the gal about typing it." In fine condition, with a miniscule tear to the upper right edge. Accompanied by the original mailing envelope, filled out in Tilden's hand, with his signature, "W. T. Tilden," in the return address area.