KEROUAC, Jack (1922-1969). Typed letter signed (“Jack”), 26 December 1961. Unpublished.

Quarto. Single leaf; recto only, double spaced. With envelope addressed in type, with typed postscript to verso, postmarked Orlando, Florida.

“Of late I’ve been lamenting anew our late beloved master Doctor Samuel Johnson, reading him at lezzure in the hot Florida sunshine of my yard – and gadzooks whatta man!”

A bright and, for Kerouac, cheerful note for the New Year. In Florida, Jack had recovered from his summer blues and was reading anew his and White's “beloved” Samuel Johnson, a man “after both our hearts.” Jack rejected the accepted opinion that Boswell was a fool. “Isn’t that foolish?” His closing line, “See you in time,” could have meant never, but they finally did get together for a late night reunion several years later in 1964.