The secrets in J.D. Salinger's safe...
When celebrities pass away their autographs and memorabilia escalate in value.
It's a fact.
Michael Jackson was a supreme example.
Prior to his death a signed picture would sell for £150 ($240); they now change hands for up to £900 ($1,400).
And in the world of Collectibles a Michael Jackson signed photo isn't considered that rare... if you have the funds you could easily buy one today.
J.D. Salinger, however, is an altogether different story.
Prior to his death his life as a recluse had made his autograph one of the rarest and most valuable in the world.
Now, following his death, collectors are clamouring to get their hands on one...
We have one available at Paul Fraser Collectibles.
A very personal letter typed and signed by J.D. Salinger
Let me tell you the story...
There's a famous tale about the actor, Nicolas Cage.
Legend has it he met his first wife, actress Patricia Arquette, in a Los Angeles deli.
Within a few hours he declared that he was going to marry her. She wasn't so keen.
So Nic said 'Let me prove my love, put me on a quest of some kind'
So, on a deli napkin Arquette wrote down her list of impossible requests:
1. She wanted a black orchid
2. She wanted a wedding dress from an elusive Tibetan Tribe
3. She wanted one of the world's rarest autographs; that of reclusive author J.D. Salinger
Salinger's autograph was already one of the rarest and most valuable in the world.
And now that he has passed away the price is sure to increase dramatically.
Here's why...
J.D. Salinger's The Catcher in the Rye was first published in 1951.
It has gone on to sell over 60 million copies worldwide.
To this day it still sells 250,000 copies a year.
The Catcher in the Rye was the only Salinger novel released in his lifetime.
Yet it is an acknowledged masterpiece and established the author as one of the most influential writers of the 20th century.
The book's influence was widespread...
On assassinating John Lennon Mark Chapman's notoriously stated: "The reason I killed John Lennon was to promote the reading of J D Salinger's Catcher in the Rye."
Why J.D. Salinger's autograph is so rare...
The world came calling for Salinger, but he bolted the door.
By 1952, he had moved to Cornish, a small town in New Hampshire.
He refused interviews and never answered a single letter from his new army of fans.
His life as a recluse made as much news as his books.
Salinger turned down numerous offers for film or stage rights, including requests from Billy Wilder and Elia Kazan.
Bids from Steven Spielberg and Harvey Weinstein were also rejected.
Readers of The Catcher in the Rye should have seen this coming.
In the very first paragraph Holden Caulfield remarks: "I'm not going to tell you my whole goddam autobiography or anything."
And then in 1999, Salinger's New Hampshire neighbour Jerry Burt whetted the appetites of literature fans around the world.
Burt said Salinger had told him years earlier that he had written at least 15 unpublished books kept locked in a safe at his home.
It's likely to be true; Salinger himself had said:
"There is a marvellous peace in not publishing. Publishing is a terrible invasion of my privacy. I love to write, but I write for myself and my own pleasure.
"And I want to be left alone to do it."
The mystery of the safe continues after his death...
Phyllis Westberg, Salinger's representative at the Ober agency, has declined to comment on whether J.D. Salinger has any unpublished work.
It's now nearly half a century since The Catcher in the Rye was published and 34 years since Salinger's last book of short stories.
Yet J.D. Salinger still captures the public imagination.
If unpublished works do exist then Salinger's popularity will soar.
If they don't exist then his legend will grow further.
Either way Salinger autographs and memorabilia will grow in value for the few who are lucky enough to own them.
We've seen it happen many times before...
Most recently with Michael Jackson when prices increased six-fold overnight.
And remember; Salinger's autograph is infinitely rarer.
We only have one J.D. Salinger artifact available.
It's a typed letter signed 'Jerry'. The content is personal, written to his lover.
This is one of the world's rarest and most sought after signatures.
The letter is dated Wednesday, 9/16/81 and addressed to Janet Eagleson.
In it J.D. writes:
"It's been a s****y month, threats from the press... oh boy, do I loathe summers"
He talks of fleeing with her "bare-a**ed and holding hands" to open "a little clothing store,"
"That's my fantasy and I'm not ashamed to say I sent it along to Nancy Friday*"
*Fellow author Nancy Friday wrote on the topics of female sexuality and liberation
Confirming his reclusive lifestyle Salinger goes on to say:
"I made just one sortie from here all summer... I hated the drive - 256 miles from here... I just stayed overnight, drove home after breakfast"
This is a stunning insight into the reclusive life of J.D Salinger.
And the best bit?
We haven't increased the price following his death.
What's the catch?
Truthfully? There isn't one.
This is a superb opportunity for one reader to purchase at a below-market price level.
Why would we do this?
Simple.
We specialise in building long-term relationships with collectors.
When you know you've got a fantastic deal, we know you'll be back to purchase from us again, and again.
Remember, Salinger never once replied to a fan letter.
It's why his autograph is one of the rarest in the world.
Now that J.D. Salinger has passed away the limited supply of items like this will ensure prices escalate.
Click here for full details of the letter
Regards
Adrian Roose
Editor
P.S. This is the only J.D. Salinger item we have in stock. Don't miss out.
www.paulfrasercollectibles.com
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