A 2pp legal document pencil inscribed by American comedian Lenny Bruce (1925-1966) with over 20 words, and signed by him as "Love Ly" in the upper right corner. The document appears to be a contemporary clerical copy entitled "Points & Authorities in Support of Temporary Restraining Order and Preliminary Injunction." Undated, but probably ca. November 1964, while Bruce's landmark 6-month long obscenity trial was underway in Manhattan. Expected light wear including flattened paper folds and isolated minor stains. Stapled to a light blue paper mount at top; the mount is weathered and has expected folds, lightly chipped edges, and minor closed tears, else near fine. The sight size of the document is 8.5" x 12" while the overall size of the mount is 8.875" x 14.5." Provenance: From the estate of “Count” Lewis DePasquale.

Lenny Bruce's signed inscription and notes read in full:

"AD - 3000 YOU
II U - 1800 GET
________ Del [illegible]

$4800 - 50% 50%
You get to Xerox [?]
First then SPLIT.
_______________

Dear Malcom,
Hello
Love Ly."

The legal case Lenny Bruce v. William Cahn, District Attorney, County of Nassau, State of New York, et al. was adjudicated in the United States District Court, Eastern District of New York. The approximate dating of the document to 1964 stems from the citing of "Evergreen Review Inc. v. Cahn 230 Fed Supp [498 (E.D.N.Y. 1964)]" as one of the precedent obscenity cases listed on the second page. The trial of Evergreen Review v. Cahn opened on June 11, 1964, just a few days before the start of Lenny Bruce's sensational obscenity trial prosecuted by Manhattan District Attorney Richard H. Kuh. Bruce's prepared statement regarding Evergreen was likely submitted after November 1964, when he had dismissed his own legal team and began representing himself. ("In pro per" refers to the Latin term "in Propria Persona," or when a person represents themselves in a court of law.) Perhaps Bruce felt that Cahn's obscenity trial in a neighboring legal district could have bearing on his own case, and he wanted to be proactive about establishing his rights. Cahn served as a Republican appointed District Attorney of Nassau County for four terms, from 1962-1974.

Evergreen Review Inc. v. Cahn was a case involving the seizure of 21,000 copies of the April-May 1964 issue of "Evergreen Review" by the Nassau County police squad on April 24, 1964. The "Evergreen Review" was a left-leaning literary and arts magazine founded in 1957, which frequently featured articles by leading Beatniks and Existentialists, as well as controversial and sometimes erotic photographs, illustrations, and cartoons. Bruce stated in this legal document, in part: "Plaintiff Bruce's case is none the less appealing…The inherent evil in the process being employed against him is that he is deprived of the right to comment upon these events in a current and timely fashion and the public is deprived of its substantial right to have access to his opinions…"

Lenny Bruce was engaged in his own high-profile obscenity trial in the neighboring district of Manhattan between June 16 - December 21, 1964. Bruce had been arrested for using obscene language at a Greenwich Village coffeehouse called Café Au Go Go on April 3, 1964, in advance of a comedy performance. The proprietors of the establishment, Ella Solomon and Howard L. Solomon, were also indicted. The trial dragged on for six months, delayed by medical leaves and a judge's summer vacation. Bruce, representing himself after November 1964, was unable to persuade the 3-judge panel that his rights were protected under free speech and he was sentenced to 4 months' imprisonment in late December 1964.

“Count” Lewis DePasquale (1930-2001) was one of Bruce’s intimates, widely known as the “Count.” In January 1960, he was introduced to Lenny Bruce in Miami, Florida. Bruce immediately liked DePasquale and asked him to come open for him at the El Patio Club across town. Over the next six years, the Count played, worked, and wrote movies with Bruce. When DePasquale died in 2001, he was in the process of writing a memoir of his experiences with Bruce.

Lenny Bruce revolutionized American comedy, by his transgressive interrogation of taboo issues like sex, race, religion, and society, and also by his use of unedited language. Bruce pushed the envelope of humor, and by so doing, also pushed against the boundaries of socially and legally acceptable public behavior. As such, he is now known as a champion of free speech. Bruce was arrested 15 times in two years, mostly on obscenity charges. The entertainer was blacklisted and facing bankruptcy when he died of an accidental morphine overdose at the age of 40 in 1966.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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