[steinbeck, John]. Ed Ricketts Briefcase With Docu - Jun 23, 2010 | Bloomsbury Auctions In Ny
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[STEINBECK, John]. Ed Ricketts briefcase with docu

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[STEINBECK, John]. Ed Ricketts briefcase with docu
[STEINBECK, John]. Ed Ricketts briefcase with docu
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[STEINBECK, John]. Ed Ricketts briefcase with documents.Belonging to Ed Ricketts, American marine biologist, ecologist, philosopher and friend best known for his influence on Steinbeck, which resulted in their collaboration on the Sea of Cortez, later republished as The Log from the Sea of Cortez (1951). Tabs in Pockets: Bay Region trips, West Mexico trips, Puget Sound trips, Between Pacific Tides, Sea of Cortez, To Westward, San Francisco Bay Area, miscellaneous. Pigskin, stamped inside "E.F. Ricketts Pacific Biological Lab.", worn. Steinbeck had first met Ed Ricketts in 1930. As well as being Steinbeck's best friend and his collaborator on The Sea of Cortez, he also, most famously, was the original for the character of 'Doc' in Cannery Row and Sweet Thursday. Ricketts' death in May 1948, when his car was hit by a train, was a major shock to Steinbeck: "he was part of my brain for 18 years" (John Steinbeck quoted by Thomas Fensch in his Conversations with John Steinbeck [University Press of Mississippi, 1989], p.160). In Cannery Row Steinbeck provided a poignant epitaph for his friend: "Doc would listen to any kind of nonsense and change it for you into a kind of wisdom. His mind had no horizon and his sympathy had no warp." [With:] Various printed material including Ricketts' correspondence, 1 telegram, a 28 pp. typescript copy titled "Transcript of summer 1945 end 1946 notes based on trips to the outer shores...", a 42 pp. typescript copy of "Journal of the 1946 Trip," [pp. 101-143], both with typed and manuscript corrections and annotations in pencil and blue pen, 22 pp. of typed letters from Ricketts on Pacific Biological Laboratories letterhead, and a 1 sheet TLS (recto and verso) from Ricketts to Steinbeck on same dated Fri May 7, 1948. Ricketts writes to Steinbeck regarding his recent endeavors: "The experimental canning of salmon goes on here, and I'm interested in in finding out what I can about the meal and oil and Vit A. Spectrophotometer extinction coefficient curves to compare with those of liver oil, of sardine and anchovy oil." A lengthy manuscript from a friend whose influence would loom large throughout Steinbeck's career. The telegram is from Ed Ritch to Steinbeck dated May 9 1948 with the news of Ricketts' automobile collision that proved fatal: "Ed seriously injured late today when train hit car - Ritch." By the time Steinbeck rushed to California, his friend had passed. (2)

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[STEINBECK, John]. Ed Ricketts briefcase with docu

Estimate $9,000 - $12,000
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Starting Price $4,400

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