L.H. Oswald Fantastic ALS Regarding His Return to the U.S.: "The Russians are holding me up, and are giving me some trouble about the visas..."

3pp autograph letter signed by Lee Harvey Oswald (1939-1963), the suspected assassin of 35th U.S. President John F. Kennedy (1917-1963), and signed by him as "Your Brother, Lee" at the top of the third page. Written in Minsk, the capital of the Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic of the Soviet Union, on September 10, 1961. The first, third, and fourth pages of the bifold lined paper are inscribed in teal ink

the second page is blank. Expected light paper folds. An isolated stain found on the last page not affecting the text. Else near fine. 5.5" x 7.875". Accompanied by materials relating to Marguerite Oswald, Lee's mother, regarding compensation for his repatriation. Provenance: Ex Charles Hamilton Galleries, Inc. (NY, NY)

Ex John Lattimer.

Lee Harvey Oswald wrote this letter to older brother Robert Oswald (1934-2017) in the fall of 1961 regarding his desire to return to the United States after having lived in the Soviet Union for nearly two years.

Lee had surreptitiously traveled to Moscow in October 1959, seeking political asylum there one month after receiving a hardship discharge from the U.S. Marine Corps. Once behind the Iron Curtain, Oswald attempted to denounce his American citizenship and expressed a fervent desire to remain in the Soviet Union. Soviet officials, suspicious but otherwise cooperative, permitted him to stay. "Alex" (as Oswald was called during his time abroad) was sent to Minsk, a provincial city located some 700 km southwest of Moscow. There, he was given a job in an electronics factory, a subsidized apartment, and financial assistance from the government. Though he made many friends there and dated even more, Oswald chafed at Soviet restrictions. Officials routinely surveilled Oswald, his Russian wife Marina, and their young daughter June by using peepholes, magnifying glasses, and listening devices.

In a diary entry dated just nine months earlier, in January 1961, Oswald had written: "I am starting to reconsider my desire about staying… I have had enough." Yet Oswald would discover that entering the Soviet Union was easier than leaving it.

In part, with original spelling and punctuation:

"Well, apparently I was too optimistic in my last letter, since you say you thought I would be coming so soon.

The Russians are holding me up, and are giving me some trouble about the visas, so for now I can only wait. In general for an ordinary Russian, Its impossible to leave the USSR, simply because he wants too. However, I and my wife have the possibility because of the fact I am still a american citizen and have the U.S. passport.

My Russian documents are good only until Jan. 4, 1962, therefore you can expect that they will let me go before that date, since I will not extend the length of time on these documents after Jan 4, 1962, however the Russians have been known to hold people, against international law, and against their will's, but as I say, 'time will show'…"

In fact, it was only in late May 1962 that the bureaucratic process began moving. Oswald, Marina, and June were permitted to leave the Soviet Union in early June 1962

they arrived stateside on June 13, 1962.

Also including four pieces related to the aftermath of Lee Harvey Oswald's repatriation. In the spring of 1971, Marguerite Oswald (1907-1981) approached the International Rescue Committee, a humanitarian aid organization, for reimbursement of expenses incurred in Lee's return to the United States nearly ten years earlier. On June 1, 1963, Lee Harvey Oswald had signed a promissory note at the U.S. Embassy in Moscow in the amount of $435.71

perhaps Marguerite was still trying to pay off this debt.

The materials are comprised of:

- Two original transmittal envelopes sent by Marguerite Oswald from her Ft. Worth, Texas address. The registered, first-class envelope is inscribed by John Lattimer (1914-2007), world-renowned Kennedy assassination expert, as: "Telegram giving Mother Oswald the address of INTL Rescue Committee to pay for Lee H. Oswald return to US".

- A Western Union message from Allyn C. Donaldson, Director, Special Consular Services, Department of State, to Marguerite Oswald.

- A typed document referring to the sum of $250.

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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