Marcel Duchamp Art-Related ALS, Probably the Last Piece

Marcel Duchamp Art-Related ALS, Probably the Last Piece of Correspondence He Wrote Before Dying the Next Day

A 1p autograph letter in English signed by Surrealist French artist Marcel Duchamp (1887-1968) as "Marcel" at the bottom of the page. Written at Duchamp's home at 5 Rue Parmentier in Neuilly-sur-Seine, France on October 1, 1968, just hours before the artist's death at 1:05 am on the morning of October 2, 1968. On a single leaf of pale blue lightweight paper, accompanied by its original Air Mail transmittal envelope also signed by Duchamp in the return address panel as "Marcel Duchamp." Expected wear including paper folds and a few extra wrinkles. A former collector has pencil inscribed "Duchamp" next to the artist's signature. The envelope is postmarked October 1, 1968. Letter-opened at top, scattered stains, and adhesive residue, else very good. Provenance: Ex-Noel Goldblatt (ca. 1926-2003) of the famous Goldblatt's Department Store, to a prominent Los Angeles, California collector.

Marcel Duchamp wrote this letter--in all likelihood his last--to Jason Harvey, the brother of American artist Anne Harvey (1916-1967). Showing exceptional artistic promise as a child, Anne had accompanied an artist aunt to France. There, she befriended many leading modern artists, like Henri Matisse, Joan Miró, and Alexander Calder. Anne Harvey had died unexpectedly the year before, and her brother wanted to organize an exhibition of her work.

Duchamp wrote in part,

"Dear Jason

I will be glad to help find a good gallery for Annie's work.

We expect to arrive in N.Y. on Oct. 12 but have to leave again immediately for Chicago.

I will call you up after Oct. 20th or if you prefer to call me our number is AL4.86 92 (in the morning)

a bientot [trans: "see you soon"]

Cordialement [trans: "Cordially"]

Marcel."

Marcel Duchamp died early the next morning of heart failure at the age of 81, after a dinner party with his friends Man Ray and Robert Lebel, the American photographer and French art critic respectively. Duchamp's discussion of his future plans in the letter thus take on a tragic meaning.

A retrospective of Anne Harvey's artwork was held at the Robert Scholkopf Gallery in New York City in 1971.

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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