LEOPOLD STOKOWSKI - TYPED LETTER SIGNED 08/17/1945 - HFSID 4420

LEOPOLD STOKOWSKI
Stokowski signed this typed letter in Beverly Hills in 1945 to publisher Blanche Knopf, regarding the poems of a poet identified only as "Gloria" - possibly his third wife, Gloria Vanderbilt
Typed letter signed "Leopold Stokowski". With erased pencil marks near top edge in unknown hand and blue ink date stamp on verso. 1 page, 5½x8½. Beverly Hills, California, Aug. 17, 1945. Addressed to Mrs. Blanche Knopf, New York City. In full: "Dear Blanche It was a great pleasure to hear from you. The poet in question is Gloria. In my opinion she has a definite gift and something to say, particularly to the young generation arising now. I will send you about fifteen poems in a few days as soon as they are typed. Of course I want you to be perfectly frank if they do not happen to appeal to you for publication in a small, unpretentious volume. In any case we hope to have the pleasure of seeing you in New York in October. Your friend". "Gloria" is possibly his third wife GLORIA VANDERBILT, born in 1924 in New York City. She was his third and last wife, he was her second of four husbands. They were married from April 21, 1945 to 1955. BLANCHE KNOPF (1894-1966, born in New York City) was the wife of Alfred Knopf, founder of the publishing house Alfred A. Knopf, Inc. She became vice-president of the company in 1921 and, later, president. LEOPOLDSTOKOWSKI (1882-1977, born Leopold Antoni Stanislaw Boleslawawicz Stokowski in London England) conducted the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra (1909-1912), Philadelphia Orchestra (1914-1936), N.Y. Symphony Orchestra (1944-1945) and Houston Symphony (1955-1962). He formed the American Symphony Orchestra in 1962. He was known for his lush interpretations of the classics and it was under his baton that the orchestra played the music for Disney's Fantasia (1940). Lightly toned, creased and rippled. Ink stamp on verso shows through and touches signature. Upper left corner is missing. Typewriting is lightly smeared in places, but legible. Otherwise in fine condition.