OLIVIA DE HAVILLAND - TYPED LETTER SIGNED 07/12/1993 - HFSID 311878

OLIVIA de HAVILLAND
The Academy Award winning actress signs a letter to a fan, thanking him for his birthday wishes
Typed letter signed: "Olivia de Havilland", in black ink, 1 page, 8¼x11¾. July 12, 1993. Paris, France. In full: "Dear Henry Slapinski, It delighted me to receive your card, three evocative panels from Mc Cubbin's "The Pioneer" on its cover and your birthday message within. Thank you for this kind remembrance and for the good things that you wish me. With my very appreciative regards, Most sincerely". Post script: "You are very generous to wish to send me a gift from Australia - but I think it might be taking too much of a risk to entrust it to the mails and the long voyage between Australia and France". Original envelope included. Olivia de Havilland (1916-2020), the sister of actress Joan Fontaine, received critical acclaim and Best Actress Academy Awards for her roles in To Each His Own (1946) and The Heiress (1949). She was also nominated for an Oscar for Gone With the Wind (1939), of which she is the last surviving star, Hold Back the Dawn (1941) and The Snake Pit (1948). In addition to her acting on the stage and screen, de Havilland is known for fighting the studio system. The actress sued Warner Bros. for extending her seven-year contract by tacking on several months for which she had been suspended for refusing to take a part. Although de Havilland spent three years off the screen, she ultimately won her case, and the "De Havilland Law", as it came to be called, ensured that studios were no longer able to engage in the practice of extending contract time. Normal mailing folds. Light surface creases. Envelope has surface creases. Corners lightly worn and creased. Both in fine condition.