VIVIEN LEIGH - AUTOGRAPH LETTER SIGNED 04/26/1962 - HFSID 190502

VIVIEN LEIGH
Leigh handwrote, signed and dated this letter to "Dearest Arnold" on stationery embossed with the Red Rose of Lancaster in 1962. In it, she discusses travel arrangements for an upcoming trip.
Autograph letter signed "Vivien" in blue ink. 2 pages, 8 ¾ x 11, 1 sheet, front and verso, on stationery embossed with the Red Rose of Lancaster. April 26, 1962, with stamp in black ink near top edge on page 1: "May 1 1962". In full: "Dearest Arnold - I have just [illegible] the contacts & here they are - One thing I want to make quite clear, though, is - apropos Rider D. I am bringing over a secretary & a maid - the secretary from N. Zealand - & the maid from England - & I wish the maid's fare from England paid - I imagine this is all in order? - Sweet of you to trouble with the seats - I shall be in N.Y. 17th leave the evening of 23rd longing to see you - Latin America continues to be a great success but I shall be [illegible] glad to be home! Much love to you all Ann Jack and Bobby". Leigh (1913-1967, born Vivian Mary Hartley in Darjeeling, West Bengal, British India, now India) was a British stage and film actress. She won Academy Awards for Best Actress as Scarlett O'Hara in Gone With the Wind (1939) and as Blanche Dubois in A Streetcar Named Desire (1951). She came to America in November 1938. On December 21st, she had a screen test for the Scarlett O'Hara role and on December 25, 1938 she was told by producer George Cukor that she had secured the part. On January 26, 1939, she began filming Gone With The Wind. Leigh was an accomplished actress on the British stage as well. She appeared in London's Old Vic Theatre opposite Lawrence Olivier as Ophelia in Hamlet in the late 1930s; the two started an affair and were married in 1940, divorcing in 1960. She was only 53 when she succumbed to a severe bout of tuberculosis in 1967. Lightly creased. Right edge is ragged and torn; tears touch handwriting. Two lightly-torn binder holes at top edge. Otherwise in fine condition.