WILLIAM B. LEEDS JR - AUTOGRAPH LETTER SIGNED 04/16/1964 - HFSID 85555

WILLIAM B. LEEDS JR.
The “the world's richest boy” pens a letter thanking New York columnist Louis Sobol for writing a complimentary piece about his friend
Autograph Letter signed: “Bill Leeds” in blue ink. 1p, 7¼x10½. April 16, 1964. On stationery with letterhead bearing the address of the signer's estate: Wintberg Peak, St. Thomas, Virgin Islands/ P.O. Box 1125. To "Dear Louis”. In full: “We don't get the journal down here as it is an afternoon paper. The news dealers only get it on Sundays because there it is sure to be here the same day. So i have your column sent down by my secretary and that is the way i heard about [name difficult to decipher] Lyman./ When he passed he took years of my memories with him. i was very fond of him. i think i first met him in Paris too many years ago./ i am so glad you did such a nice piece about him he certainly rated it and you did it very well, for this my sincere thanks./ Olive joins me in all the best to Peggie and yourself./ Sincerely”. As written by the scion, with deliberate lowercase “i”s. William B. Leeds Jr. (1902-1971), known as “Billy Leeds” in the gossip pages, was the son of the Tin Plate King, William B. Leeds Sr. and Nancy Stewart. An avid traveler, Leeds spent the majority of his time sailing around the world. In 1921, Leeds Jr. married Princess Xenia of Greece, who was 17 years old at the time. The couple divorced after 9 years and Leeds went on to marry a woman he had rescued at sea. Active in philanthropic endeavors, Leeds donated a fleet of yachts to the U.S. government during World War II. Upon receiving a bleak cancer diagnosis, Leeds committed suicide at his Virgin Islands estate in 1971. New York journalist Louis Sobol (1896-1986) wrote a gossip-oriented entertainment column for 40 years, initially focused on the Broadway stage but also covering film and TV personalities. His books include The Longest Street, a Broadway memoir. He retired in 1967. Lightly toned. Otherwise, fine condition.