Winter Auction 2016 Closing January 30th
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 1/31/2016
By the winter of 1961 Lee Harvey Oswald had had enough of the "worker's paradise" that was the Soviet Union. A dreary life as a factory worker in remote Minsk led to Oswald working around the clock to navigate the miles of red tape needed to secure an exit visa for he and his wife and daughter so they could emigrate to the United States. This three-page hand written letter from Oswald to his mother in Texas dates from January 2, 1962 and reads (spelling and grammar original): “Well, I have pretty good news we shall receive our visa’s about the middle of February, which means we may arrive in the U.S. about the 1st of March give or take a month or so. I would like you to do something important fir us, get in touch with the Red Cross in Vernon, ask them to contact a organization, called ‘International rescue committee,’ or any organization which aid's persons from abroad get resettled. There are many such organizations. We need $800.00 for two tickets from Moscow to New York and from N.Y. to Texas.
You show them the enclosed letter from the American Embassy [photocopy of the letter, Warren Commission Exhibit No. 241, is included]. You can tell the Red Cross that at this writing my wife has been granted non-quoto immigration stutus for entrance into the United States, and that both of us have now recivied Soviet exit visa’s to leave the Soviet Union. These visa’s will be good until about the middle of april. Tell them all outstanding documentation has already been resolved. We only need the money for the tickets now.
Ask them to contact the American Embassy, Moscow for information and if they send money, to send it; c/o U.S. Embassy, Moscow U.S.S.R. I want you to try to get the money through some organization, and not try to collect it yourself, alone. Do not, of course, take any loan only a gift. and don’t send your own money. A lot of such organizations exist which help people in our case, so it won’t do any harm to take a try. We receivied you Christmas card with Photo’s they were very good, both of us enjoyed them very much. Write Soon.” (signed) “Love Lee”.
The letter is written in blue ink on a 7 3/4" x 11" lined page that has been folded to make four pages. The sheet is in fine condition with light edge wear and a vertical fold which was used to form 4 separate pages. This letter was used as an exhibit in the Warren Commission and like all other documents has been soft laminated. A red and white sticker has been place on top of the first page which is marked "Commission No. 189". Letter of Authenticity from PSA/DNA.