HEMINGWAY, Ernest (1899-1961). Autograph Letter Signed to His Best Friend, Bill Smith. Finca Vigia, San Francisco de Paula, Cuba, April 12, '59. 2 pp. on 2 4to sheets on white onionskin "Finca Vigia..." stationery. Approximately 11 x 8 1/4". Lightly toned, 2 horizontal creases, 2 vestigial mounting tape pieces on versos at top, light wrinkling, creasing. Fine. Addressed: "Dear Bill:" Signed "Love to you both. we cant wait to see you and to see the place Ernest."

In this letter, Hemingway is cementing certain details about Smith's upcoming visit, including writing about the necessity of having a car: "If this is ok with you let's go direct to your house. About car: we should certainly have one. Could you hire a Mercedes with pretty good baggage room and good visibility, and a chauffeur for when we arrive. Then we can see how it works out and whether buying is beter. Take it for a week, say, with option of monthly sale if we decide to keep it on." "Ed Hotchner [a close friend and traveling companion of Hemingway's] and I just drove her 4094 miles from Ketchum to Key West - dropped off Hotch at Nodecenes [?] - and via Elso [?], Vegas, Tucson, El Paso, Eagle Pass (Piedras Negras good town) Corpus Laredo, N. O..." "PS we had very good physical check ups - Mary has the anemia (misspelled) that she'd had since Africa beat finally..."