IRA GERSHWIN | Ira Gershwin comments on a letter he wrote under George's name

Property from the Collection of Elsie and Philip Sang

IRA GERSHWIN

TWO LETTERS, ONE WRITTEN OVER A FAKE GEORGE GERSHWIN SIGNATURE, THE OTHER EXPLAINING THE HARMLESS DECEPTION 

Autograph letter signed ("George Gershwin," but actually Ira Gershwin), 1 p. (9 1/4 x 5 3/4 in.; 235 x 146 mm) on Hotel Sylvania letterhead, Philadelphia, 18 October 1926, to Mrs. Berthold Neur, New York; horizontal folds — Typed letter signed ("Ira Gershwin"), 1 p. (11 x 8 1/2 in.; 279 x 216 mm) on his Roxbury Drive letterhead, Beverly Hills, 24 June 1960, to Charles Hamilton, New York; horizontal folds.

Ira Comes Clean. In summer of 1960, New York autograph dealer Charles Hamilton offered in his catalogue number 37 a 1926 autograph letter believed to have been written by George Gershwin. When Ira received the catalogue he wrote to Hamilton from Beverly Hills, "…I am sure you bought or acquired this letter in absolute good faith, and I am therefore a bit embarased to tell you that although it is a letter from my brother to Mrs. Neuer [sic], actually it is not his holograph.

"When George and I were in Philadelphia at the Sylvania working on Oh, Kay!, George was in my room when either a second telegram or telephone call had just been received by him from Mrs. Neuer [sic], asking him again if he wouldn't attend her party in New York. He had to run off to a rehearsal, so I offered to dash off a note for him — and that is the one reproduced in your catalogue."

The recipient of the note was Mrs. Berthold Neur, a friend of the Gershwins, whose husband was an American Piano Company official. The show was in need repairs and Ira accurately conveys George's sentiments: "I'm here in Philly with a new opus—Oh, Kay!, and will have to remain and nurse it for some time to come."

Ira ends his note to Hamilton by pointing out that the handwriting and signature in no way resemble George's. "I can't recall ever having written any other note or letter for him, so in a way this letter is a rarity."

REFERENCE:

See Jablonski, Gershwin: A Biography, p. 133