A poignant letter penned by John Lennon saying he ‘hopes life begins at 40’ just mere months before he was murdered has emerged for sale for £30,000.
The Beatle also says he wishes for a little less ‘trouble’ in his life when he reaches the milestone in the letter to his cousin Liela Birch.
He then talks about the ‘many b******s I’ve met in the last 40 years or so’ when lamenting people who he felt were after his money.
He was tragically shot dead by Mark Chapman outside his New York apartment in December 1980, two months after his 40th birthday.
He writes: ‘I’m 40 next year – I hope life begins – ie I’d like a little less ‘trouble’ and more – what?’
A poignant letter penned by John Lennon in 1979 saying he ‘hopes life begins at 40’ just mere months before he was murdered
The Beatle says he wishes for a little less ‘trouble’ in his life when he reaches the milestone in the letter to his cousin Liela Birch
Lennon talks about his ‘beautiful and wise’ three-year-old son Sean in the candid letter
The singer and songwriter also references his eldest son Julian, then aged 15, who was at a private boarding school
Lennon talks about his ‘beautiful and wise’ three-year-old son Sean in the candid four page handwritten letter penned in January 1979.
He revealed he was worried about returning to England to see his elderly aunt Mimi Smith, as he feared it would be the last time they would meet alive and he ‘is a coward about goodbyes’.
Mentioning his son Sean, he adds: ‘(Sean) is a beautiful, wise 3 yr old – what a handful one is – I don’t know how you manage all yours – well done!
‘The fact that they have all their limbs & faculties is an accomplishment in itself!’
He also references his eldest son Julian, then aged 15, who was at a private boarding school.
He writes: ‘If you’re ever in North Wales – look up Julian – he’s in Rutlin School – poor sod.’
Lennon reveals he and Yoko Ono are about to embark on a trip to Cairo and Geneva, and referring to Leila’s Egyptian heritage jokes: ‘I wish we could dig up some of your father’s relatives.’
Then lashing out at someone named Steve, he writes: ‘I sent Steve a Xmas card (up North) – I don’t know what is wrong with him – is he resentful of me because I’m not dumb or what?!
‘I guess he was always jealous of you – anyway I still think it’s pretty mean of him – I heard a lot from him when he was piss poor – I shouldn’t be surprised after all the bastards I’ve met the last 40 yrs or so.’
The letter, which includes a smiley face sketch and is signed off ‘Love John and Yoko’, will go under the hammer at RR Auction, of Boston, Massachusetts in the United States.
The letter is set tol go under the hammer at RR Auction, of Boston, Massachusetts in the United States this month
Lennon signs off the letter with ‘Love John and Yoko’ and a smiley face sketch with kisses
The letter reminisces about childhood holidays, his thoughts on his young son Sean, and his trepidation about a potential visit to Liverpool to visit his dying aunt
An RR Auction spokesperson said: ‘This is a thoughtful, content-rich letter from John Lennon to his first cousin, Liela, reminiscing about childhood holidays, sharing news of his young son Sean, and revealing his trepidation about a potential visit to Liverpool.
‘Lennon, after moving to New York City in 1971, never did travel back home to England, a blend of business, green card issues and apparently anxiety being the chief reasons.
Lennon pictured with his wife Yoko Ono and their son Sean at around the time the letter was written
Lennon (left) pictured in his heyday with his fellow Beatles bandmates George Harrison, Ringo Starr and Paul McCartney
‘Perhaps the most poignant remarks are about his turning 40 [in the] next year.
‘He was killed at an age that Lennon had hopes for.’
The sale takes place on September 28.
