Stan Laurel's letters to fetch €4,200
A collection of 18 personal letters sent by comedy legend Stan Laurel to a Scottish housewife who became his pen pal sold for £2,900 (€4,300) at auction today.
Walterina Hunter, who lived in Edinburgh, first wrote a fan letter to Laurel, one half of Laurel and Hardy, in 1952.
For 10 years they exchanged letters discussing everything from the weather to Laurel’s poor health and the death of his comedy partner Oliver Hardy.
Among the bundle there were 18 letters and three photographs, most of which were signed by Laurel, with one photograph also signed by Hardy.
The letters were written on headed notepaper from luxurious hotels where the comedian was staying while on tour, with others on Laurel’s own paper from his California home.
English-born Laurel suffered a nervous breakdown after Hardy’s death, and later confided in one of the letters: “I don’t visit the studios anymore because I don’t know anyone there and would feel like a stranger.”
Alex Dove, book specialist at auctioneers Lyon and Turnbull in Edinburgh, said: “He discusses everything from his illness to his trips around America, moving house, his partnership with Oliver Hardy and the gifts that he and Mrs Hunter sent backwards and forwards to each other.
“Quite a friendship was built up and that was reflected in the content of the letters. He made a lot of time to sit down and write to her wherever he was.”
The pair met only once, in 1954, when Laurel and Hardy toured the UK and sent tickets to Mrs Hunter for their Edinburgh performance. Their correspondence ended in 1962, three years before Laurel’s death.
The £2,900 (€4,300) price was the hammer price exclusive of buyer’s premium.
