A rare, handwritten letter penned by Bob Dylan in 1980 while the artist was performing at Toronto’s Massey Hall is on the auction block.
Dylan’s Massey Hall gig was part of the singer’s ‘Bob Dylan Gospel Tour.’ Dylan’s public conversion to Christianity took place about a year before his appearance in Toronto.
“We are up in Toronto singing and playing for about 3000 people a night in a downtown theatre—The Spirit of the Lord is calling people here in their beautiful and clean city but they are more interested in lining up for Apocalypse Now than to be baptized and filled with the Holy Ghost,” Dylan wrote.
Here’s a video of Bob Dylan during his appearance at Toronto’s Massey Hall on April 20, 1980
The undated, single-page letter on Park Plaza Hotel letterhead was written to a friend named “Steve” and is signed “Bob Dylan.” The letter comes with the original envelope addressed in Dylan’s hand to “Steve.”
RR Auction house estimates the value of the letter at $20,000 plus. The auction is set to conclude on May 19, at 7 p.m.
Here’s the full text of the letter penned by Dylan on Park Plaza Hotel letterhead
We are up in Toronto singing and playing for about 3000 people a night in a downtown theatre—The Spirit of the Lord is calling people here in their beautiful and clean city but they are more interested in lining up for Apocalypse Now than to be baptized and filled with the Holy Ghost—Wanna thank you for that Bible as it is helpful in discovering a few phrases from and shedding more light on what the King James version reads—God will lift up your heart as you begin to realize that ‘He thru Christ has reconsiled [sic] man unto Himself’ (II Corinthians). You are in basic training and boot camp and I thank God you are and your commitment runs deep and you will be used to minister and break the hold of darkness in those you become face to face with—‘Study to show thyself approval.’ You will be strong in the Lord and seeing that looks are deceiving, you will work miracles that way—He has called you to be a saint and your responsibility is to him and him alone—Be praying and not looking back no more—press on toward what is ahead—I send love to you and will pray for strength and more strength for ya—Always in the name of Jesus Christ Son of God, Manifest in the flesh.
Images – RR Auction
