Rare 1986 Handwritten Letter Signed by Bobby Short (1924-2005) on his Personalized "Villa Manhattan" Stationery. 

A Remarkable Piece of Black Expatriate History Documenting the Intimate Bond Between the Legendary Cabaret Icon and the inner Circle of James Baldwin (1924-1987).  Addressed to Baldwin’s Partner and Collaborator, poet Shawn Henderson from Short’s Private Estate in Mougins, France. 8 1/8" X 6 7/8" water stained, creased with some surface damage. 

NOTE: ​Villa Manhattan was the name Bobby Short gave to his stunning summer retreat in Mougins, a medieval village in the hills of the South of France. Despite its name, the home was a sanctuary far removed from the hustle of New York City, though its moniker reflected Short's identity as the "Quintessential New Yorker." The villa was situated in an area famous for its association with artists like Pablo Picasso. It was a mountainside home described as a "stunning" and "chic" residence that blended into the lush, natural landscape of the French Riviera.