Sold – John Steinbeck Speaks to a Correspondent of His Beloved Pine Trees, Which He Often Included in His Work

There are many examples of references to pines in his work. In "To a God Unknown," he wrote "Before it was clear of the hills, the golden face looked through bars of pine trunks. Then for a moment a black sharp pine tree pierced the moon and was withdrawn as the moon rose." He also liked to inject anthropomorphism and personification, and did so there, saying that the pine grove "brooded darkly." In "Sweet Thursday," he has the seer say, ""I live in the open. I hear the waves at night and see the black patterns of the pine boughs against the sky. With sound and silence and color and solitude, of course I see visions. Anyone would." And in "Travels With Charley", each pine tree was itself and separate even if it was a part of a forest." In "Tortilla Flat," Steinbeck refers to pine trees 25 times, at one point writing, "In the morning when the sun was up clear of the pine trees, when the blue bay rippled and sparkled below them…," and at another, "The fog hung like limp gauze among the black pines that guard the landward limits of Monterey."

W. Clark Gaw was a New Jersey attorney who represented major clients like Bell Telephone Laboratories. On January 30, 1959, he wrote Steinbeck saying, "Somewhat belatedly but nevertheless most enjoyably, I recently had the pleasure of reading an article which you wrote about your home in Sag Harbor…Inasmuch as I have a house on the ocean in Southampton, Long Island, which presents landscaping difficulties because the property is entirely covered with sand, I am most interested in your observation that you had obtained approximately 1000 Japanese pine trees from the State of New York. From the description of your location, I gathered that you also had an abundance of sand and no soil. If it would not be imposing upon your time and advice, I would be greatly interested in learning from what department of the State of New York I might procure similar trees, the cost and the success which you have had in keeping them thriving."

Steinbeck was happy to oblige, and did so in a letter that is both practical and in a sense melodic. Typed letter signed, on his New York City letterhead, New York, February 19, 1959. "I have your letter of January 13th regarding the State distribution of Japanese pines. These are black pines and are very valuable in holding the soil. My own place sticks up from the water – and while it is sand indeed, I think the water in our bay is rather brackish. The pines even on the beach take hold and grow very rapidly. They have a large root mass. If you are solid sea sand at your place, I would suggest that you give them a little feeding just until they start. They grow about 18 inches a year after they start. Mine are well up now and I've lost very few.

"I believe that I made contact with the Department of Forestry of the State of New York. They furnished the pines for about $7 a thousand. I think that was the price. And the only stipulation was that I care for them and that the pines remain the property of the State of New York. Certain bills were given to me to post on my property indicating that it was a Forestry service. Outside of that there was no other stipulation. I am very pleased with the trees and I think in a very few years they'll make a rather noble showing. The wind is very strong on my point and it bends the pines into a conformation of the land. I find them very successful and I hope you will also. The roots seem to go down into the water and to take hold very rapidly. Once started, these trees require no care whatever. I hope you will be able to get them and you will be as pleased as I am with them." We obtained this letter directly from the Gaw family, and it has never before been offered for sale.

Gaw's home in Southampton was not far from Steinbeck's in Sag Harbor, and after this the men exchanged visits. Gaw and his family visited Steinbeck's house to see the pine trees and had a nice chat with him. Then, in May 1959, Steinbeck returned the visit and came to the Gaw's house in Southampton to see where Gaw would be planting the Japanese pines. They sat on the patio overlooking the ocean and had a nice conversation. Gaw generously gave Steinbeck permission to use his private beach, and on occasion the Gaws would see Steinbeck and his friends on the beach, wave and go down and say hello. Notable people were more approachable then than they are now.