August 20, 1963. 3-5/8x6.25” hand addressed envelope w/ “Maurice Sendak” return address in Connecticut on reverse contains 5.5x8.5” four page note paper. Pages one and three are written in ballpoint pen. Sendak notes his current address in Wilton , mentioning “It’s Wild & Woodsy & Freezing Cold-Thousands Of Crows,-Deer & Their Babies & Even Fat Awful Snakes” followed by paragraph beginning “Am Trying To Re-Write My “Wild Things”- No Success Yet”. He mentions reading Verdi, going to chamber concert, and returning “Your Cruikshank”. Signed “Yours, Maurice”. Envelope was torn open along right side and has missing edge, return address has postal cancellation mark. Fine. Letter has three horizontal folds as mailed, otherwise Exc. Sendak (1928-2012) illustrated Jan Wahl’s "Pleasant Fieldmouse," first published in 1964 and still in print today. Jan Wahl is the author of more than 100 books, some of note include: "Humphrey’s Bear, I Met A Dinosaur" and "Elf Night." His awards include the Avery Hopwood Prize, the Ohioana Award, and the Christopher Medal. First published the year this letter was written, “Where The Wild Things Are” has sold some 20 million copies worldwide. This historically important letter to a friend is available to read in full online. From the Jan Wahl collection. See next item #1840.