These are three greeting cards sent to Red and Mina Stodolsky from Linda Lee Bukowski. They come from the estate of Red and Mina and offer a unique timeline of events following Charles Bukowski’s death.
The first card may have been sent in a larger package because there is no mailing envelope, but inside the card Linda Lee dated it 1995. Red was born on May 21, 1916, so this would be the occasion of his 79th birthday -- just over a year after Charles Bukowski’s death at the age of 74.
Very appropriate for the time period, it’s a Rainforest card printed on recycled paper. Inside Linda Lee has written:
Dear Red S
A VERY BELATED BIRTHDAY WISH FOR YOU!
… And many more!!
Love,
Linda Lee.
She ends is with her little caricature, which see used on her wedding invitations.
The second card was mailed on December 15, 1995, the second holiday season since Bukowski’s death. It’s a holiday card featuring a photograph of Bukowski and Mina in front of a Chinese guardian lion, perhaps in Chinatown or a Chinese restaurant. Maybe they had Chinese food for Christmas one year. Mina playfully has her hand in the lion’s mouth. No date of the photograph is mentioned, but it was likely taken by Linda Lee. It reads:
Dear Mina + Red S
In the spirit of Hank, Honora
and
little baby Jesus
----
Wishing You Great Happiness now
Ans through all your
New Years!
Much Love,
Linda Lee
Again, Linda Lee ends with her little caricature.
The final card is from December 1999 and is addressed only to Mina. Red passed away on October 14, 1998, from complications due to liver cancer. Judging by the address, she’s still living at home. Linda Lee writes:
My fondest Love
To Dear Sweet Mina
Always,
Linda Lee
Again, Linda Lee ends with her little caricature.
Linda Lee adds
I miss you.
Please Call!!
Note: The phone number is present but I masked it for this listing.
All the letters have held up well with time. Including the photograph, which measures approximately 3.5” x 4.5”.
Case 2
