Truman Capote’s Taxidermy Rattlesnake

NY Magazine’s Best Bets column written by Rima Suqi noted an antique shop that had a group of items belonging to Truman Capote. Among a few dozen Christmas ornaments, and a silver Mexican bookmark, was a rattlesnake. Preserved in a graceful figure eight, rattle and all. 

The shop was called Clary & Co. and was located on Bleecker Street, just a few blocks away from my office on Christopher Street. I remember after buying the snake and carrying it out into the usual West Side wind, the rattle began to shake. Thankfully I was able to get it back to my office safely. It is currently housed in a custom glass box. 

The first photo is by Michael McKenzie. and shows Truman in what looks like the late 70's, with the rattle snake. The other photo of Truman is by Horst P. Horst. Truman was apparently very frightened of snakes, but had come to see the taxidermy rattlesnake as a talisman of sorts. 

The rattlesnake was also part of his undoing, having been found to have presented fiction as fact in "Hand-carved Coffins", part of his 1980 collection of stories, Music for Chameleons. 

I have spent many years with Truman's beloved rattle snake. Time to share the talisman with you all. 

Note on shipping: Due to the fragile nature of the snake and the glass box, there will be additional shipping fees.