- 81
Miller, Henry
Estimate
10,000 - 15,000 USD
bidding is closed
Description
- Miller, Henry
- Collection of forty autograph and typed letters signed to the Polish actress Zofia Slaboszowska (sometimes misspell "Slaboszewska") in Leipzig (a few to her sister-in-law). Pacific Palisades, 19 May 1965 to 13 November 1979
- ink, paper
Together 67 pages, 4to and 8vo, written in English, German and Polish (one letter written in German on his behalf by his friend Emil White), 38 envelopes; an autograph postcard by him (corner torn away), two printed postcards addressed in his hand, and four photographs (three inscribed or endorsed by him)
[with]:
Ten autograph letters signed and one typed letter signed with autograph postscript, 12 pages, folio and quarto, Big Sur, California, 9 December 1947 to 11 September 1950, to Clara Urquhart, who has sent him a questionnaire about current world problems in the aftermath of the war, explaining his difficulty in answering it: "(...) Frankly, I do not think it lies within the province of the writers ar thinkers to bring about immediate and drastic changes, of the sort one wants, by fresh examination of problems. Fundamentally, all these questions have been answered ages ago - by men of wisdom, by prophets, by great religious teahcers (...) Men are moved more by example than by discussion. Jesus did not write a line"
[with]:
Black Spring. Paris: The Obelisk Press, [June 1936]. 8vo. Inscribed by Miller to Walter Lowenfels: "To Walt and lil - from Henry, Paris 7/36. 'Ubiguchi". [Boxed with]: Tropic of Cancer. Paris: The Obelisk Press, [1934].
Both copies in first edition, in original pictorial wrappers; worn and fragile.
[with]:
Ten autograph letters signed and one typed letter signed with autograph postscript, 12 pages, folio and quarto, Big Sur, California, 9 December 1947 to 11 September 1950, to Clara Urquhart, who has sent him a questionnaire about current world problems in the aftermath of the war, explaining his difficulty in answering it: "(...) Frankly, I do not think it lies within the province of the writers ar thinkers to bring about immediate and drastic changes, of the sort one wants, by fresh examination of problems. Fundamentally, all these questions have been answered ages ago - by men of wisdom, by prophets, by great religious teahcers (...) Men are moved more by example than by discussion. Jesus did not write a line"
[with]:
Black Spring. Paris: The Obelisk Press, [June 1936]. 8vo. Inscribed by Miller to Walter Lowenfels: "To Walt and lil - from Henry, Paris 7/36. 'Ubiguchi". [Boxed with]: Tropic of Cancer. Paris: The Obelisk Press, [1934].
Both copies in first edition, in original pictorial wrappers; worn and fragile.
Catalogue Note
Henry Miller had begun corresponding with Zofia Slaboszewska after seeing her photograph in Playboy.
In the beginning of the correspondence, Miller explained that he had difficulty in finding anyone to translate from Polish and suggested that they wrote in German, which was his first language, though he had forgotten much of it. He told her about his previous wives, one of whom was Polish ("she was a terror!"), and assured her that he had plenty of experience with artistic women:
"when I was ten years old I began to play the piano. I played until I was about 27 years old, then I married my piano teacher (...) and after that I never played again. I am careful now not to marry a painter, because maybe then I may never paint any more pictures. I was married to two actresses also (...) I also had a dancer for a mistress. Now I would like to try a Geisha, if that were possible. So, as you see, my dear Zofia, I have had quite a little experience with the artiste type of woman"
In the beginning of the correspondence, Miller explained that he had difficulty in finding anyone to translate from Polish and suggested that they wrote in German, which was his first language, though he had forgotten much of it. He told her about his previous wives, one of whom was Polish ("she was a terror!"), and assured her that he had plenty of experience with artistic women:
"when I was ten years old I began to play the piano. I played until I was about 27 years old, then I married my piano teacher (...) and after that I never played again. I am careful now not to marry a painter, because maybe then I may never paint any more pictures. I was married to two actresses also (...) I also had a dancer for a mistress. Now I would like to try a Geisha, if that were possible. So, as you see, my dear Zofia, I have had quite a little experience with the artiste type of woman"