Eclectic archive of nine items signed “Allen” or “Allen Ginsberg,” including an envelope, a souvenir typescript, a postcard, a handwritten poem, three ALSs, two ANSs, and an autographed copy of his poem, ‘T.V. Baby,’ featuring a letter to “Mary & Claude” on the last page, all dated between 1968 and 1991. The majority of the notes and letters are addressed to “Herb,” “Peter” (Ginsberg’s lifelong partner) or Steven Taylor, his longtime musical accompanist.
A selection of the correspondence follows:
October 28, 1968—In part: “This is the first & original draft of TV Baby—Charlie Plepnell (?) gave it the full title. It was originally written on typewriter this way, a little blueprinted, & then Charlie edited it once & I went on & finished editing thereafter.”
April 20, 1973—“‘Returning to the Country’—Reading Sung poems, I think of my poems to Neal/dead for years now, Jack underground/invisible—their faces rise in my mind/Did I write truthfully of them? In later times/I saw them little, not much difference they’re dead/They live in books and memory, strong as on earth.”
July 11, 1983—On the reverse of an envelope addressed to Steven Taylor, Ginsberg writes: “P. S. Please remind Anne Waldman to bring my brass statue of Vajrasattva to Boulder for Peter’s mantra practice use—Om Vajrasattva Hum!”
January 16, 1985—Note on a book page featuring a printed sketch of Ginsberg by LaVigne: “For Herb I haven’t met, Robert LaVigne lives in poverty at 2226 1’st Avenue Seattle Washington 98121—Had driven taxies early 1980’s—In need of money to buy paint & canvas & continue his excellent genius on-going work.”
June 20, 1989—To Peter, referencing David Rome, a close friend and a former aide to the Tibetan Buddhist meditation master Chogyam Trungpa, Ginsberg writes: “Probably meeting David Rome here 8:15pm or so for supper. Join us.”
April 19, 1991: “Please put this Melville poetry book (only one copy needed) on reserve for Prof. Ginsberg’s course.”
In overall very good condition, with scattered light creasing, toning, and soiling. A truly unique and insightful gathering of written materials, spanning the years that the Beat Poets would create their radical legacy. RR Auction COA.
