A small archive of correspondence from Henry Miller and Alfred Perles 1951-1957
A small archive of correspondence to artist David Edgar from Henry Miller and Alfred Perles, dated and sent between 1951 and 1957, consisting of:
Item 1: An A6 postcard with Henry Miller, Big Sur, California printed on the front, and David Edgar's New York address written in Miller's hand. Miller's ALS to the reverse dated 5 May 1951. In excellent near fine condition.
Item 2: A similar A6 postcard as item 1, also to David Edgar. Miller's ALS to the reverse this time dated 18 December 1951. Also in excellent nf condition.
Item 3: A promotional A6 postcard, with a picture by photographer Wynn Bullock to the front, of Miller and Perles. Underneath is the heading "Henry Miller and Alfred Perles, author of The Henry Miller Story'. On the reverse are details of the biography that Perles wrote about Miller during 1954/55. Henry Miller has signed his name in green ink. Underneath it is printed that the title has changed to 'My friend Henry Miller'.
Item 4: An exceptional joint letter written by both Alfred Perles and Henry Miller, on an A4 page folded to make 4 sides, sometime folded. Addressed superbly, as Alfred Perles C/O Henry Miller, Big Sur, California. Written on all sides by Perles and one one side also by Miller. To David Edgar dated 9 December 1954. The letter sits in its original envelope, headed Henry Miller Big Sur California and is addressed in Miller's hand to Edgar. In excellent near fine condition.
item 5: A 1 page, two sided letter by Henry Miller to David Edgar on his headed paper, dated 19 August 1957. Sometime folded, with foxing marks and some nicks and small tears to the edges and folds. A very good letter.
Miller and Perles met David Edgar in Paris in the mid 1930s, at around the time that Miller's career as a writer took off. He had just had published by the Obelisk Press Tropic of Cancer. This prompted a move to Villa Seurat, the place he reminisced about the most. Alfred Perles, his long time wing man, lived around the corner, and so did David Edgar, a shy, softly spoken, watercolour artist. They would spend time in each other's company most days, along with a revolving cast of writers and artists, such as Anais Nin and photographer Brassai.
The three would also work together, in particular on the infamous magazines The Booster and Delta. Edgar would leave Paris in 1939 at the outbreak of the war and move to the UK, and then on in the 50's to New York. The trio would keep in touch through written correspondence, and there is a sense in these letters of Miller and Perles slowly losing close contact with their friend, that they clearly held with such fond regard.
The joint letter is exceptional, and was written when Perles visited and stayed for a few weeks with Miller at his property in Big Sur, California so that he could write his published biography of him "My friend Henry Miller". Perles said of Edgar in the letter:
"When Henry and I start reminiscing about the past – as we usually do in the evening after a long day with a bottle or two of choice California vintage – we always evoke, and invoke, you. Your queer antics. Your talk, your sweetness, too. It would be wonderful if you could be with us, in this paradise at the end of the world"
Miller also talks fondly of Edgar to him "Do let us know of your life since. Come out and join us, love Henry".
In one of the postcards, Miller asked Edgar to help remind him of the books they read together, as he was putting together a book about titles he had read in his life. Perles also in the joint letter, asked Edgar for a photo of himself for the biography along with any stories he could recall from that time. Perles would go on to publish his biography and Miller his book on books. Edgar continued to correspond with both.
An insightful archive of material, in particular the exceptional joint letter, written at a time when Perles and Miller were reunited and engaged in writing, drinking and reminiscing about the past.