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Fine Arts | Dutch and Foreign Literature | Illustrated
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and Prints | Modern Music Memorabilia
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€ 950
Three typed, signed letters from William Burroughs, the Guru of the Beat Generation to Gerard Reve, in those days still called Gerard Kornelis van het Reve, one of the Angry Young Men of Dutch literature. The first of these short letters, dated September 27, 1962, shows the typed heading 9 Rue Git le Coeur, Paris, France, which was the address of the legendary Beat Hotel.
"Dear Mr. Van Het Reve: I thank you for sending me your book which I had read with great interest, especially The Acrobat. There is some special quality about the letters in the story written by Philip - Like a story within a story and the phrases stick in my mind - I hope to visit Amsterdam this Winter and to see you there with more opportunity to talk than we had at the so called conference [ ]. With Best Wishes, William Burroughs"
Burroughs obviously refers to the International Writers Conference, held in Edingburgh, Scotland in August 1962; an event that has been described by Gerard Reve in his book Op Weg Naar Het Einde (1963).
The second letter, dated July 17, 1963 was sent from Tanger, Morocco:
"Dear Van Het Reve, I am now living in Tanger. Yes, rents and real estate are very cheap here. Spanish is the language most current here though you can get by with French. I most definitely do recommend Tanger as a cheap pleasant place to live. I will of course help you in any way I can if you decide to come here. The hotel Mouniria at the corner of Calle Cook and Magallenes is a reasonably priced hotel with no difficulties about visitors. The madame is an old friend of mine [ ]. With Best Wishes, William Burroughs"
At that time Reve was travelling in Spain and seriously considering to go and live there permanently, with Morocco as an alternative, recommended by Burroughs.
The third letter, dated August 8, 1963, with some extra handwritten remarks, was also sent from Tanger:
"Dear Van Het Reve, [ ] I will try to meet you at the boat but can not guarantee it as I may be spending the day in Arcilia. I think you will find the hotel I have recommended suitable. [ ] I will look foreward to seeing you. With Best Wishes, William Burroughs"
Gerard Reve in a letter, dated August 13, 1963, as published in Brieven Aan Wimie (not to be translated):
"Burroughs was er niet om me af te halen [ ] en het door hem gerecommendeerde hotel was vol [ ]. Savonds kwam Burroughs met nog wat vrienden, maar alles was vreemd, want de hele troep 'rookt' en prikt en wat niet al, [ ] vooral Burroughs maakte de indruk nauwlijks te weten waar hij was. Allemaal niets, absoluut niets voor mij."
In short: Contacts between Burroughs and Reve turned out to be a disappointment; one can only guess what might have happened if...
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€ 6900
Finely illustrated work on the immortal Beatles, with a striking dustjacket by Andy Warhol, showing colourful portraits of each of the Beatles, after photographs by Dezo Hoffmann (see Schellmann IIIB.5a/b). Special copy: ALL FOUR PORTRAITS BOLDLY SIGNED BY ANDY WARHOL in black feltpen.
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€ 14.500
Very delicate signed drawing by Tamara de Lempicka, one of the greatest artists of the Art Deco period and especially famous for her iconic portraits of representatives of the High Society in the twenties and thirties of the last century. Although not as striking as her hugely celebrated paintings, this expertly framed drawing is still a beautiful and highly desirable piece.See: Alain Blondel, Lempicka Catalogue Raisonné 1921-1979, in which book this actual piece has been listed and depicted as number A.104.
Schwitters, Kurt. Anna Blume, Dichtungen. Hannover, Paul Steegemann, 1919. Or. wrappers. 1st edition.
€ 490
Very good copy of the rare first issue of Schwittters' famous collection of Dada poems and texts, published in the series Die Silbergaule, with a stunning cover design in red and black after a design by the author.
Ting, Walasse & Sam Francis. One Cent Life. Bern, E.W. Kornfeld, 1964. With 65 original lithographs. Loose quires in or. silkscreened cloth-covered boards (design: ROY LICHTENSTEIN) with or. decorated dustjacket, in cloth slipcase. Folio. 1st and only edition.
€ 3600
Sumptuously illustrated work, edited by Sam Francis, comprising poems by Walasse Ting printed in various colours as well as 65 original lithographs in colour (some of which double page) by ANDY WARHOL, ROY LICHTENSTEIN, MEL RAMOS, JIM DINE, ROBERT INDIANA, ROBERT RAUSCHENBERG, JAMES ROSENQUIST, TOM WESSELMANN, ASGER JORN, PIERRE ALECHINSKY, KAREL APPEL and many others. One Cent Life, the perfect synthesis of Sixties poetry and Pop Art, was issued in a limited edition of 2100 copies. This copy has been marked in the colophon "Exemplaire HC / WALASSE TING / 16 6 1964 / Paris" in blue watercolour.
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€ 495
Novel inspired by Hergé's Tin Tin, for which Pop Artist Roy Lichtenstein made an exclusive design for the cover, as well as a frontispiece (cf Corlett III. 16 and 17).This near mint copy of this cute book has been SIGNED BY ROY LICHTENSTEIN and FREDERIC TUTEN on the title page.