Rare Manuscripts Auction
PBA Galleries of San Francisco has announced a major auction of Henry Miller manuscripts and rare documents from the library of Roger Wagner, to be held on March 18, 2010. The stars of the show are Miller’s Paris Notebooks, which are expected to fetch between $100,000 and $150,000. The notebooks consist of three volumes and contain a motley collection of Miller’s notes, sketches, watercolors, typewritten pages and newspaper clippings from his years in Paris in the 1930′s. This video provides a quick peak at some of the notebooks contents:
Lots to See
There’s are many other wonderful Henry miller items up for bid as well, including a carbon typescript of the first draft of Tropic of Capricorn, with an estimate of $40,000 – $60,000. Some of the less pricey items that caught my eye are a wall chart in Miller’s handwriting with innumerable lists of things to do and books to read, notes for The Rosy Crucifixion, corrections to the proof copy of The World of Sex, photos of Miller’s father and childhood homes, and memorabilia from the Xerxes Society.
You can see all of the Miller items available beginning on this page. The Miller items are in the lots numbered 94 through 214. One of the great things about the auction site is that it provides large images of the items for examination. From the previous link, clicking an item thumbnail will take you to an ‘item details’ page; then clicking the thumbnail on that page will open a new window with image previews. Be sure to select the “full size” option at the top of this new window and you won’t have to squint to read Miller’s handwriting.
4 comments on "Rare Manuscripts Auction"
It’s a shame the owner didn’t leave this material to a museum, so it could be enjoyed by everyone. Mabye some of the buyers will be kind enough to do so.
I’m going to be in Cali then! Of course, I can’t afford any of those items…
@Greg,
You’ll be happy to learn that the Miller items were purchased by private treaty with a major American research institution and the archive will stay together and be accessible to scholars and fans of Henry Miller. You can read a bit more about this development on RC’s blog. Further details of the sale are expected to emerge soon.
Great news, Kreg.
As a longtime Miller fan this site is an excellent resource, and a gas to read – while I should be working! Thanks to all for putting this together.
