Beschreibung:

R. Crumb Handwritten Letter to Marty Pahls, January 20, 1977, Three Sheets Author: Crumb, Robert Place: Publisher: Date: Description: Three-sheet letter measuring 8½x11", hand-written by Robert Crumb in black ink in a neat and tiny script on lined note paper, text on rectos only, nice line variation indicating that a fountain pen may have been used, dated January, 20, 1977, with a dateline of "P.O. Box 214 / Madison / California / 95653." Signed "R.Crumb." Very fine condition, original folds, edges a bit rumpled. Provenance: From the Collection of R. Crumb, who explains: "I got these letters back after [Pahls] died in 1989, found among his possessions." Note: This letter is not collected in Fantagraphics' "Your Vigor For Life Appalls Me: Robert Crumb Letters, 1958-1977." "Guess that means the public doesn't like drawings of naked women with no pubic hair." Another new byline shows that Crumb and Aline have moved yet again. Crumb's penmanship, always sensational, really stands out in this letter. The artist seems to be feeling his oats, even crowing to Marty Pahls that "My God I'm SO ELOQUENT this evening... must be because I've been alone all day without the 'Bunch' [aka Aline] chattering in my ear all day and keeping me laughing with her bitter Jewish comedy monologues... She's out on the town with Mary... Armstrong's girlfriend [Armstrong being Robert Armstrong, creator of Mickey Rat and fellow Cheap Suit Serenader]... The town being Sacramento... they hit the low-life bars together once every couple of weeks... Mary cries in her beer while the 'Bunch' gives her sage advice on how to 'handle' men... They get drunk usually on free drinks bought for them by guys who are trying to pick them up, flirt a little bit and come home all revved up, boisterous rowdy horse-girls... Who's that peering over my shoulder? Oh, hi Mary! Heh heh......" Crumb ponders the failure of The Yum Yum Book, which remains his only full-color, full-length work: "Yum Yum Book was a flop... didn't sell well... the publisher remaindered it pretty fast... whatever the motives, it still doesn't sell... I see big stacks of them sitting in book stores gathering dust... guess that means the public doesn't like drawings of naked women with no pubic hair." A limited edition of 100 softcover and 15 hardcover catalogues are available. Over 200 pages, fully illustrated. Fun reference, great keepsake. Softcovers $40, dust-jacketed hardcover with limitation plate $200. To order, contact ivan@pbagalleries.com or visit: https://www.pbagalleries.com/content/comics/. R. Crumb says, "I found [PBA's catalogue] so interesting that I am saving it for the texts that accompany the comics which were put up for auction. This is some of the best commentary I’ve yet seen on the quality of the content of comic books. I especially enjoyed the reviews of the post-war horror comics. Great. Priceless." Consignments welcome for PBA's Spring 2021 Comic Book sale. Pre-Code Horror, Golden Age and Silver Age comics, original art and ephemera sought. Send inquiries to ivan@pbagalleries.com. Lot Amendments Condition: Item number: 324088