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Lot #380
Allen Ginsberg Autograph Letter Signed to Fellow Beat Generation Poet Gregory Corso

Ginsberg to Corso: "You're a great poet & it will be honor to read with you & once more renew my inspiration from your giant calm mind energy"

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Description

Ginsberg to Corso: "You're a great poet & it will be honor to read with you & once more renew my inspiration from your giant calm mind energy"

ALS signed “xx, Allen,” four pages, 7.25 x 10.5, The Morris Inn letterhead, March 20, 1979. Lengthy handwritten letter to fellow Beat Generation poet Gregory Corso, in full: “Lovely letter, I been to N.Y. & back & not answered mail. I've called yr. number the last few days no answer. I think we've solved $ problem for summer to bring you here for couple of weeks. Housing the only problem — where to rent a place. I spoke to Vern Rollins a couple weeks ago. It doesn’t pay you or me to fly me in for just one reading, we need to plan carefully over longer range & try & get several. Also by the time we spoke, my time was already filled up with New York activities with only a few weekends free, which I gave him due accounting of; but I don't think he can work anything out. Also remember he has no experience. More likely for us to do some readings together over long range planning — the next 20 years we gotta figure on, not just next month.

I'll be on West Coast late August & early September & we could plan something fine then. Peter & I have date Vancouver Aug. 24-26 I think, right after Naropa. Rothschild hasn't or won't arrange anything East Coast, but probably I could urge it on him after we've done readings together in Fall. I really do want to travel & read with you, as long as we can do it, stable conditions — but for real, long range, not one shot panic moneyraiser. You're a great poet & it will be honor to read with you & once more renew my inspiration from your giant calm mind energy. So let's do it right.

This explanation, just in case you don't understand why I don't just push an imaginary button & Magic Poetry Reading complete with theater, entrepreneurs, box office, tix & P.R. angels & demons don't spring out of the sky at our disposal with audiences of thousands of dumbstruck kids & old ladies with grey hair & lorgnettes like Marx Brothers.

I've been broke, if I get surplus cash I'll send you home from C.O.P. but I can't produce now. Raymond Foye wrote & said he had idea for evening with Punk Dills. Actually, it wasn't a bad idea, as long as we had time enuf to read — How's Lisa & Max?

Much who-ha & woe & thrills with Tom Clark & Ed Dorn interviewing me for local Boulder slick paper magazine & publishing Sanders report. Everybody pissed at everyone else's gossip. I spent a week angry & then realized I was making myself & Tom Clark sick with piss off hallelujas. Love to Larry Ferlinghetti if you see him, & Neeli & company & also Raymond & most you. Peter & I packing & leaving today — I'm answering a month's mail.” Ginsberg adds a postscript: “Enclosed $100.00, I have a reading tonite & in New Orleans this weekend. By ‘Broke’ P. 3 I mean, as yet unpaid debts (Master Charge) & sometimes no pocket money.” In fine condition. Accompanied by the original mailing envelope hand-addressed by Ginsberg, who incorporates his signature into the return address field.

Auction Info

  • Auction Title: Fine Autograph and Artifacts
  • Dates: #674 - Ended September 13, 2023





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