Beschreibung:

R. Crumb Handwritten Letter to Marty Pahls, August 15, 1974 Author: Crumb, Robert Place: Publisher: Date: Description: Single-sheet letter measuring 8¼x11", hand-written by Robert Crumb in black ink in a neat and tiny script on Terry Zwigoff's "GOLDEN GATE PUBLISHING COMPANY" letterhead, dated August 15, 1974 with a dateline of "Box 1035 / Winters / California / —95694." Signed "R. Crumb." Fine or better condition, original folds, tiny nick to one fold, a bit rumpled from handling. 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." A jam-packed letter touching on perennial Crumb concerns including women, fame, money, comics, music and family. Crumb's letter to his old friend and brother-in-law Marty Pahls begins with a discussion of Terry Zwigoff, another Crumb chum who would go on to direct the 1995 documentary, Crumb. Zwigoff's fortunes were low at the time, with his likeliest prospect for success being his new gig as cellist for R. Crumb's musical band, The Cheap Suit Serenaders: "The 'little brute' as he is known to the women, is a welcome addition to the band. He was never cut out to be a business man.... If the band doesn't make it, it's back to Chicago and sewing the pants. Well, I dunno if the band's going to 'make it' or not... So far, our biggest income has been from playing on the street.... It doesn't matter than much to me, personally... I've had my fill of fame, success and money... but all the others are still scraping along on food stamps." In a nice touch, Crumb wrote the letter on letterhead from Zwigoff's defunct Golden Gate Publishing Company ("We Are The Hippest Underground Comix Publishers In The Entire Bay Area!"). Golden Gate published several Crumb comics during Zwigoff's stint as publisher. Crumb then reveals that he's writing the letter while laying in bed beside girlfriend Kathy Goodell who will be familiar to viewers of Zwigoff's Crumb. "Kathy is laying beside me on the bed here as I write this... she just got back from having an abortion this morning... the poor girl... it was pretty rough on her, I guess... a lot of pain." He describes a near-assault on future wife Aline Kominsky ("One night when she was alone in [her trailer] some Mexicans tried to break in. She started screaming bloody murder and they ran away"), and laments his wife Dana's bitterness at being shunted to the side ("Oh it's a hard life... Now all I have to deal with is the Aline-Kathy situation, which is no picnic either.... This abortion business has been pretty depressing..."). Any collector who finds relief from trouble in the thrill of the hunt will appreciate the remainder of the letter, in which Crumb describes his latest record-hunting bounty: "I've been finding good records lately... this store in Sacramento has been turning up some real gems." 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: 324080