PBA Galleries in San Francisco have just announced "A rare and extensive collection of Henry Miller items including the typed manuscript for the first draft of Tropic of Capricorn (Estimate: $40,000/60,000) and his Paris Notebooks from 1932-1936 (Estimate: $100,000/150,000). The literary significance of these extraordinary notebooks can hardly be overstated - they capture the thoughts and reflections of Miller during his time of greatest creativity, and provide the basis for the works which were to make him famous. The material in the collection is from Miller's personal archives, and in addition to his own manuscripts and letters, there are letters from his many friends and literary associates, including Anais Nin, Lawrence Durrell, Erica Jong and others.:

Auction catalog describes one of the Paris Notebooks as follows: "About 19 pages of manuscript notes, including 2 original watercolors. The most important information and watercolors by Miller date from 1937-39, though at least one later page is dated 1950, and there are several child's drawings by Miller's daughter, Val, on later leaves (dated by Miller 1951). 15½x11, original wrappers, detached.
Miller's "Paris Notebook" contains two lovely watercolors by him, and some fascinating information: lists of where he sent manuscripts, lists of things to do, people to see (including some well-known names) and pieces to write, with things accomplished crossed out in pencil (still legible): "...Brassai - give me 6 copies of woman on the pot!...Kahane: Give me blank books for A[naïs]'s diary & water-colors...Go thru folders of MSS. Anais returned for possible good timber! Get circular letter printed for 100 names, demanding money for publishing venture. Buy Pen Knife! Dedicate French version of 'Aller Retour NY' to Blaise Cendrars - 'the first Frenchman to make me a royal gesture!'...Print 'Land of Fuck' from 'Capricorn' privately at 100 frs. a copy - for sale discreetly. Then, with proceeds, print other things!...." In 1938, Miller lapses into a page of daily doings that is a wonderful window into his world: "Feb. 10th. Do 5 pages a day of Capricorn regularly - Day passed going to movies with the Durrells! Begin tomorrow!! 2/18/38 - not yet begun!...Feb. 1939 - Do water-colors for Gotham Book Mart!! Begin 2nd Volume of Capricorn! Do regularly first thing every day. Lawrence and other work on the side! Get symbolic Geographic maps on Quai - near Point Royal. Look for cheap French edition of Claude Saint- Martin's 'Le Crocodile' et 'L'Homme de Désir.' (Chacomac?) Get gouache tubes, good paper, square brush & oil brushes. Also heavy paper for oils...." Miller also lists plans for better hygiene and quality of life: "Hygiene: Resume morning walks - around exterior Boulevards. Hot baths frequently. Evian mineral water. Pain Hovis & yogurt daily. Good Wines with Meals! Less salt & pepper - less coffee. * Horlich's malted milk shakes! (Montparnasse). Take Enemas now & then. Reserve Sundays for painting - no work! * Stay in bed whole day before tackling different work! (Meditate, contemplate - saturate). Grapefruit more often!"

Condition:
Heavy extremity chipping and browning to fragile pages, many pages detached, but none appear to be lacking, still an excellent early workbook, with most pages dated and two exquisite watercolors."

The auction to be held on March 18, 2010 is The Library of Roger Wagner and includes:
Section I: Fine Books, Lots 1-62, Section II: Autographs & Manuscript Material, Lots 63-93, and Section III: Henry Miller – Manuscripts, Books & Related Material, 94-214.

Pacific Book Auction (PBA) provides some info about their live auctions on their website. Here it is:
"PBA Galleries is a full-service auction house working to make the auction experience exciting and rewarding for all our clients. At our Live Gallery auctions, we continue a long-established trend of offering the finest collectible properties to our clients.

Sale days at PBA Galleries are typically on Thursdays. Items offered for sale may be previewed at our gallery the Tuesday and Wednesday prior to the auction from 9:00am to 5:00pm or by appointment. Property can also be previewed the day of the auction until 12:30pm. Our Live Gallery auctions are held at the PBA Galleries Auction Room, located across the hall from PBA Galleries on 133 Kearny St. between Sutter and Post Streets. Parking is available at many garages and public transportation is also convenient. The Montgomery Street BART Station is almost next door to the Galleria Park Hotel and most downtown buses have stops nearby.

Registering to bid at our Live Gallery auctions is a simple procedure. It can be done in advance through our website or in person at the auction house. If you are unable to attend the sale, we also accept absentee bids. Absentee bidding entails filling out a bid sheet and sending it to PBA Galleries via e-mail, regular mail or by phoning the bids in before the auction takes place. Another bidding option is telephone bidding for those clients who are unable to attend the auction but would like to bid on the phone during the sale. Space for telephone bidding is limited, so it is important to make arrangements to bid as early as possible. If you have any questions regarding bidding at our Live Gallery auctions, please feel free to contact us for further information."

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