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Allen Ginsberg Fantastic Archive of Signed Letters to Jan Kerouac

Allen Ginsberg (1926-1997). Archive of 14 pieces of correspondence to Jack Kerouac's only child, daughter Janet "Jan" Kerouac (1952-1996), ranging in size from 3.5" x 5.5" to 8.5" x 11". Twelve pieces by Ginsberg consist of six handwritten postcards signed "Allen" or "Allen Ginsberg", five handwritten letters signed "Allen" or "Allen Ginsberg" with mailing envelopes, and one printed letter with envelope. Also included are two handwritten postcards by Lawrence Ferlinghetti (1919-2021) signed "Lawrence Ferlinghetti" and "Lawrence F." Ginsberg's longtime partner, Peter Orlovsky (1933-2010), has added several lines to some of the letters and envelopes. Varying degrees of expected wear include light soiling, creasing and folds. Overall, the archive is in near fine condition.

Though Jan Kerouac only met her father a couple of times when she was a teen, after his death she followed in his footsteps. Her published works consist of three semi-autobiographical novels: Baby Driver: A Story About Myself in 1981; Trainsong in 1988; and posthumously published in 2000, Parrot Fever. This archive gives a glimpse into Jan’s life as she began to move in the literary circles that included her father’s peers, and the support they provided her. Throughout the archive, Ginsberg offers Kerouac advice on the publishing industry and offers feedback on her writing. 

Excerpts, in chronological order:

- Letter from Ginsberg dated September 7, 1977: "Ferlinghetti / City Lights is putting together his bi-annual Journal, is looking for prose, so try him for your opening section of mss." Postscript: "Burroughs Jr. is a great writer, too."

- Postcard from Ginsberg dated September 27, 1977: "Yeah, but send in a dear piece of prose, some small section 10 - 20 pages, for City Lights, I bet they'll like it. That'll encourage you to push forward. Glad you're busy & without weight on your shoulders. The poems are funny." Peter Orlovsky then adds a few lines, as written: "Good to hear from you. Don't understand yr poems to well but send me some more. Glad to hear yr writing...Keep writting yr work."

- Letter from Ginsberg dated November 18, 1977: "I thought your writing stood up on its own, & if you do want to write & publish, stick to your original Everthreads or equivalent title, no need to mirror 'The Road' - your name already mirrors your father sufficient, & your prose is your own extension of your named self, no need to fall back on gimmick, I was really proud of what you wrote, that I saw."

- Postcard from Ferlinghetti dated November 29, 1977: "Excited about your EVER-THREADS & have read enuf to say I want to use this Part One in City Lights Journal, going to typesetter this Monday...do you have publisher for whole book?"

- Postcard from Ginsberg undated, but postmarked March 14, 1978: "I heard Ferlinghetti is publishing your mss. some of it, that's true? You mention that in your letter...For the love of God don't sign anything (contracts) till you examine & see clearly what abuse will be done to Jack's anthology. Ask Carolyn Cassady - she sold rights to Neal Cassady's story & now regrets the stupid vulgar script done in Hollywood. Be careful!"

- Postcard from Ginsberg dated July 27, 1978: "The script Carolyn's TVTV people sent me was so vulgarly stereotyped...I think it's disgusting, and Carolyn thought the script was disgusting too - I just mean, badly written, full of historical errors, a psychic rip-off of [Jack] Kerouac & [Neal] Cassady's own artistic myth creations."

- Letter from Ginsberg dated May 29, 1982: "Of the poems, I liked the few lines 1969 oyaja-nine...a tiny spray of starshine. The other pages seemed preliminary & casual free-associations & rhyme with no center...Contract I read - I couldn't find where exactly, you get what percent of foreign translation rights."

- Postcard from Ferlinghetti dated October 1, 1985: "Yes, we would love to read your new mss. for possible use in CLJ #5. Send it soon."

- Postcard from Ginsberg undated, but postmarked 1988: "I don't remember the other suggestion maybe J.K.'s ex editor (Cody) & old friend Joyce Johnson, formerly of McGraw Hill...Congratulations on your publication."

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This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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May 31, 2023 11:00 AM EDT
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