A draft of Jail Notes and related letters and documents - photo 1
A draft of Jail Notes and related letters and documents - photo 2
A draft of Jail Notes and related letters and documents - photo 3
A draft of Jail Notes and related letters and documents - photo 4
A draft of Jail Notes and related letters and documents - photo 5
A draft of Jail Notes and related letters and documents - photo 6
A draft of Jail Notes and related letters and documents - photo 7
A draft of Jail Notes and related letters and documents - photo 8
A draft of Jail Notes and related letters and documents - photo 9
A draft of Jail Notes and related letters and documents - photo 10
A draft of Jail Notes and related letters and documents - photo 11

A draft of Jail Notes and related letters and documents

Lot 109
27.06.2024 00:00UTC +00:00
Classic
Starting price
$ 15 000
AuctioneerCHRISTIE'S
Event locationUnited Kingdom, London
Buyer Premiumsee on Website%
Archive
The auction is completed. No bids can be placed anymore.
Archive
ID 1236340
Lot 109 | A draft of Jail Notes and related letters and documents
Estimate value
$ 20 000 – 30 000
TIMOTHY LEARY: HOLDING TOGETHER. An important archive of material related to the campaign to release Timothy Leary from prison following his convictions for marijuana possession in California and Texas in early 1970. The campaign, known as "Holding Together," was headed by Joanna Ziprin (the wife of poet Lionel Ziprin) who was living in the Leary household at the time. [Includes:]

LEARY, Timothy Francis (1920-1996). Autograph manuscript, [Chino, California, February 1970].

32 pages (on 16 leaves), 277 x 215mm, including several on stationery issued by the California Department of Corrections, in pencil and ballpoint pen, with corrections and emendations (light wear to margins, minor tear to final leaf, dogears, and minor occasional soiling and staining).

An early, and possibly the first draft of a chapter from Jail Notes, an experiential, stream-of-consciousness which was entitled "Bodyguard" when it was published in the fall of 1970. It opens, "The first meal in jail. Tin tray loaded with lumpy starch. Tin cup of chlorinated water. Sitting next to a burly lad with dark horn rimmed glasses, thick, low-browed, black hair swept back in low-rider style. His big arms were covered with tattoos…" Leaves irregularly numbered. Jail Notes was published soon after Leary escaped from prison with the assistance of the Weathermen in September 1970. Leary remained a fugitive until he was detained aboard a plane in Kabul, Afghanistan in 1972. [With:] LEARY, Timothy Francis. Autograph manuscript, n.p. n.d. 7 pages (on 4 leaves) 214 x 176mm, in pencil. Headed "Playboy," the manuscript covers a variety of topics including a meditation on the peace sign (with drawings): "The three pronged symbol of peace reversed becomes the trident of Siva…" * LEARY, Timothy Francis. Autograph manuscript, n.p. [2 April 1970]. 7 pages (on 4 leaves) 204 x 126mm, in pencil. Headed "A Burnt Out Case," (borrowing from the title of the 1960 Graham Greene novel, which he mentioned as one of the books he attempted so smuggle into jail on page 17 of Jail Notes), Leary outlines a series of ideas and thoughts including (for example), "I though that love was supposed to make you happy and healthy … I want to be the tide of change … The conflict today is between those who love God and those who hate God … LSD is teo philiac Booze is teo phobic." Leary mentions Greene's novel on page 17 of Jail Notes. * LEARY, Timothy Francis. Autograph letter signed ("Tim") to "Valerie and Art," n.p., n.d. c. March 1970. 3 pages, 355 x 216mm, in red pen. "So you probably know, it was the Free Press article which the Judge used to support his opinion that I am a dangerous menace. I'm sure you see the significance of this attempt to suppress free press and those who write for the free press." LEARY, Timothy Francis. Autograph letter signed ("Tim" and "T." in postscript) to his attorney, George Chula, [Florence, Arizona, c. 27-18 February 1970]. 2 pages, 276 x 215mm, in pencil, with original transmittal envelope addressed in Leary's hand. Describing his journey to Houston Texas for sentencing on his 1968 marijuana conviction: "What a trip…. I'm in good shape. It's educational to visit different jails & talk to the people The Federal prison is much better than the County — the guards are human and decent here — compared o the Marine Corps robots at Santa Ana." He adds, "I worry about Rosemary. Give her my love." * LEARY, Timothy Francis. Autograph manuscript, signed ("Tim") , n.p., n.d. 2 pages, 276 x 215mm, in pencil. Headed "Legal Notes," the manuscript bears a short note at top right to his attorney: "George Please hold these notes for me Love Tim" * [LEARY, Timothy Francis.] Autograph manuscript, n.p., n.d. 2 pages, 276 x 215mm, in pencil. Miscellaneous notes including an agenda titled "Immediate" listing seven demands beginning with "End War," followed by "Stop draft," and ending with "No Secrets." * LEARY, Timothy Francis. Typed document signed ("Timothy Leary"), n.p., n.d. 1 pages, 278 x 216mm. "Statement Requested by Attorney Michael Kennedy — Statement of Purpose for Legal Defense Corporation," and opening, "We are experiencing today a period of religious, political and scientific repression…." * LEARY, Timothy Francis. Autograph manuscript, n.p., n.d. 2 pages, 355 x 215 mm, in pencil (minor loss to surface affecting one word). The manuscript appears to be a dialogue with characters identified in the left margin as "Pres.", "FBI", "ATT Gn", "V.P." with most of the text crossed out with a single vertical line. * [LEARY, Timothy Francis.] Autograph manuscript, n.p., n.d. 1 page, 203 x 126mm, in pencil. "…we take a plane to Bulgaria Land at villa … villa & Mediterranean [sic] Sunny - blue sea… Paradise!!!..." With additional notes and a diagram.

[Additionally With:] the archive of the Holding Together Campaign, including letters, manuscripts, typescripts, mailing lists, press releases, photocopies, flyers and related ephemera (.75 of a linear foot). Correspondents include Rosemary LEARY (including letters to Jann Wenner at Rolling Stone and Jim Good at Playboy), Alan GINSBURG Autograph letter signed to Mark [Berger], n.p., 22 August 1970, noting that he finished the preface for Jail Notes; William Royce "Boz" SCAGGS (9 July 1970 letter agreeing to appear at a benefit at the Greek Theatre in Berkeley), K.W. Broem, Jr. Autograph letter signed [to Timothy Leary,] n.p. n.d. 1 page, offering publishing deal. With notes on verso in the hand of Timothy Francis LEARY. Robert GOLD, Georgeann and Stuart ERSKINE, Marc BERGER, Rick BRAVERMAN, Bill OGDEN, Chet FLIPPO, Stephen ZENDT, and others. The archive also includes retained copies of correspondence from Timothy LEARY, Rosemary LEARY, Marc BERGER, Joan ZIPRIN, and others. Files related to organizing benefit events including concerts listing potential acts, fees for various Bay Area venues including detailed plans for a benefit Frost Amphitheatre featuring Jimi Hendrix, The Grateful Dead, Santana, Boss Skaggs and others for July 1970 (which was possibly not held); receipts for a benefit held 16 April 1970. Typescripts include various drafts of essays by Leary including, "A burnt Out Case" (see autograph manuscript described above); "The Four Thousand Year Old Rock and Roll Band"; "An Incident of Violence Avoided and Freedom Gained"; "Mach 18, 1970 Orange County Jail"; "Playboy Article" (photocopy, faded); "How Young White America Regained its Soul A Political Science Fiction Story," (photocopy); a lengthy, untitled lecture by Leary, as well as Leary's curriculum vitae. Other material includes an "Acting Script" for Aeschylus' Prometheus Bound, edited and adapted for production by "Holding Together," Defense Fund for Dr. Timothy Leary; horoscope charts (including a computerized printout horoscope). Provenance: Joanne Ziprin – by descent to the consignors
Address of auction CHRISTIE'S
8 King Street, St. James's
SW1Y 6QT London
United Kingdom
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13.06.2024 – 27.06.2024
Phone +44 (0)20 7839 9060
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