The Beatles.- Baker (Geoffrey, art teacher at Camberwell College of Arts and Maharishi International University, 1926-2011) 3 Autograph Letters and 1 Autograph Card signed to Ann Gosnell, together 7pp., 10th January - 2nd April 1968, including a greeting signed by George Harrison, Cynthia Lennon, Pattie Harrison, and Jenny Boyd and a napkin signed by John Lennon, discussing life with the Maharishi in India: "He arranges a birthday party at every opportunity. Last night was George Harrison's turn. Maharishi had Indian musicians brought in... Mia Farrow's birthday party was like a pantomime, with Mia the Faery princess of the Aquarian Age... Donovan has arrived & the first thing he did was to sing his new songs to Maharishi... Everyone has been fooling around in helicopters for the last couple of days - Maharishi included. He leans out of the cockpit waving a flower." And spending time with Harrison and Lennon: "John Lennon is so funny. The other evening a German woman was describing to Maharishi a vision she'd had in a meditation - it was very long-winded & when she'd finished Maharishi said 'What she say?' & John Lennon said 'She says she saw the whole universe through a big black 'ole.'... I like George & John so much. We talk for hours on the roof about everything imaginable. I sing to John's guitar. He says I don't sing loud enough, but I say it's the guitar that drowns my voice... George just came in & found me with the Beatlettes. You can see their tea-stains on the letter. John is still meditating. He said 'well, I must get back to my bliss' & has been away for hours - perhaps days: people do," folds, tears from opening but without significant loss.

⁂ The Beatles in India. A charming group of letters that paint a vivid picture of life around the Beatles, the Maharishi and the coterie of other celebrities in India in 1968. Geoffrey Baker met the Maharishi through his interest in Transcendental Meditation and assisted him in his tour of the UK in 1967, during which time the Maharishi first met the Beatles. The Beatles travelled to Rishikesh in Northern India in February 1968 in order to study Transcendental Meditation. The visit had a varied impact on the Beatles, both Ringo Starr and Paul McCartney left early, but Harrison and Lennon maintained an interest in meditation and Indian culture that would go on to influence their later life and works. Harrison and Lennon stayed at the ashram until the 12th April when they left following rumours surrounding the Maharishi's propositioning of women including Mia Farrow.

Provenance: Directly from the recipient.