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Author: Crumb, Robert
Title: R. Crumb Handwritten and Illustrated Letter to Marty Pahls, June 29, 1962
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Single-sheet letter measuring 5½x8½", hand-written by Robert Crumb in pencil on recto and verso, with a penciled sketch of a Catholic priest identified as Rev. John Corrigan, dated June 29, 1962 (Crumb's facetious dateline: "Dover, Outer Mongolia"). Unsigned. Very fine condition, original folds, small piece missing from top right margin not affecting text. 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."

Crumb SuspenStories; or, R. Crumb's Pahls & Gals: A Friendship in Letters

Marty Pahls was an "intellectual-folknik-literary" Kent State freshman when he met a reclusive R. Crumb in 1958. The two became close friends, with Pahls serving as Crumb's lifeline to the outside world. As Crumb reflected in 1989, after Pahls' death, "We developed a strong relationship based on mutual interests, we wrote long letters to each other for years.... He was the first 'outsider' to appreciate the great Crumb artistic genius." – The Complete Crumb Comics vol. 4.

In this letter, a 19-year-old Crumb apologizes to Pahls for having insufficient funds to pay for some records, but hopes that Pahls will send the records anyway, promising to pay as soon as he can. Crumb says he'll never forget his recent visit to the Pahls family, and he gives his verdict on some records that he purchased when he and Pahls were scouting the record bins of Akron, Ohio ("...'Little By Little' by Ted White's Collegians is good with good solos on the trumpet and clarinet."). Crumb adds a pencil sketch of a rather stern-looking clergyman named "Rev. John Corrigan," whose packed word balloon bristles with contempt for his parishioners. Whether the Rev. Corrigan is a figment of Crumb's imagination or an actual figure from Crumb's youthful Catholic experiences is unclear; a Google search turns up a "Father John Corrigan" who was a drunkard and a convicted pederast, but he served in a Canadian parish.

The verso contains a brief unfinished note addressed to "Barb." The tone is one of romantic regret: "What can I say without being corny? But I have to say it. / Being with you made life good and beautiful. I wish you were here now, to cheer me up. I can never hope to achieve the attitude toward life that you have. / I wonder.... Is there another girl like you anywhere in this damned country? They all seem so hard and cold and numb in comparison with you!" Crumb abandons his letter at this point, writing to himself: "Oh drop it."

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 call 415-989-2665

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 or call 415-989-2665