Perret, Christopher

Original Autograph Postcard with Collage to the Artists' Workshop Society, Detroit

Mallorca, Spain: Christopher Perret, c. 1964-1965. Original Artwork. Single Sheet. Inscribed & signed by Christopher Perret. An original postcard-collage by the French poet, Christopher Perret (1930-1965), who was Leni Sinclair’s (b. 1940) boyfriend before she met the legendary American poet, activist, & arts community organizer, John Sinclair (1941-2024). Leni and Rene met onboard a ship called the “Provence” that left for Genoa, Italy on August 28, 1963. They endeavored upon a romance and traveled all over Europe, eventually settling on the island of Mallorca. Per the Detroit Artists’ Workshop website, “Perret’s writings and illustrations appeared in magazines in Poesie Vivante (Geneva), Botteghe Oscure (Italy), Elwood Review, (Connecticut). He had a one man show in 1961. He brought out two volumes of poems. Blood and other Poems (London, Outposts Publication, 1963) and Memoirs of a Parasite (Hors Commerce Press, California, 1965). At the time of his death he was working on his first full-length novel, Homus and on translations of the Modern French Surrealist poets for a New Directions Anthology.” Perret’s link to Surrealism is testified to in the only loose fragment formerly attached to this collage but still in this lot: a small, rectangular cut-out that says “Surréalisme.” Mail art and collage like this were a persistent pursuit in the time of the Mimeograph Revolution; and that’s attested to here, in this lot. Perret has additionally inscribed & signed this postcard in two places on recto side. Perret’s signature & accompanying inscription, in thin, black fountain pen ink, read: “from / Christopher / Perret / Deya/Mallorca / España / with best / Wishes / at / your / inception.” Additional inscriptions, in both red and black ink, are found on verso. One of these is a quote from the great French Surrealist, Louis Aragon (1897-1982); the other is the line, “Good / luck! / (you’ll need it)”; and below that, again in red ink, is the line, “Imagination being the only / valid reality.” It’s hard to sus out a date for this postcard, because the stamp that would indicate that has faded to the point of illegibility. It had to have occurred in late 1964 or 1965, however: because Perret died of a heart attack on December 6th, 1965. He was survived by his two sons, Jason and Jonathan, and by works of art like this. From the collection of Robin Eichele (b. 1941), noted Mimeograph Revolutionary & co-founder (with John Sinclair) of the Detroit Artists’ Workshop. In near fine condition with moderate-to-enunciated age-toning; edge-wear; low-visibility enunciations of bumping, rubbing, & artifacts similar or related to these present, variously throughout; otherwise, clean. Near Fine. [Item #8370]

Price: $50.00