[Michael Frankel, writer associated with Henry Miller.] Three printed items: prospectus for ‘Bastard Death’; leaflet advertising his publications, with press opinions and manuscript additions; invitation to a French Henry Miller exhibition.

ONE: Prospectus for ‘Bastard Death / The Autobiography of an Idea / By / Michael Fraenkel’. 4pp, small 4to. Bifolium leaflet with prospectus on recto of first leaf, ‘press proof’ on two central pages, and list of other works, with reviews, and order form on verso of second leaf. In fair condition, on lightly-creased browning wove paper. The prospectus begins: ‘This is an uncorrected press proof of the new limited edition of BASTARD DEATH, showing hand-set 12 point Cheltenham type, size and set-up of page, etc. Published originally in Paris in 1935 in a modest edition, BASTARD DEATH has quietly made its way among thousands of readers throughout the world, leaving a profound impression wherever it went. Such diverse minds as Aldous Huxley, the late Havelock Ellis, Count Hermann Keyserling and Sir James Jeans, Roger Martin du Gard, Carl Jung, etc., have seen in it the ultimate expression of the profound moral and spiritual sickness of our age.’ A long quotation from Henry Miller follows, and the prospectus concludes: ‘The exchange of letters between the author and Henry Miller which introduces the book is itself a supreme achievement in contemporary creative criticism, and serves as a worthy companion piece to this modern classic.’ TWO: Advertisement for Fraenkel’s publications. 6pp, 8vo: with three pages beside one another on each side of a strip that folds in on itself. In fair condition, on lightly worn and discoloured paper. Front page with ‘Michael Fraenkel’ and list of five publications, from ‘Death Is Not Enough / (Essays in Active Negation)’ to ‘Hamlet, Volumes I and II / with HENRY MILLER’. A title is added in manuscript (‘Journal / (The Mexican Yers, 1940-1944)’) after the third publication, and two more after the fourth (‘The Genesis of the Tropic of Cancer / The Day Face and The Night Face’) The three pages beside one another on one side give thirteen ‘Press Opinions’, ending with those of ‘Aldous Huxley, London’, ‘Stuart Gilbert, London’, ‘Havelock Ellis, London’ and lastly, and at length, ‘Henry Miller, Paris’. On the reverse of the third leaf are press opinions of ‘Hamlet, Volumes I and II’, from Michael March, Harry Levin and Paul Rosenfeld’. Prices and details for ordering are on the back cover, with manuscript addition of ‘Journal, The Mexican years 1940-1944’. THREE (French Henry Miller exhibition invitation): Printed on a postcard. In good condition, lightly worn. On one side, in black, red and yellow, a design incorporating three sketches of Miller’s head, with extracts in French from his writing; on the other the invitation to the opening, from ‘Monsieur Yves Guéna’ and ‘l’association Henry Miller’, to a vernissage followed by a conference, 15 June 1994, at the ‘Bibliothèque Municipale de Périgueux’.