ARTAUD (Antonin). Autograph letter signed "Antonin... Lot 42

ARTAUD (Antonin). Autograph letter signed "Antonin Artaud" to Ray_x0002_mond Queneau. Rodez, 16 January 1945. 1 p. 3/4 in-folio, in pencil, upper margin dusted with small split. LETTER WRITTEN TO THE ASILE IN RODEZ where he was then being treated by the head of the psychiatric department, Dr. Gaston Ferdière. "I have had no news of you since January 1, 1944, when you were supposed to come and see me here in Rodez, and where, it seems, you were ill. Have you not written since? It is quite possible. But the letter must have gone astray, because I haven't received anything from you since then. And I would have liked to know about Janine and your child. I cover notebooks and notepads, and from time to time I get a poem or a text out of them. But Mr. Gaston Ferdière, who recently went to Paris, told me that he had seen there a new edition of THEATER AND ITS DOUBLE, with 3,000 copies. I had only received one or two copies of this book when it was first published in 1938, and I was not able to give any to my close relatives or friends at that time. If you could do something about sending me a dozen copies now that the book is being republished, you would be doing me a great service. Can I count on you for that? My sister has promised to come and see me, and she is to come with some friends. AND INDEED IN THE TWO YEARS I HAVE BEEN IN RODEZ I HAVE NEVER HAD A VISIT FROM ANYONE. And it will certainly be a great change for me to get back in touch with my old life. I hope, therefore, my dear Raymond Queneau, that I will not stay much longer without seeing you and your family again, and in this expectation believe in my affectionate and devoted feelings of friendship... »