Original texts, hat, and even a wick of hair from Leonard Cohen will be sold at the end of the month.
In 1964, Leonard Cohen wrote a letter to a friend to explain to him that he had sold what he called his ” bazaar Manuscripts at the University of Toronto, which spent $ 3,850 for the collection. Times have changed. Next month, an auction of Cohen's drafts, its correspondence and other objects will include this same letter, which, according to the organizers, will probably be sold this sum for several times.
Sales of objects from pop stars, living or deceased, are increasingly common. In 2019, Christie's sold at auction a collection of 50 love letters from Cohen to her muse, Marianne Ihlen. But objects related to Cohen are rare. This is why the sale next month, entitled ” Leonard Cohen: the collections of Aviva Layton, Anjani Thomas and others “, Scheduled on February 28 by Julien's Auctions, seems to be up to his description:” The largest gathering of private archive collections and personal effects of the legendary poet, singer and songwriter never auction. »»
The sale revolves around objects provided by Anjani Thomas, former girlfriend and creative partner of Cohen, and by Aviva Layton, a close friend who saw Cohen a few weeks before his death.
The auction will include drafts of texts and poems, one of Cohen's hats, jewelry he offered as a gift and even a wick of his hair. “” The Archives (Officials of Cohen) sucked everything that happened on the market fairly quicklyexplains Anjani Thomas. There is not much available. It is therefore a unique opportunity. »»
Aviva Layton and his ex-husband, Canadian poet Irving Layton, met Leonard Cohen for the first time in the mid-1950s. One of the family members discovered Cohen's black cap in his former Montreal house. “” Leonard wore his cap and Irving said to him: “I write poetry, but I would like to write songs and earn tons of money like you.”recalls Ms. Layton. Leonard replied: “I have this cap, it's a magic cap. I wrote all my first songs with this cap. I'm going to give it to you and you can write songs and make a lot of money too ”. Unfortunately, it only worked for Leonard. »»
Layton's contributions also include an obscene drawing that Cohen faxed him, the photograph of Ihlen used on Songs from a room de Cohen, and the key to an apartment in Cohen on the Greek island of Hydra. (” The keys have been replaced for a long time “, She specifies to reassure the current occupants).
Ms. Thomas, who was a chorister on the original version of ” Haller From Cohen and worked with him as a chorister, keyboardist and co -author, offers, among other things, a 76 -page green notebook dating from 2007, which she shared with Cohen. There are Cohen's handwritten sketches for songs ” It's torn ” And “ Treaty “, As well as” personal reflections ». The notebook also contains a register of bets that Thomas and Cohen made, and what they owed each other.
“” We bet on things like knowing if Phil Spector would go to prison, and I said that he would gosays Thomas. We were betting on everything. These were crazy sums. Fortunately for him, I have never received any money. »»
Thomas also sells a poem that Cohen gave him for his 50th anniversary. “” I cried when he wrote it, and he cried because I cried. It was a very pleasant emotional experience to read. He describes our relationship very precisely. »»
The auction also understands what is described as a “ Oval medallion in golden metal with false green stones and pearls on a chain accompanied by green stones and pearls ». This medallion also contains a wick of Cohen hair. “” We cut her hair one day and he had just offered me a medallion for my birthdayrecalls Ms. Thomas. I thought it was a tradition to put a wick of hair in a medallion. It is a very old custom. »»
Among the other auction articles and coming from other sources are a handwritten page of the 1961 Cohen novel, The Spice-Box of EartH, with a “ handwritten review “, An unprecedented poem considered the inspiration of” Bird we wire », And a letter from 1964 in which he complained of the Greek police.
