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Correspondence from Aleister Crowley to Karl Germer
16th May. 1930.
My dear Karl,
Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law.
I got your letter last night, with the enclosure about 777, and promptly mislaid it. (I asked my Mother about it, and she found it immediately).
I have got a man named Hanshant, and have bought a dozen pocket handkerchiefs to use with him
He is supposed to be arranging the Exhibition [of Crowley's paintings], and of course I have kept Berlin in the back of my mind. We have therefore selected 19 pictures which includes a drawing by Augustus John of me, done at the same time as he did the well-known one. I think in some ways it is even better.
We have got a very good photographer, but he said that your instructions were out of date, and that he could do still better. As to the size he is using whole plate, which is the largest size possible. I should think I would be able to send prints by Air Mail on Saturday night.
I take it that you have a copy of the latest Hain der Isis. I wish you would make a sort of preliminary enquiry on behalf of the Mandrake [Mandrake Press], as to what they mean by translating a chapter from my "Confessions" [The Confessions of Aleister Crowley] without my permission.
I think it is very important to make that large 200 year old publishing firm realize that Birven [Henri Birven] is a very dangerous man, and will get them into trouble sooner or later. I do not despair of this imbecile, practically everyone who comes in contact with me has to go through these ordeals, and Birven had, after all, acted with great courage.
Of course we made it very easy for him by presenting him with all the material, but even at that I admire his attitude. As soon as he is thoroughly [?] he can come to the Mourner's Bench, and go home a saved Soul.
Thanks very much for the list from Hopfer [Oskar Hopfer]. I think Yorke [Gerald Yorke] has the drawings. I have written to him about it this morning, at any rate we will check things up, and try to come to an arrangement to complete the book and put it in the press. I think, as a matter of fact, that as it is a matter of really fine printing, the Aquila ought to do the book.
Stevenson is quite willing to do this. It becomes again a question of finance. We have got to have a lot more capital. There is a suggestion that Yorke come in here with £1000, and take a directorship. I think it is rather important that he should, because I am on very bad terms with Robert Young. He has taken all the joy out of life, except cigars, and I really ought to have a sea voyage, or something of that kind as soon as the season is over.
About 777 again; I don't think here is much point in Hopfer doing them, if the corrections can be made equally well in London. However, that matter can wait.
I think his financial claim is very reasonable, but it will depend entirely on the financing of the book, which of course, will cost a fortune to produce.
The original arrangement with him was that he should get his payment as a royalty on the book. But if things go well I should like to let him have some extra on all of the balance, due to him, as soon as we have settled the contract.
In point of fact, I think that he ought to have much more than he asks, and I shall add to the 13.000 marks, a small royalty. Of course he gets ay least three free copies.
I am perfectly delighted with the arrangement about Krummheller [Arnold Krum-Heller]. Certainly you ought to come over with him. It would be extremely good for you to see this place, and get an idea of what we are already doing.
Yorke will be back on the 26th, so that is all right. I hope you will get Krummheller to put in a little time reading some of our pronouncements. He ought to be more or less au fait with things before he comes.
Love is the love, love under will.
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