Typed Letter, Signed, to S. Clay Wilson

1980. Ephemera. A wonderful one-page undated letter (probably 1980s) about drugs and art, from the author of One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest to the underground cartoonist S. Clay Wilson.

"Dear Essclay: Your Christmas owls looked so forlorn on our wall full of holiday splendor that I got high, empathised and took pity on the poor things. I thought you might like 'em back, now they's sportin' new feather.

I have a piece about China in a running mag called RUNNING that should be on your newsstands. I'd send you a copy but they only gave me two.

Ook! I got a spider up my pantleg. Can't shake him out, I'll mash him where he treds.

I visited the Richmuseum (haha, Rijsmuseum) in Amstradam and spend two days and two big balls of black hash in front of The Night Watch. Its right up neck-and-neck with Garden of Earthly Delights and The Wedding Feast.

Agh. Still that rampant arachnid. I'll have to take my pants off. Have a good year, Kesey."

The letter is signed in ink, "Ken." Kesey then adds a cryptic note about a feather, which he presumably attached to the Christmas card Wilson had sent him. That card is not present. Very good. Small hole in upper right corner; Kesey's handwritten address label attached to the upper margin (removed by Wilson from the mailing envelope, I expect). A wonderful letter.