John Lennon

John Lennon
A revealing typescript letter, signed, from John Lennon to ABC Radio Vice President Rick Sklar on Apple [scored out] headed stationery [n.d. but circa mid-1975], the letter expressing John's concerns about the meaning of life, Yoko Ono's pregnancy and names for the baby, the letter begins with Lennon turning down a request by Howard Cosell for all four Beatles to appear on a television series entitled Saturday Night ...As I have already written to Howard to tell him no (thanks), I was a little surprised to get your note! and giving the reason that he is about to embark on a series of retreats ...I am currently going through one of my 18 month or so retreats..a la Primal Therapy...Meditations in ze Himalayas...something which I have been doing even as a child... Lennon then goes on to talk about the forthcoming birth of Sean Yoko's pregnancy (thank God) is going well and happens to coincide with my natural and instinctive hibernations. At the ripe old age of 34, I find myself going back to the age old question..."WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON"?...WHY ARE WE HERE?...followed closely by.."AM I DOING WHAT I REALLY WANT TO DO..OR SIMPLY DOING WHAT I'M SUPPOSED TO DO?!!!" Anyway, I'm trying rather badly to explain the inexplicable. I don't think that this this kind of introspection is the luxury of the 'artist' (rich or poor)...I just never beleived [sic] in waiting till 'death's door' before facing (or at least trying) the Eternal Mysteries..(a rose by any other name etc)..., Lennon ends the letter with a suggestion for the baby's [Sean] name: ...the baby is due late Oct early Nov. we've had so much trouble in the past we're being SUPER CAREFULL [sic] how does Dylan Ono Lennon sound?!, signed John and annotated with a self-portrait caricature, 1p.; accompanied by a black and white photograph of Lennon with Rick Sklar and Howard Cosell, 1974 -- 8x10in. (20.3x25.4cm.)