W.F. Hermans

3 typed letters, signed by hand, from W.F. Hermans to D. Evers concerning their shared interest in typewriters. 1981-82. In those days Evers had a large collection of the machines, partly acquired in the US. Hermans was very excited about the collection. However, Evers did not want to part with his typewriters so easily. Eventually a deal was made with the help of their friend Jan Brons, who arrived in a luxury car together with his mink-clad wife to buy several of the typewriters to then give them to Hermans.

Letter 1 (Paris, 19 july 1981): Hermans writes after a card from Milwaukee in which he declares his interest in Evers's typewriter collection. "En zéker ben ik nieuwsgierig naar de machines die u, zoals u schreef, voor mij heeft meegebracht." Letter 2 (Paris, 23 September 1981): in which he thanks him for his letter and writes about the machines. "Met mijn eigen verzameling is het treurig gesteld. D.W.Z. er is nog wel wat bij gekomen, maar niets dat ouder dan veertig jaar is. Zonder u zou ik geen hoop koesteren ooit nog zulke juwelen als een Postal, een Sun of een Pittsburg te kunnen bemachtigen". He calls himself a poor collector - "dat was ik in mijn jeugd ook al, toen ik schelpen en fossielen verzamelde. Te speels, denk ik." It is not about the rarity for Hermans: '''t gaat om het verrichten van handenarbeid, dat me de gelegenheid geeft over allerlei dingen na te denken." Letter 3 (Paris, 12 February 1982): the deal. Hermans is interested in buying the Pittsburgh Visible, the Columbia, Postal and Sun and asks after the price. He would have loved to come and see the other machines but unfortunately was not able to. "Op mijn leeftijd is mijn verzamelwoede nu ook weer niet zo razend groot dat ik alleen daarvoor de reis naar Den Haag zou ondernemen."