Postcards sent to Petra Vogt and Ira Cohen while in Nepal, care of the American Embassy at Kathmandu or the Nepal Bank, Ltd., 1973-1978, undated

Correspondents with their locations include a writer from Los Angeles, California, December 12, 1973, who left books for Ira Cohen at their old neighbors’ place, plans on going to Tucson to watch the comet and plans to return to India to live in the mountains in around six months; and “M.” who wrote Ira Cohen from Amsterdam, “our minds keep crossing each other” (January 22, 1975).

Marjory Kephart writes from Frankfurt, Germany, to Ira and Petra, reflecting on her time with them in Nepal (June 1, 1975); Chandeen, from Paris, France, to Petra, who calls Petra her “shadow maker. I walk in your image always dropping silver skulls on the carpets of my mind. No silver monkey skull in suitcase (stolen by customs???).” Chandeen also mentions Brion [Gysin], Ching and Dui (July 24, 1975).

There are two postcards from the United States to Ira and Petra, one from Sonja in Hawaii (date unclear but either 1975-1976) and a second from New York City, April 27, 1976, that mentions receiving Ira’s “octopus letter.”

On one postcard, an unknown correspondent to Ira Cohen, October 26, 1975, writes, “Dearest Ira, Tonight is last of 25 ceremonies by monks of Gysito Tantric College – end of 6 week European tour. Tomorrow I return to New York City to edit new film I just shot on Tibetan healing. Living Theatre nearly in Venice. Much love to you, and to Petra, and to Angus and to Hetty and to all dear friends – I can be reached c/o Shaye, 322 Central Park West, New York City – till March 1975, then probably back to India… for the Lama Dances.”

“J.” sends a postcard from Penang, Malaysia, and promises to send some select choice books to sell in the Spirit Catcher Bookshop (May 3, 1976); a mystical and poetic postcard was sent from Charles and BWK (?), Indonesia, to Ira Cohen (August 25, 1976); postcard from Delhi, India, to Petra and Ira notifying them of their arrival “from Babylon to Delhi was only a matter of centuries” and plans to travel to Goa (December 21, 1976).

An unknown correspondent, on a trimmed down postcard, asked for a copy of Ira Cohen’s “Divan of Petra Vogt” (1976?).

Harold Norse, San Francisco, wrote Ira thanking him for his copy of “Divan of Petra Vogt” and mentions “collecting a 164 page book of my gay poems 1941-1976 to be published by Gay Sunshine Press, Spring 77: (Panic Ritual)” (October 27, 1976).

Others include: a brief postcard sent to Petra and Ira from Pakistan (March 17, 1977); a postcard from Carlos Vishusnath described his travels in India and was sent in care of the Shrestra Lodge, Jochentole, Kathmandu (September 20, 1973?); and Narada to Petra Vogt, hoped to see her soon (undated).

Jerry and Anne wrote from Samos, Greece, about their plans to visit Turkey (August 9, 1978); undated and unsigned card sent to Ira and Petra, “Bird of Paradise… sing to her… of the day… when the Tree of Knowledge shall once more burst forth with – the – Forbidden Fruit – A.”; and a postcard from Austria written in German was sent to Petra in 1979? by Haus.