In ink, most are on small 4-page folded lettersheets of plain paper. Each is in the original mailing envelope.

Remarkable and revealing series of letters written by the young Ansel Adams to Mildred Johnson, a woman with whom he was involved in a musical trio (Ansel played piano, Mildred the violin), and for whom he developed a fierce infatuation. The letters, in a delicate if somewhat peculiar hand, are full of Adams’ declarations of his love for Mildred, and also reflect his ongoing spiritual and intellectual development. They are rich with imagery of Adams’ love for and appreciation of nature – in the High Sierra, in the shadows of Mount Tamalpais, and along the beaches of San Francisco – which were the basis for his great landscape photographs capturing the natural beauty of America, particularly the mountains of California. Adams was 24 years old when the letters were written, pursuing his budding career as a pianist, and making ends meet by teaching the piano. He already knew his future wife, Virginia Best, but put that relationship aside while he chased somewhat vainly after the beautiful Mildred. The intensity of his feelings waned with, it seems, the noncommittal attitude of Mildred, and in the spring of 1927 he returned to Virginia, though the letters reveal he still had hopes for Mildred. It is during the period covered by these letters that he was beginning to question his future as a pianist, or at least he expressed some doubts about his ability. In the next to last letter in the series, written from Kern River Canyon, Adams revels in the photographs he is taking while trekking through the mountains. On an earlier trip, in April of 1927, he had taken his most accomplished early photograph, “Monolith: The Face of Half Dome.” He sent a “Parmelian Print” of this image to Mildred, inscribed to her [see following lot]. The final letter, written some three years later, congratulates Mildred on her marriage to a lawyer from Fresno. The letters are unpublished, and have remained in the family of Mildred Johnson until this time. Because these letters are unpublished, we are refraining from quoting them, but we have capsulated their revelatory content. They express the young artist's profound love of nature, baring his very soul, providing a window into the mind and spirit of a complex and amazingly creative individual . Suffice it to say, the exquisite writing style of Adams reveals in words familiar messages - spiritual, aesthetic, and driven by passion - found in his legendary photography. * July 13, 1926 – Postmarked Visalia. Internal dates July 2nd, Cahoon Meadow, and July 3-4, Horse Corral Meadow. 3½ pages on two 4-page lettersheets. Adams has been in the mountains for some time, and writes of both his activities and insights. His companions on one of his trip were collegiate types, and Adams bemoans the continuous conversation regarding fraternities, parties, and gossip. He reveals to Mildred some of his childhood visions of nature, and also discusses music for them to play. * July 28, 1926 – Postmarked Bishop. Internal date Near Bishop Pass, Monday, July 26. One page on 4-page lettersheet. Adams revels in the mountains, and encloses a few needles of White Pine to convey the spirit of the High Sierra. These needles have been preserved and are present with the letters. * August 8, 1926 – Postmarked Exeter. Return address Sequoia National Park, dated Sunday-Monday. 3 pages on 4-page lettersheet, plus 4-page poem by Adams, “To the Sea,” on two 4-page lettersheets. Adams apparently sent the poem to Mildred before the letter, and expresses satisfaction that she liked it. He also writes about spirituality, and notes that he has just finished Edward Carpenter’s book, which he agreed with. * September 6, 1926 – Postmarked San Francisco. 6 pages on two 4-page lettersheets. A poignant letter expressing his feelings towards Mildred, the happiness they bring him, and how the world is wonderful and beautiful. * September 10, 1926 – Postmarked San Francisco. 3 pages on 4-page lettersheet. Adams discusses spirituality, materialism and love, and quotes a poem by Edwin Carpenter. * September 19, 1926 – Postmarked San Francisco. 6 pages on two 4-page lettersheets. Adams writes of love, beauty, nature, and vision, and presents a poem written by Ssu-K’ung T’u in the 9th century. * October 12, 1926 – Postmarked San Francisco. 7 pages on two 4-page lettersheets. Adams writes of his love for nature, his feelings about Mildred, and how the two are intertwined. He is on a cliff overlooking the sea when composing the letters, and gives a vibrant description of the setting. * October 24, 1926 – Postmarked San Francisco. 1½ pages on 4-page lettersheet. A short note expressing his love, and how he enjoys the time they spend together. * November 1, 1926 – Postmarked San Francisco. 3 pages on 4-page lettersheet. Writes of his feelings towards Mildred, and about music, mentioning compositions by Henry Cowell. * November 8, 1926 – Postmarked San Francisco. 3 pages on 4-page lettersheet. Adams has just received a letter from Mildred, and is flushed with joy at the world, and describes it with great artistry. * November 18, 1926 – Postmarked San Francisco. 2 pages on 4-page lettersheet. Adams revisits a discussion he had with Mildred regarding his ambitions, which revolve around creating beauty and art. * November 22, 1926 – Postmarked San Francisco. 2½ pages on 4-page lettersheet. Adams writes of nature, beauty, and love, and their mutual friend Cedric Wright, whose is having serious problems (Wright was going through a divorce around this time). * November 28, 1926 – Postmarked San Francisco. 7 pages on two 4-page lettersheets. Adams continues his expressions of love for Mildred, but there are signs of uncertainty, and he doesn’t want to hold her back. * December 10, 1926 – Postmarked San Francisco. 2 pages on 4-page lettersheet. Adams compliments Mildred’s piano playing, and tries to set up a date, inviting her to a performance of “Old English.” * December 13, 1926 – Postmarked Mill Valley. 4 pages on 4-page lettersheet. Adams is up in the North Bay, loving the rustic setting, and missing Mildred. He extols the virtues of small town living, stating it would be a good place to establish a life. * December 20, 1926 – Postmarked San Francisco. 2 pages on 4-page lettersheet. Adams has received what might be construed as a discouraging letter from Mildred, but his love and devotion remain unstinted. Her happiness is, he says, his prime consideration. * December 27, 1926 – Postmarked San Francisco. 3 pages on 4-page lettersheet. Adams wrestles with his vision for the future, his sense of inadequacy in his musical accomplishments, and his feelings for Mildred. He compares his search for spiritual heights to climbing in the stone and snow of the Sierra. * January 19, 1927 – Postmarked Berkeley. 6 pages on two 4-page lettersheets. An important letter, in which Adams expresses his doubts about his musical ability, which have caused him to bow out of a planned concert with Mildred and Vivienne. It was doubts such as this which contributed to his decision to pursue photography as his primary career and creative outlet, in preference to his first love, music. * February 25, 1927 – Postmarked San Francisco, but with Carmel return address. 2 pages on 2 large sheets of plain writing paper. Adams is visiting his Aunt Beth in Carmel, and feels the benefits of the excursion. He mentions Cedric Wright and Francis Holman, a retired geologist with whom Adams had camped in Yosemite in 1917. He asks Mildred if they could get away for a day in Marin, so they could be alone with each other. * March 3, 1927 – Postmarked San Francisco. 6-line note on one small sheet. Adams is sick with the mumps, so forwards some concert tickets to Mildred for her to use as she sees fit. * March 12, 1927. Postmarked San Francisco. 1 page on large sheet of plain writing paper. Adams is recovering from his illness, and remarks that his enforced inactivity has allowed him time to think, and examine his personal philosophy. * May 4, 1927 – Postmarked Fresno. 8 lines, on letterhead of the Hotel Fresno. Adams apologizes for leaving the Bay Area without calling Mildred, he had tried but failed to get through. He mentions Cedric Wright and Albert Bender, the latter sporting new golf pants. * August 2, 1927 – Postmarked Fresno, but with internal date of July 25, 1927, Kern River Canon, Junction Meadow. 2 pages, on 4-page lettersheet. Adams is on a trek in the high Sierra, and reveling in the many photographs he is taking. He is tired but inspired. He wishes Mildred was there with “us” (perhaps a veiled reference to the presence of Virginia Best on the expedition). * September 8, 1930 – Postmarked San Francisco. 1 page, on single sheet of Adams studio letterhead. Adams has just returned from New York, and received the announcement of Mildred’s wedding. He wishes her every happiness.