(New Orleans: Loujon Press, 1963). Publisher's mock-up. 8vo. Signed in silver ink by Bukowski on front free endpaper: "Charles / Bukowski / 8-3-63". With typed paper slip laid in at front: "The cork paper on the jacket was handmade in Spain, & the skeleton in photo on the cover was sculped in sand on the beach at Biloxi, Mississippi, by the photographer, Henry L. Chevrier", with ink corrections on same, and ink manuscript in top corner, "Insert", presumably all in Bukowski's or publisher's hand. Number "1" drawn on eighth colored paper sheet, presumably by Bukowski or the publisher; verso with ink manuscript, "Holograph of 'Tragedy of the Leaves'", presumably in the hand of Bukowski or the publisher. With letterpress text on pp. 15-41 only, remaining 22 leaves blank. Publisher's trial binding, handbound in stiff white wrappers, with Chevrier's printed black and white skeleton photograph pasted in two pieces around same; leaves printed in various colors, matching those used in final production; text block loose from wrappers; remnants of a mounted leaf at top of p. 15.

A very rare publisher's mock-up of this early Charles Bukowski publication. This was Bukowski's first work with Jon and Gypsy Lou Webb at their Loujon Press, and it is one of Bukowski's most impressively designed publications.

This copy shows the work in an early trial stage, with Henry L. Chevrier's skeleton photograph and appearing as the main wrapper, printed in two sheets and mounted onto heavy card. The interior features the same multi-colored and plain sheets that appear in the final publication, but is printed with letterpress text on pp. 15-41 only. The remaining sheets that would have included the title-page, introduction, poems (pp. 42-96), contents leaf, errata, and colophon, are not printed. Notably this copy features three notations relating to the printing: a laid in typed card regarding Chevrier's photograph, and a description of the cork dust-jacket found in the finished book; an inscription showing where to print the holographic poem and doodle for Bukowski's "The Tragedy of the Leaves", opposite p. 15; a drawn number "1" on the first chapter leaf; all likely done by Bukowski or the publisher.

Together with:

Bukowski, Charles
it catches my heart in its hands: new & selected poems 1955-1963
(New Orleans: Loujon Press, 1963). First and limited edition, one of 777 unnumbered copies. 8vo. (iv), 97, (7) pp. Gypsy Lou series No. 1: a Loujon Press Award Book. Inscribed by Bukowski in silver ink on front free endpaper: "Close the door when you piss and I will tell you tales with golden teeth, fables with voices like old Caruso Charles Bukowski 2-9-64", with a small drawing of a flower by Bukowski. Additionally inscribed by Bukowski with a rare quote in silver ink opposite colophon: "If I had written as well as I had drank I would have been a better writer but the same old sot. Charles Bukowski 3/31/63". Original hand-bound stiff printed wrappers; in original stiff printed dust-jacket with cork-lined front panel, with photographic flap on rear wrapper; text leaves printed in letterpress on variously colored and sized paper stocks. Krumhansl 12

Copies with two lengthy inscriptions at front and rear are uncommon. Typically they are found with only Bukowski's signature and date at front.