[Counter-Culture] Bukowski, Charles The Genius of the Crowd

The Rarest Charles Bukowski Book

(Cleveland, Ohio: 7 Flowers Press, 1966). First edition (one of only 103 copies printed). 12mo. Unpaginated (22 pp.). Illustrated with four multi-colored linoleum cut prints by Paula Marie Savarino; text printed in letterpress, some on trimmed envelopes. Original stiff green wrappers, printed on front and rear wrapper in letterpress and linoleum cut print; all edges trimmed. Krumhansl 21

The rarest of Bukowski's books, and one of about only 40 copies speculated to have survived since its publication. Although published in an edition of 103 copies by d.a. levy and Jim Lowell's 7 Flowers Press, "most copies were confiscated by the Cleveland Police Department during a raid on Lowell's bookstore (The Asphodel Bookshop), conducted by the Cleveland Police Department on the charge of being in possession of and selling obscene material." (Aaron Krumhansl, A Descriptive Bibliography of the Primary Publications of Charles Bukowski, p. 34). OCLC locates half of the supposed extant copies in institutions, and we have located only five copies ever offered at auction.

A true Bukowski rarity, in exceptionally well preserved condition.

Provenance

From the private collection of Asher D. Atchick, King of Prussia, Pennsylvania