BERKELEY, Calif. – PBA Galleries will hold an auction titled Fine Literature – Beats, the Counterculture and Bukowski on Tuesday, March 24. The sale comprises more than 400 lots of fine literature and ephemera, featuring scarce works from the counterculture and the Beat Generation as well as a large selection of Charles Bukowski, including a number of signed typescript poems. Absentee and Internet live bidding will be available through LiveAuctioneers.
The sale also includes important works by Ray Bradbury, Ernest Hemingway, John Steinbeck and other major figures of the 20th century. Poetry is present as well, including the books of Frank Stanford, with an inscribed copy of his first collection. The Beat and Counterculture section includes a number of important works by the likes of Jack Kerouac and Ken Kesey, as well as a selection of counterculture handbills and posters.
A noteworthy lot is Bukowski’s Women with original art, one of 75 copies produced, estimated at $4,000-$6,000. It is a first edition, with an original signed oil painting by Bukowski inserted at front. Bukowski signed the book at the colophon, and it is also signed and inscribed by longtime Bukowski girlfriend Linda King. The character of Lydia in the novel is based on her. Also present is a fine copy of Linda King’s memoir, Loving and Hating Charles Bukowski, signed by the author.
The poetry section includes a copy of Frank Stanford’s first book, The Singing Knives, estimated at $3,000-$5,000. It is signed by Frank Stanford with a lengthy inscription to poet Richard Eberhart on the half title. This work is a copy of Stanford’s very scarce first collection, issued in a small run on Irv Broughton’s press. Also included is a near fine copy of the second edition of the book, published posthumously in 1979.
In the same category is a letterpress poem signed by Leonard Cohen, one from a limited edition of 26. On the opposite side, facing the poem, is an original painting by Soheyl Dahi of a guitar. It represents the first broadside publication by Cohen in a literary career spanning more than 60 years. Prior to 2014, this item was not available to the general public. It carries an estimate of $2,000-$3,000.
Other sale highlights include a first edition of Ferdinand the Bull in its dust jacket, estimated at $4,000-$6,000, and Raymond Chandler’s first book, The Big Sleep, which introduced the world to the famed private eye Philip Marlowe. Its estimate is $3,000-$5,000.
PBA continues to safeguard the health of employees and clients and is open by appointment only. For more information about upcoming sales, to schedule a Zoom preview or phone bidding for a future auction, please contact PBA Galleries at 415-989-2665 or pba@pbagalleries.com.
[av_button label=’Click to view the auction catalog and sign up to bid’ icon_select=’no’ icon=’ue800′ font=’entypo-fontello’ link=’manually,https://www.liveauctioneers.com/catalog/239475_literature-beats-counterculture-and-bukowski/?keyword=&page=1′ link_target=’_blank’ size=’small’ position=’center’ label_display=” title_attr=” color_options=” color=’theme-color’ custom_bg=’#444444′ custom_font=’#ffffff’ btn_color_bg=’theme-color’ btn_custom_bg=’#444444′ btn_color_bg_hover=’theme-color-highlight’ btn_custom_bg_hover=’#444444′ btn_color_font=’theme-color’ btn_custom_font=’#ffffff’ id=” custom_class=” av_uid=’av-8lz6rh5′ admin_preview_bg=”]
View top auction results on LiveAuctioneers here: https://www.liveauctioneers.com/pages/recent-auction-sales/
