Supermob: How Sidney Korshak and His Criminal Associates Became America’s Hidden Power Brokers.
RUSSO, Gus. Thick 8vo. Second printing of the softbound edition. Remarkable investigative reporting on how Korshak helped the mob control Hollywood, Vegas, and so many other aspects of American life. Faint crease to spine that doesn't break the binding, else a solid very good copy.- $60
- $60
Panama Red.
DIAMOND, Stephen. First edition of this Paperback Original about a master pot smuggler. Presentation copy inscribed in the year of publication to famous counterculture lawyer, Michael Stepanian: "To Mike Stepanian, thanks for Save the Planet, Legalize It, No Nukes! Cosmic Christian Communalism Cannabis Consciousness Stephen Diamond 10/28/79." Stepanian was a lawyer for NORMAL, and others, and was involved in many important controversial cases. Few gentle creases to spine that leans a bit, else very good plus to near fine.- $45
- $45
The Ecstasy Drugs.
BISCHOFF, William H. First edition of this Paperback Original. A study of LSD, mescaline, and psilocybin, and the history of their use. A couple of soft creases to front cover, price scratched out, bookseller's rubber stamp to title page and inside back cover, despite the flaws presents nicely and a solid reading copy or better.- $15
- $15
Dear Doctor Hippocrates.
SCHOENFELD, Eugene, MD. First paperback edition. Introduction by Joel Fort, MD. Schoenfeld was the "hip" doctor of the period with columns in various counterculture publications. Lots of discussion about various drugs and other controversial topics. Imperceptible touch of toning to covers, else fine.- $15
- $15
Asylum.
SEABROOK, Wiliam. First paperback edition thus. "An alcoholic takes the cure." Soft corner crease to front cover, small ink stain to corner of back cover, ink mark on first page, cover and first page just staring to pull away from spine, despite the flaws outwardly presents very good and nicer than it sounds.- $15
- $15
The Milk of Paradise: The Effect of Opium Visions on the Works of DeQuincey, Crabbe, Francis Thompson, and Coleridge.
ABRAMS, M. H. First paperback edition thus, originally published by Harvard University Press in 1934. Small abrasion to top of front cover, pages and inside covers slightly toned, else very good.- $25
- $25
Collectanea.
ALEXANDER I. E. (Robert Alexander) & BERMAN, Wallace. 24mo. Pamphlet in glassine outer covers. First edition of this collaborative artists' book by Robert Alexander and his close friend Wallace Berman. The first book by Alexander and his only collaboration with Berman---reportedly only 25 copies were produced. Features poems by Alexander here using a variation of the pseudonym "E. I. Alexander" that he used for his appearance in the first issue of Semina. By the time Semina 4 came around he was using "I. E. Alexander." The poems are printed in different colored inks, with front and back cover illustrations by Berman showing two different views of a baby in the womb. A very early project done around the same time that Berman was working on the second issue of Semina. Robert Alexander met Berman in 1945 and became fast friends when they were both hipster jazz mavens making the rounds of the clubs on Central Avenue and befriending the likes of Charlie Parker. Berman bought a handpress in 1955 and Alexander, already familiar with the contraption, was invaluable in teaching him to use it on early issues of Semina. A very influential presence during this period as a poet, printer, collage artist, and ordained priest, Alexander helped birth the Ferus Gallery, later collaborated on the opening of the Dilexi Gallery, and founded The Temple of Man, a publishing outfit and nonsectarian hub for art, jazz, and poetry based on the maxim "Art is Love is God." An early item from the Berman circle of Beat artists and writers---and exceedingly rare. In 35 years of active searching this is the second copy we've encountered---plus it's a family copy from the estate of Shirley Berman's brother, Donald Morand. The fragile outer cover is sepia toned (as on the other copy we handled) with a few tiny sepia spots---the book itself is fine and the covers white.- $2,000
- $2,000
A bookmark by Wallace Berman.
BERMAN, Wallace. Charming bookmark from Wallace Berman the top half of which is devoted to a photo of his baby son Tosh with mom's hand laid upon his head. Along the left edge of the bottom half this statement is printed letterpress in red ink: "And the maternal hand like the artists tool always within a breath of the pure." Next to the text "The Bermans" is printed. Perhaps Berman created this as a birth announcement, but whatever the purpose, it's rare and something we have never seen before after many years of specializing in Berman ephemera. This copy came from the estate of a family member, Shirley Berman's brother Donald Morand. Few handling impressions, near fine (7.75" x 2").- $350
- $350
Flashback Books Catalogue 11.
HOROWITZ, Michael & WASSON, Gordon. Pamphlet. First edition. Bookseller's catalog devoted to a wide range of hippie, drug, and counterculture material. Horowitz is the preeminent scholar on psychedelic drugs, Timothy Leary's bibliographer, and co-founder of the Fitz Hugh Ludlow Memorial Library. He was the first dealer to specialize in drugs and '60s counterculture material. Corner crease to a few pages, a few items circled in ink, else very good plus to near fine.- $35
- $35