LEE, Peter.
The Big Smoke: The Chinese Art and Craft of Opium.
[Thailand]: Lamplight Books, [1999].: 1999
- $85
First edition of this trade Paperback Original. Probably the best book to document the history and rituals of opium smoking around the world. Includes profiles of famous opium smokers through the ages. Illustrated with photographs (many in color) of antique opium pipes and accouterments. Highly recommended. Spine very slightly faded, else about fine.
More from Skyline Books
Opposition: Black Mask, Ben Morea, and U.A.W.M.F.
KUGELBERG, Johan & MOREA, Ben. Folio. Softbound (only issued softbound). First edition. Printed on risograph with silkscreen covers. The ultimate guide to Ben Morea and the '60s hard-edged, revolutionary activist group Up Against the Wall Motherfucker. Profusely illustrated with reproductions of their poster, handbills, and publications printed on different colored papers. A pamphlet issued with the book is laid in. As new.- $100
- $100
Four Book.
ACCONCI, Vito. 4to. Side-stapled mimeographed sheets, with graph paper front cover. First edition of Acconci's rare second artists' book, published by his and Bernadette Mayer's 0 to 9 Press that also published the seminal mimeo magazine 0 to 9. One of only six book publications from the press. Important work of experimental writing including typographically arranged texts, concrete, and found poetry, including portions of the NYC telephone directory. Slight toning to edges of front cover, unprinted back cover toned (as usual), with a couple of minute closed tears, else near fine.- $1,250
- $1,250
The Philosophy of Andy Warhol (from A to B & Back Again).
WARHOL, Andy. Hardbound in dust jacket. First British edition. Inscribed "to Jennifer" with the addition of a particularly elegant, un-hurried, full-page drawing of a soup can labeled "Campbell's Tomato Soup." Warhol has signed in full beneath the drawing and dated "London1975." Warhol signed copies of the British edition at Foyles Bookshop in Charing Cross Road in London in November 1975, an event documented in the photographs of the signing by Marc Chaimowicz that have been published by the Institute of Contemporary Art. Fine in dust jacket (very slight fading to spine).- $2,500
- $2,500
Utopia and Dissent: Art, Poetry, and Politics in California.
SMITH, Richard Candida, BERMAN, Wallace; & CONNER, Bruce. Hardbound in dust jacket. First edition. Largely devoted to Wallace Berman and his circle, as well as covering the influence of beat writers such as Jack Kerouac and Allen Ginsberg. Profusely illustrated with photographs and reproductions of work by Berman and others. A must-read for those interested in this period. Fine in very near fine dust jacket.- $25
- $25
Kerouac & Friends: A Beat Generation Album.
McDARRAH, Fred (ed. and contributor). Hardbound in dust jacket. First edition. A collection of photos and articles on the Beat Generation. Contributions by Kerouac, John Clellon Holmes, Lawrence Lipton, Seymour Krim, Kenneth Rexroth, and many others. Fred McDarrah was the primary photographer of the beats and counterculture of the period and many of his excellent photos are reproduced. Some fading to top of spine, clear stain to top of text block, very good plus in fine dust jacket.- $15
- $15
Extra Art: A Survey of Artists’ Ephemera 1960-1999.
LIEBER, Steven. Oblong small 4to. Hardbound in dust jacket. First edition. Published on the occasion of an exhibition. Profusely illustrated with all manner of terrific artists' ephemera from a wide range of artists. Fine in very good dust jacket with some fading to spine extending to part of front cover, and a crease along part of the bottom of the front panel. An indispensable reference.- $75
- $75
Typed Letter Signed.
SCHULTES, Richard Evans. 4to. One-page on Harvard University / Botanical Museum letterhead. Schultes writes to a scholar about "bibliographic notes" that his correspondent supplied saying that he will "take the opportunity of discussing them with Dr. Wasson when he retuns from Italy." Signed "Dick Schultes." Schultes is the grandfather of ethnobotany, and along with Wasson, Leary, and Hofmann---with whom he co-authored a couple of books including the best selling "Plants of the Gods"---Schultes is one of the preeminent figures in the field of researching and writing about psychedelic drugs. Included is his business card from the same period as the letter. The letter is a bit age-toned and soiled with old mailing creases and minor wear, very good. The business card is well worn, good only with bold writing on the back in an unknown hand. This is the only autograph material from Schultes that we've encountered in 38 years of specializing in drug literature---particularly nice with the Wasson reference.- $1,250
- $1,250
Flyer announcing a screening of the film “Groupies” at the Lombard Theatre in Portland.
DORFMAN, Ron & NEVARD, Peter. The 1970 film "Groupies" was a musical/documentary about the groupie phenomena at its height. Features Cynthia P. Caster (of The Plaster Casters), Goldie Glitter, and others, including musical performances by Joe Cocker, Ten Years After, Terry Reid, et al. Printed in black on yellow stock with a photo of a groupie. "Groupie" was here part of a double feature with "Putney Swope." As new (8" x 5.25").- $50
- $50
Flyer announcing a screening of the Mick Jagger films “Performance” and “Ned Kelly” in Portland at the Lombard Theatre.
JAGGER, Mick. Both films were made in 1970 and represented Jagger's foray into acting and both were quite well received. Printed in black on pink stock featuring a photo of Jagger in each role. As new (6.75" x 5.25").- $50
- $50
Early commercial postcard reproducing a photo collage by Richard Prince signed by him.
PRINCE, Richard. The front features a humorous and intriguing image by Richard Prince from 1981 showing a shirtless young child throwing black paint at the mock-up of a clown. Signed by Prince on the verso. A very scarce, early commercial appearance of his work. Trivial faint foxing to verso, near fine.- $350
- $350
The Hawkline Monster: A Gothic Western.
BRAUTIGAN, Richard. Softbound. First edition. Inscribed by Brautigan: "This Copy is for Brick Roberts / my 'trout fishing' buddy / Richard Brautigan / San Francisco / May 12 1980." Slight edge wear to left side and bottom corner of front cover, very good plus.- $250
- $250
The Pill versus The Springhill Mine Disaster.
BRAUTIGAN, Richard. First edition of this trade Paperback Original (there was also a small cloth edition of 50 copies). Contemporary signature by Brautigan: "Richard Brautigan / March 18, 1969." Near fine. Scarce signed and more so with an early signature.- $750
- $750
Signed exhibition announcement card for Mapplethorpe’s landmark 1978 “Censored” show at 80 Langton Street in San Francisco.
MAPPLETHORPE, Robert. Mapplethorpe couldn't find a gallery in NYC to display his photographs that documented the extreme side of gay, male, sadomasochistic practices prevalent among a group that he associated with in the pre-aids gay community in Greenwich Village---so he arranged a show at the Simon Lowinsky Gallery in San Francisco where, right before the slated opening, the offending photos in the show were pulled. Mapplethorpe then negotiated a venue for the suppressed works at 80 Langton Street, a non-profit art space in San Francisco, with the proviso that they wouldn't be sold via the exhibition. The only self-portrait in the show depicts Mapplethorpe with a bullwhip deeply inserted into his anus, and it is that explosive shot that was selected for this announcement card. The card is signed "Robert" and he also placed an asterisk next to the date of the reception before sending it to a friend. A rare card for a very early show (his third show, and only the second to feature photographs). This showing of his work marks ground zero for the controversy and censorship that Mapplethorpe would endure for his entire career. Some handling impressions, about fine (7" x 5").- $2,500
- $2,500
Signed contract for Brautigan’s stint as a teacher at Montana State University in 1982.
BRAUTIGAN, Richard. 2 pages stapled at the corner. 4to. In the Spring of 1982 Paul Ferlazzo then Chair of English at Montana State University invited Brautigan to teach a class there. Brautigan, Ferlazzo, and others have signed the contract. Near fine.- $400
- $400
Folding invitation for Yves Klein’s 1957 “Monochrome Propositions of Yves Klein” show at Gallery One in London.
KLEIN, Yves. An important, highly controversial, and very early exhibition by Klein, the same year as his Iris Clert show. The press ran stories with headlines such as: "The Artist who Paints Nothing" (Daily Mirror, June 25, 1957), and "An artist with The Blues. Reductio Ad Absurdum" (The Times, 1957). Klein was just starting his now-famous monchome explorations and people were not yet understanding or appreciative. He attended the opening with his friend and collaborator Pierre Restany. Small ink date "Juin 1957" in an uknown hand, else fine. We have never seen or handled this rare Klein invitation from the earliest phase of his career.- $1,400
- $1,400
Andy Warhol’s Elizabeth Taylor (Silver Liz as Cleopatra) multiple.
WARHOL, Andy & TAYLOR, Elizabeth. Features numerous reproductions of Warhol's image (each slightly different) of Elizabeth Taylor as Cleopatra. Signed by Warhol along the right edge in thin black marker. One of Warhol's contributions to Multiples' "Artists and Photographs" portfolio of 1970, but here offered separately. An iconic and striking work. Fine (11.75" x 9.5").- $1,500
- $1,500
