Crumb, Robert

R. Crumb Sketchbook 1983 to 1987

Frankfurt, Germany: Zweitausendeins, 1989. First Edition. Hardcover in Slipcase with Original Wrapping Paper. As Gary Groth has written in a preface to his November 19, 2014 interview with R. Crumb titled "Zap: An Interview with Robert Crumb," "When little Bobby Crumb used to draw dirty pictures in his notebook, he would destroy them immediately, for fear of being discovered. But then the ’60s happened, and under the wicked influences of the sexual liberation, San Francisco and fellow cartoonists such as S. Clay Wilson, he soon began spilling his nastiest sexual fantasies upon the pages of such comics as Snatch, Jiz and Big Ass. And there are those who wish those fantasies had remained trapped in crumpled-up paper." Crumb, a pioneer not just in underground art but in having experienced the vagaries of Cancel Culture far before it was in vogue, writes presciently: "I wouldn’t judge or condemn work purely because it’s misogynistic or racist or anything else; I would judge and condemn it on whether it was interesting or boring, whether it was honest and truthful and real, or whether it was just somebody attempting to pander to some market they think is out there, or trying to imitate something they’ve seen — someone trying to be successful, or whatever — instead of saying what’s really on their minds, dredging up what’s really in there. If it’s really in there, it ought to come out on paper. Better that it comes out on paper than to repress it and let it squeeze out in some rageful (sic), angry act in the world. I never believed, and I’ve said this thousands of times, that drawing something in a comic book is very dangerous or harmful as far as influencing people’s behavior." Another of the elusive R. Crumb sketchbooks published in Germany. Published as a hardcover in cardboard slipcase and complete with translation booklet plus the original Crumb-illustrated wrapping paper (slightly torn). Book in very fine condition and wrapping paper in near fine condition. A must for the serious R. Crumb collector. An extra handling charge will be added for shipping due to the weight of this item. Very Fine / Near Fine. [Item #4247]

Price: $250.00