Various (Burns, Jim; Griffey, Alan; Hassett, Brian et al.)

The Kerouac Rag, Issue No. 2 (Spring 2001), with: Ephemera

Devon, England: The Kerouac Rag, 2001. Limited First Printing. Stapled Wrappers. Signed by Editor, Alan Griffey. “Hi Cats, Kittens, and just plain succulent Critteroonies. I know what you’re thinking girls: ’39,000 years of Kerouac involvement have left this particular she-dinosaur stunned and gasping, so what’s she doing continuing a Kerouac Rag?’ and well you may ask. Well, KR 1 had a good response from all sorts of quarters and a lot of fine contributions, thanks for those and witness them inside" (from "Editorial" by Alan Griffey). These contributions are indeed fine, and some fine Beat-scholarly minds are responsible for their fine-ness. Such contributors include The Man of Unlimited Enthusiasm, Brian Hasset [See TMB Item #4310, #4270, & #3542], Jim Burns [search “Jim Burns” on the TMB Search Engine for his many insightful contributions], and Kaviraj George Dowden, esteemed correspondent of the great American Beat-&-Beyond Scholar-Author-Professor, John Tytell & accomplished author in his own right. As for the limitation referenced in this item’s designation as a “Limited First Printing,” I’ll quote the following funny bit, also from the work’s “Editorial.” The Editors write, “Also as a cheap marketing ploy I’ve decided to make the rag into a collectible artwork — is Charles Saatchi listening out there? So you’ll find that your copy of the rag is uniquely signed and numbered inside the back cover. Sorry to deface your copy like this, anyone upset return it and I’ll send you an unsigned copy.” With that noted, I’ll go into the usual TMB language used to categorized such things. Small-format magazine in stapled wrappers: the numbered, limited first printing of this charming Kerouac-themed periodical from the early aughts. Signature and aforementioned limitation—in thin, blue pen ink on recto of back wrapper—reads: “Alan Griffey / 396 / [printed] one of 400 / [written] 21.2.01.” Now, for the “ephemera” referenced in this listing’s title. It consists of a two-page printed email (folded at center) of “LATEST KEROUAC NEWS!!!!!!!!!!!” (see: photos which accompany this listing) and an errata slip on which the following phrases are written: “Be careful, turns out / it’s an inland-revenue / rip-off,” and “Hi Graeme, / Thanks for / the L6 & the / letter. Nice / writing. Best, / Al.” From the collection of Kevin Ring, publisher of Beat Scene magazine & other indispensable productions (many available here), & our good friend. Magazine in strong near fine condition with only minor shelf-wear to fine-edges & corners of front, back covers; minor-to-moderate rubbing to leftmost fine-edge of front cover; similar (although far more minute) rubbing to corresponding section at rightmost fine-edge of back cover; slight chafing to spine-edge, visible only from back cover—a finer copy of this scarce second issue of “The Kerouac Rag” than most, to be sure. Ephemera in similarly near fine condition, errata slip with only slight shelf-wear, creasing to fine-edges & corners & same for the two sheets of printed Kerouac newsletter-notification earlier described. Near Fine. [Item #5109]

Price: $60.00