Horowitz, Glenn (Kerouac, Jack)

The Letters of Jack Kerouac: This isn't folly, this is me with: Write a madder letter if you can: The Letters of Jack Kerouac to Ed White 1947-1969 (original catalogs)

New York, NY: Glenn Horowitz Bookseller, Inc., 2001; 2013. First Printings. Softcovers. Gathered here are two salivating (to Booksellers, archivists, and Kerouac collectors, that is) bookseller’s catalogs produced by New York’s Glenn Horowitz describing-&-listing two different archival lots which once-upon-a-time were procured and brought to market by the New York-based bookseller. Beginning with the first-listed catalog, “This Isn’t Folly, This is Me” alluringly lists (in Special Collections library-friendly, “register” format) a collector’s buffet of original letters, all of which authored by Jack Kerouac and addressed to friends, family, or various associates of the “King of the Beat Generation.” Similar to the second bookseller catalog described below, this too contains an introduction. The introduction to this first of two different (albeit related) catalog-volumes is made special in its having been authored by Joyce Johnson (nee, Glassman), among the notable female members of the Beat Generation and Kerouac’s onetime girlfriend (whom he met in January of 1957, and dated for just under a year—a time period which included the heady, surreal publication of his most enduring masterwork, “On the Road”). As such, Johnson is an incredible authority on Kerouac and the Beat era, especially at this major, early crest in its history. Her introduction (as one might expect), is not only expertly written, but oozes the authority that history affords her. Tipped in between verso of front wrapper and recto of FFEP is Horowitz’s original description card — that we presume accompanied all copies of this catalog — & on which relevant info (including the price of the entire lot & the bookseller’s current address) is printed. Continuing, now with reference to the next-listed catalog, “Write a Madder Letter if You Can: The Letters of Jack Kerouac to Ed White, 1947-1969” author John Leland (in his introduction), offers the following summation. He writes, “You will not find ‘the’ real Jack Kerouac here…but ‘a’ real Jack Kerouac, as seen through the intimate lens provided by his long friendship with Edward White of Denver, Colorado, whom he met in 1946 in New York as a fellow Columbia undergraduate. The two exchanged at least 87 letters and postcards, starting in July 1947 — the month that began Kerouac’s travels ‘On the Road’ — and continuing until August 1969, two months before Kerouac’s death at age 47.” Tipped in (on letterpress printed, single sheet) is the original “Price List,” nested between verso of front wrapper and recto of FFEP, which we have retained and include in the lot listed, here. Softcovers in illustrated wrappers: the first (and likely only printings) of these salivating bookseller’s catalogs. Catalogs in very fine condition, virtually as issued. Very Fine. [Item #5184]

Price: $30.00