Bukowski, Charles

Broadside-Postcard: From "Cows in Art Class" with: Black Sparrow Press Bookmark

San Pedro, CA: Michael Phillips, 2005. Limited First Edition. Single Sheet. “the bartender slides me a beer | it runs down the bar | like an Olympic sprinter | and the pair of pliers that is my hand | stops it, lifts it, | golden piss of dull temptation | I drink and | stand there | the weather bad for cows | but my brush is ready | to stroke up | the green grass straw eye | sadness takes me over | and I drink the beer straight down | order a shot | fast | to give me the guts and the love to | go | on.” (Final 19 lines, “Cows in Art Class,” Charles Bukowski) This unique piece, the ending of the poem “Cows in Art Class” by Charles Bukowski (1920-1994) printed on acetate, comes by way of artist Michael Phillips, who became somewhat notorious in the Bukowski scene after writing the 2013 blog piece “The senseless, tragic rape of Charles Bukowski’s ghost by John Martin’s Black Sparrow Press,” which first detailed the posthumous editing of Bukowski poems by Black Sparrow Press. While there is no information about this piece printed anywhere on it, it is an exact match to a set made by Phillips for an exhibit in San Pedro on Bukowski. Prior auctions show these were handset and letterpressed into 30 copies, with 24 sealed into beer bottles. It is unclear if this copy was sealed and removed, or never placed into a bottle, but it is a visual match and includes presumed markings from Phillips; on the right edge, in black marker, is written “B/F MP.” Our copy comes from the collection of Janusz Zalewski. There are, to our knowledge, no references to this piece in Abel Debritto’s excellent bibliography of Bukowski, A Catalog of Ordinary Madness. We are including with this piece, somewhat ironically, a 1990 bookmark from Black Sparrow Press that includes the short Bukowski poem “Warm Light.” Black Sparrow editor John Martin says in A Catalog of Ordinary Madness that “I published this bookmark to include with orders for Hank’s books. Also, as our salesmen would go from bookstore to bookstore, they would leave some on the front counter for Hank’s fans. A great promotional tool.” (Debritto, A119, p. 63) Single Sheet on acetate (5 1/8” x 4”) . Limited Edition. In Very Fine condition with no visual defects; it has been placed on cardboard backing and wrapped in plastic for protection. Bookmark Very Fine with some faint scratching & rubbing. Very Fine. [Item #8448]

Price: $200.00