Nuttall, Jeff

Journals

Brighton, England: Unicorn Bookshop, 1968. Limited Edition. Stapled Wrappers. Signed by Jeff Nuttall. “bloodgaze / light through the skin of a thumbsmudge” begins this selection of poetic journal excerpts from the great Jeff Nuttall (1933-2004), the poet, publisher & Jazz musician who was a legendarily larger-than-life figure in the British 1960s counterculture. For our Third Mind-Burroughsian purposes, Nuttall is most notable to us for his mid-1960s "My Own Mag" series which he edited, published & contributed to, & which featured works by canonical Beat-&-Beyond authors- most especially William S. Burroughs (1914-1997), the Great Founding Father of the Beat Generation-&-Beyond who is the very Patron-Icon of our enterprise (see our item No. 8207). This item, on which we can find next-to-no information, is simply titled Journals, and features writings and drawings by the legendary author of Bomb Culture. This listing, along with being an intriguing collectible in and of itself, is something just waiting to be written about by scholars of the Beat Generation and Beyond. From the collection of Richard Cupidi (b. 1945), our esteemed mate in the UK who managed the fabled Unicorn Bookshop in Brighton, England with Bill Butler (1934-1977, the famed American-expatriate bookseller & publisher). From the late 1960s through the early 1970s, Unicorn proffered & published many outstanding productions by William S. Burroughs, J.G. Ballard et al., some of which have become the scarcest, all-but-unobtainable Beat-&-Beyond collectibles (see for example our item no.s 8217, 8366). After prevailing against censorious harassment efforts, Unicorn closed & Butler died in short order. Cupidi went on to found the Public House Bookshop in Brighton, which had a long & successful run but is also now closed, & he still resides there. We have been honored to obtain what Cupidi has termed "The Last Hurrah," all the remaining treasures of Unicorn & Public House, including this gem. Beneath verso endpage colophon, Nuttall has signed his name in charcoal black felt tip marker: "Jeff Nuttall." Large-format chapbook in stapled wrappers: 42 (handwritten)/50 numbered copies & signed, per colophon. A most collectible Nuttall poetry entry in its rarest contemporary form with extremely relevant association & very distinguished provenance, greatly enhanced by the poet's signature. In relatively fine condition with mild-to-moderate age-toning, minor rubbing & scratching to front, back covers & spine; mild bumping & mild-to-moderate spot-staining to fine edges of same; mild age-toning & rubbing to text block. Interior fine with light-to-moderate age-toning throughout & light rusting, bleeding to staples at interior & exterior; otherwise, generally clean. Fine. [Item #8988]

Price: $350.00