Zap Comix #0-5
San Francisco: Apex Novelties/Print Mint, 1968-1970. First Edition. 6 vols. Each Issue is the 1st edition, 1st printing. Zap #1 (February/1968), with all stories, interior art and the cover by Crumb, graded VF/NM 9.0—CGC has only graded 27 copies higher. Zap #2 (August/1968)—with S. Clay Wilson and concert poster artists Victor Moscoso and Rick Griffin joining Crumb—graded VF+ 8.5, CGC has only graded 9 copies higher. Zap #0 (late/1968), with Crumb, again, as the exclusive artist, is graded VF+ 8.5, CGC has only graded 34 copies higher. Zap #3 (December/1968), with S. Clay Wilson, Victor Moscoso and Rick Griffin and Gilbert Shelton joining Crumb—not graded, but it’s near fine (in book grading terms), with some rubbing to the extremities. Zap #4 (August/1969), with Spain Rodriquez and Robert Williams joining the previous group; not graded but in fine condition. Zap #5 (May/1970), with all the same group as the previous two less Griffin; not graded but very good with rubbing to the extremities. fine. Item #1029
Zap started a revolution in the comic book world. It was printed, owned and distributed by the creators, giving them power, exemption from the 1954 comic code, and freedom of direction. As the series progressed, the artist poked at the 1st amendment in a time when the government was looking to suppress aspects of the 60s cultural revolution. There were over 70 busts of comic book shops on claims of broken obscenity laws, but the artists persevered, and Zap #6 had a first print run of 100,000 and reprints of the others in the millions.
There were about 3500 copies of the first printing of Zap #1, printed on a handfed press by beat poet Charles Plymell, they were collated, trimmed, and stapled by a group of friends at Crumb’s apartment in Haight Asbury. Only 500 copies of the first printing of Zap #2 were bound and sold, as a mis-cut interior page led them to destroy most of the 5000 interior page sets which were originally printed, while preserving the covers for a 2nd printing. Zap #0 was written by Crumb first, but the manuscript was taken by a friend on a trip to India, so it was delayed until late 1968 with an estimated 5000 copies of the first printing. Zap #3 and #4 had an initial print run of close to 20,000 copies. While Zap #5 went up to 25-30,000 copies.
Price:
$12,000.00