Big Yum Yum Book
Cleveland: Robert Crumb, 1963. 4 items: 1. A hand made mock–up, conceived by Crumb himself, containing individual photographs of each page of the manuscript (295 distinct illustrations), mounted separately (rectos only), each hand numbered on the back in green pencil (92 of them corrected), and then spiral bound together to make a book, a creation aimed at instituting copyright, and shopping publication privileges to potential publishers. 143 leaves (3 1/2” X 5” X 1 1/2” thick). Very good. The inside front cover is stamped, “This book is the property of – Dana Crumb Associates – 819 Eddy Street – San Francisco, California 54109 – Must Be Returned – Within 30 Days of Receipt.” The manuscript was written, drawn and colored (beautifully executed in Prismacolor pencils) by Crumb, over 6 months in 1962 and 1963. He gifted it to his wife Dana, made up this sample in 1974, got it published in 1975 (Scrimshaw Press, San Francisco), then left this original with their lawyer Albert Morse (indeed, all the items in this lot are ex–Albert Morse). 2. Distinguishing this primary copy from any other pre– publication sample (should any other exist), is the inclusion of Dana Crumb’s wood handled rubberstamp that was used to imprint the inside front cover. 3. Also present is a dummy of the hardbound book as originally conceived by Robert Crumb (black cloth, titled in silver and blue, blank pages). 4. A 1st edition of the published book in pictorial boards and jacket. Very good. Item #53
From the dustjacket flap of the published book: “I drew this story when I was nineteen years old and still a virgin... Now I’m thirty years old and the book seems somewhat adolescent and immature to me. I gave the book as a gift to Dana when I first met her, as a token of my love. We got married shortly after. It has been hidden away all these years, along with some early sketchbooks of mine, and other sophomoric–romantic works done in the throes of horny passion. But now the time has come to review it to the world. I guess. My lawyer Albert Morse thinks it’ll sell like hotcakes and make a lot of money. I dunno.”.
Price:
$6,500.00