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Bukowski material up for auction at PBA Galleries on October 10th (and Frank Nettelbeck) (2 Viewers)

A few interesting items. Very low starting bids, perhaps because there seems to be many condition issues. Some nice bargains possible if condition isn't the primary factor.
 
Kind of an odd collection/selection. A fair amount of signed stuff, but most of it is outside of the signed editions. I don't really see any "bargains" though. The drawing is cool and weird enough. I don't know if it's $500 worth of cool and weird, but I like it.

Has anyone been waiting for a copy of darkness & ice? Sucker! ;)
 
Kind of an odd collection/selection. A fair amount of signed stuff, but most of it is outside of the signed editions. I don't really see any "bargains" though. The drawing is cool and weird enough. I don't know if it's $500 worth of cool and weird, but I like it.

I was pumped when I saw this collection appear as upcoming a month or two ago. But I'm pretty disappointed. Not to question another man/woman's madness but what was/is the direction of this collection? Seems all over the map. I like the Burroughs methadone bottle. In Watermelon Sugar seems like the highlight. The Evergreen Reviews are cool but the set is incomplete. Trying to collect *The Beats* or *Counterculture* seems too great of a magnitude unless you are an oil tycoon or fur smuggler and have unlimited funds.

On a side note, does anyone own or has anyone ever seen a lettered Krumhansl? Also, what kind of a madman marks up a lettered Last Night of the Earth?
 
I want that .45 shell case fired by William Burroughs but I'm gonna need a certificate of authenticity with that.
$100-150 for the Martinized late Buk poetry collections? Ah, those completists and collectors.....
 
I want that .45 shell case fired by William Burroughs but I'm gonna need a certificate of authenticity with that.

The provenance from S. Clay Wilson is pretty solid. He did hang out with him at the time, so that and the Methadone bottle are authentic. Not sure how high they will go, but it is one of the coolest WSB items that I have seen,,,
 
The Methadone bottle now has an absentee bid of $300.

I wish one could see the Buk signatures in all of the signed Buk books.
 
I wish one could see the Buk signatures in all of the signed Buk books.
I can't fathom why some of the pictures are of somewhat irrelevant material and many of the issues that do matter (such as signatures; gee, ya think that might be important?) are completely missing.

I am considering bidding on one lot, but without the signature, I'm not inclined to bid.
 
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Maybe if you ask them for a photo of the signature, they'll take one.

Of course, that may involve the photographer putting down the barbecue ribs that he is eating to open the book....
 
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I can't fathom why some of the pictures are of somewhat irrelevant material and many of the issues that do matter (such as signatures; gee, ya think that might be important?) are completely missing.

I am considering bidding on one lot, but without the signature, I won't. So PBA, what do you have to say about that?
Someone just asked the same thing at a ferlinghetti forum.
 
Of course, that may involve the photographer putting down the barbecue ribs that he is eating to open the book....

Sticking with the food theme, it looks like somebody ate a french dip and used the bluebird as a placemat. That would be a item but I'll pass based on condition.
 
Okay, but you'd think for their extortion vig "buyer's premium" they could bother to photograph the items properly in the first place. d gray posted a link to a few things going up on Heritage, and they're even worse at 25%! Plus the percentage of the selling price they take from the seller.

Parasites.
 
I was only documenting that additional results can be had w/ little effort. However, it is true that if it's that easy to get additional photos, why aren't key photos made available in the first place? I will say that some of the bids suggest that the market is improving from a seller's standpoint. No help for us wanting to bid, but I ain't getting any younger, so some of this pile I have here will have to go to a good home at some point.
 
A Bukowski Sampler later printing for $50 starting bid seems on the high side. I bought one on ABE for $30 not long ago.
 
I will say that some of the bids suggest that the market is improving from a seller's standpoint.

I totally agree. Seems to be more action now than a few years back. I was able to snag some choice items that were under the radar. I paid a good price even with the vig. PBA has always treated me well.

A Bukowski Sampler later printing for $50 starting bid seems on the high side. I bought one on ABE for $30 not long ago.

The last time Bukowski material was up for auction, somebody dropped $96 for the postcards even though a dealer on abe was/is selling them for $75. I got some on ebay a few weeks back for half that.
 
Is the live stream from the floor new? I don't remember seeing it last time. Great to be able to watch the world's slowest auctioneer in action.
;)

[Okay, he picked up the pace when the action started.]
 
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The Captain is Out to Lunch and the Sailors Have taken Over the Ship and R. Crumb 1998 $300 - $500
Starting bid: $150
Sold: $250

Beerspit Night and Cursing: The Correspondence of Charles Bukowski and Sheri Martinelli, 1960-1967 and Sheri Martinelli 2001 $150 - $200
Starting bid: $80
unsold

A Bukowski Sampler Blazek, Douglas, ed. (Bukowski, Charles) 1973 $100 - $150
Starting bid: $50
Sold: $50

A collection of Bukowski magazine appearances, ephemera, etc. (Bukowski, Charles) Various dates $200 - $300
Starting bid: $100
Sold: $120

A Bibliography of Charles Bukowski Dorbin, Sanford (Bukowski, Charles) 1969 $200 - $300
Starting bid: $100
Sold: $170

A Descriptive Bibliography of the Primary Publications of Charles Bukowski Krumhansl, Aaron (Bukowski, Charles) 1999 $100 - $150
Starting bid: $50
Sold: $70

Two issues of Second Coming with contributions by Charles Bukowski (Bukowski, Charles) 1974 & 1977 $200 - $300
Starting bid: $100
unsold

The Outsider, Nos. 1-5, complete Webb, Jon Edgar and Louise “Gypsy Lou” Webb, editors (Bukowski, Charles) 1961-1969 $500 - $800
Starting bid: $250
Sold: $600

Penguin Modern Poets 13, Philip Lamatia, & Harold Norse [1969] $250 - $350
Starting bid: $130
Sold: $180

Aftermath of a Lengthy Rejection Slip [in] Story: The Magazine of the Short Story - Vol. XXIV, No. 106 - Marvin Malone's Copy March-April, 1944 $2,500 - $3,500
Starting bid: $1,300
unsold

Barfly [1984] $300 - $500
Starting bid: $150
Sold: $300

Betting on the Muse, Poems & Stories 1996 $100 - $150
Starting bid: $50
Sold: $50

The Bluebird 1991 $200 - $300
Starting bid: $100
Sold: $225

Bone Palace Ballet: New Poems 1997 $100 - $150
Starting bid: $50
Sold: $50

The Bukowski / Purdy Letters: 1964-1974 [1983] $250 - $350
Starting bid: $130
Sold: $200

Chilled Green [1970] $300 - $500
Starting bid: $150
Sold: $300

Dangling in the Tournefortia 1981 $250 - $350
Starting bid: $130
Sold: $225

Darkness & Ice 1990 $1,000 - $1,500
Starting bid: $500
Sold: $950

Erections, Ejaculations, Exhibitions and General Tales of Ordinary Madness [1972] $200 - $300
Starting bid: $100
Sold: $275

Fire Station 1970 $1,200 - $1,800
Starting bid: $600
Sold: $1600

Five little magazines with contributions by Charles Bukowski Various dates $250 - $350
Starting bid: $130
Sold: $140

Four issues of The Wormwood Review with contributions by Charles Bukowski, three of them signed by him Various dates $500 - $800
Starting bid: $300
Sold: $300

Ham on Rye 1982 $250 - $350
Starting bid: $130
Sold: $325

Hollywood 1989 $200 - $300
Starting bid: $100
Sold: $225

Hot Water Music 1983 $300 - $500
Starting bid: $150
Sold: $350

In the Shadow of the Rose 1991 $200 - $300
Starting bid: $100
Sold: $300

It Catches My Heart in its Hands: New & Selected Poems 1955-1963 1963 $800 - $1,200
Starting bid: $400
Sold: $950

The Last Night of the Earth Poems 1992 $600 - $900
Starting bid: $300
Sold: $750

Life and Death in the Charity Ward 1974 $150 - $250
Starting bid: $80
Sold: $90

Love is a Dog from Hell, Poems 1974-1977 1977 $150 - $200
Starting bid: $80
Sold: $160

The Movie: "Barfly" 1987 $200 - $300
Starting bid: $100
Sold: $225

The Night Torn Mad with Footsteps: New Poems 2001 $150 - $250
Starting bid: $80
unsold

Notes of a Dirty Old Man [1973] $100 - $150
Starting bid: $50
Sold: $50

Original drawing by Charles Bukowski No date $500 - $800
Starting bid: $250
Sold: $750

Play the Piano Drunk Like a Percussion Instrument Until the Fingers Begin to Bleed a Bit 1979 $400 - $600
Starting bid: $200
Sold: $425

Poems Written Before Jumping Out of an 8 Story Window [1968] $400 - $600
Starting bid: $200
Sold: $700

Program from the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club, signed by Charles Bukowski 1988 $500 - $800
Starting bid: $250
Sold: $350 (wow...)

Pulp 1994 $100 - $150
Starting bid: $50
Sold: $80

The Roominghouse Madrigals 1988 $100 - $150
Starting bid: $50
Sold: $60

Run with the Hunted: A Charles Bukowski Reader [1993] $200 - $300
Starting bid: $100
Sold: $180

Septuagenarian Stew: Stories & Poems 1990 $150 - $250
Starting bid: $80
Sold: $180

Six Black Sparrow Press New Year's Greetings by Bukowski Various dates $150 - $250
Starting bid: $80
Sold: $80

WITHDRAWN - Sparrow [magazine] featuring Charles Bukowski - 4 issues, 3 are signed 1973-78 $250 - $350

Three volumes of Bukowski correspondence Various dates $200 - $300
Starting bid: $100
unsold

War All the Time: Poems 1981-1984 1984 $250 - $350
Starting bid: $130
Sold: $350

What Matters Most is How Well You Walk Through the Fire 1999 $100 - $150
Starting bid: $50
Sold: $50

You Get So Alone at Times That It Just Makes Sense 1986 $150 - $200
Starting bid: $80
Sold: $250

You Kissed Lilly 1978 $300 - $500
Starting bid: $150
Sold: $500
 
The only thing I saw that may have been a bargain was the signed Fire House. The description was misleading -- it indicated that all the 100 copies issued were signed, which they were not. I'd say that's a pretty rare find in that condition, but opinions are like assholes...
 
If someone was bidding on Darkness & Ice, I have one dropping on eBay this weekend for $750.

And a signed softcover Fire House for $475.

My prices are a little high because I am looking for holiday shoppers, but whatever doesn't sell will go here first.
 
I would have liked the drawing, but I couldn't bring myself to spend a grand on it.

I did take You Get So Alone, even though I hadn't planned on buying anything. I was just surprised when bidding stopped at $225, so I clicked the damn button. Why not. (Sorry if I fucked any of you over with that move.)

Something is screwy though when a signed racing program (and not even a good classic one like a Racing Form) sells for more than signed copies of Dorbin, Bukowski/Purdy, Ham on Rye, Hollywood and You Get So Alone. I guess Woody Allen was right; "the heart wants what it wants."
 
I did take You Get So Alone, even though I hadn't planned on buying anything. I was just surprised when bidding stopped at $225, so I clicked the damn button.

I think that was a good purchase. I got mine for about 10 bucks more and I paid for the little man. The thing is, I think Buk was in good spirts because everyone I've seen has the little man. Still, I think a fine purchase. But opions are like assholes...

Just a little shout out to MJP for documenting the auction results. It takes time and benefits us all. I'm sure he had better things to do... Like clean up my posts...
 
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For the record, the three signed copies of Wormwood that were sold in that auction ($360, ya gotta include the premium) were NOT official patron copies of Wormwood. I don't know why PBA didn't point that out. Aside from the numbering of the issues, which should be a big clue, Bukowski signed all patron signed issues of #53 with drawings, he signed on the inside of the front cover of #95 (not on the front cover), and he signed at the bottom of issue #110/111 (not top).

Also, I was glad to see that the copy of STORY I sold on eBay in June did not sell at the PBA auction; the asking price was outrageous. But that sure was a quick turnaround time for my buyer to sell. I still want the good Bukowski pubs to land with collectors rather than resalers.
 
Handling, shipping, California taxes - I should have stayed out. It's not a lot of money, but I just don't like the feeling that I've been conned, and that's how I feel after all of these.

It's still a cool book. But I probably have enough of those.
 
I got the 2 boxes of Henry Miller archives. Mainly interested in the correspondence form Jon & Lou Webb, but there could be other surprises in there. The last few items from his archive that I bought had all kinds of notes in Miller's hand. Not sure how big "2 archival boxes" are, but they charged me $35 postage, so probably not huge...

Still worth the gamble. If not, I'll cut them up and use them as covers for an upcoming book...

Bill
 

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