• If you start a thread here you have permission to edit the thread and your posts indefinitely. So if the status of your sale or auction changes, please come back and update the thread.

Cold Dogs and 8 Story Window (1 Viewer)

This is the second round for both of these. I think they took about $15 off each buy-it-now price from the last auction. I would agree that Cold Dogs should probably command a fair bit more than 8 Story, but in these times, I would doubt either would go until they drop more in price.

Unless StN pops back into play...
 
Here's what Krumhansl has to say about 8 Story:

"Circa 400 copies were published in the summer of 1968. Note on verso of title page:...a LITMUS first edition ...

Note: As late as the early 1970s Bukowski still retained multiple copies of this title. At some point he created a small private "Author's edition" by tipping in or binding in at the center staple either an original signed illustration or a signed typescript poem. Not less than three nor more than five such copies were created. The text is printed from tail to head on the verso of leaf 8 and recto of leaf 9; an illustration by the author is reproduced in orange. According to the publisher there were 25 special copies each with an original drawing by the author. Leaves 8 and 9 in the special copies measure 8 1/4 x 6 9/16 in. (21 x 16.7)--slightly larger than regular copies--and are printed in the opposite direction i.e. from recto of leaf 9 to verso of leaf 8, thence to verso leaf 9. The drawing replaces the poem "Cows in Art Class." The 2 "special copies" Dorbin examined (see Dorbin A12) both had alterations to the covers. One copy has a textured, 7 1/8 x 8 1/4 in. (17.5 x 21 cm.), medium weight sheet of white stock as the front cover. This sheet reproduces part of the illustration from the front cover of the regular copies. The other copy has a front cover of medium weight goldenrod cover stock printed with title and author's name, the fore edge of the rear cover of this copy extends approximately 1/2 in. (1.3 cm.). This small edition was published by Darrell Kerr and Charles Potts. No limitations were stated at the time of publication. Originally this volume was to have been published by Mel Buffington's BLITZ/MAD VIRGIN PRESS in August or September of 1965."

So any signed copies were not called for, other than any of the 25 drawings that might be signed. That's pretty rare to me!
 
I have a signed first of 8 Story; is it really that rare signed "” as the seller claims?


for what it's worth, the copy on ebay has a fairly late signature. that would make a difference to me. i don't know about other people. i have a copy of terror street with an early sig that i paid a pretty good deal for and i definitely wouldn't have paid as much had it been a late sig like this one. so yea, pretty overpriced if ya ask me.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
How can you tell the difference between old and new sigs? Pardon my ignorance...but curious. I have many signed copies of BUK, and they all vary somewhat...

Pax,

homeless mind
 
James makes a good point; the best place to go looking to date signatures, along with any signed books you have that you know were signed when the book was published, is the Manuscripts section over there to the left. You can trace dates and signatures from the early 70s onward.

It does look as though the signature in that ebay copy of 8 Story Window is most likely from the later 70s-80s period.
 
hm,
it's really easy to tell. the more he spells out his name and the cleaner the sig, the earlier it is. that's the way i've always looked at it. for example:

i would guess early seventies for this one...
CIMG2928.jpg


and this is obviously a later one...
CIMG2931.jpg
 
James makes a good point; the best place to go looking to date signatures, along with any signed books you have that you know were signed when the book was published, is the Manuscripts section over there to the left. You can trace dates and signatures from the early 70s onward.

It does look as though the signature in that ebay copy of 8 Story Window is most likely from the later 70s-80s period.

TX, PSP.

I would still assume a copy of 8 Story with a sig is more valuable than one without. I know when I sign a copy of a book, I always put the date next to it "” habit; clarity. With my art, I rarely put a date, but keep a record; unless it is a limited edition giclee (COA with piece), etc.

Any reason why Sir Charles didn't do that? Date stamp his sigs?

(BTW: This forum is absolutely amazing; what a data bank of knowledge "” and interesting peeps. If the world was only populated solely by BUKnet members -lol- ...)

Pax,

homeless mind
 
Last edited by a moderator:
i would guess early seventies for this one...
CIMG2928.jpg

That might go back as far as '68 or '69, as that greatly resembles the sig on my copy of The Days Run Away..., which is one of the called for signed copies from '69. Then again, it also looks a fair bit like the sig on my copy of Scarlet from '76.

In any case, that's got to be a rare one. Nice!

I would still assume a copy of 8 Story with a sig is more valuable than one without...

Most definitely. But it varies from book to book, and, as James mentioned, when the signature was added. A rough guide that I've noticed for many of his books is that a called-for signed copy is typically worth somewhere around 3x what the unsigned copy is worth. Of course, adding seriagraph prints complicates the issue in later years (up to '96).

For example, a first trade edition of The Last Night of the Earth Poems might go for around $80-90, but a signed copy is likely to sell around $300. I don't know if an early unsigned chapbook worth $2,000 would fetch $6,000 signed, though. I doubt it; then again, I know very little about the early stuff. Well, I do know I can't afford them. :D
 
When I bought 8 Story, I had no idea that the sig was added.

Just assumed, like most of the firsts I own, it was part of the original offering.

It really doesn't bother me that it was added at a later date; the value is obviously increased in this case by the sig. ^^^

What is interesting, is that the sig I have looks very similar to the sig posted on eBay. Scary close; perhaps there is a mystery there/here that needs to be solved. (No shit, I had to look closely to make sure it wasn't a copy of the same sig...there are subtle differences; but dang, it sure looks like it was signed at the same time, same pen, same bat channel...)

When I have more time, I will post the sig. You'll see what I mean.

Here are a few quick thoughts; points of intrigue:

A) Did someone have a few copies, and have Sir Charles sign them all at once?
A2) Was this a planned signing for X-# of copies for a friend/publisher/store owner?
B) Did he do it as part of his private vintage stock to move a few pieces?

I could go on, but won't.

Does anyone here know anything else about 8 Story?

Real curious...

Again, will post the jpeg when I can breathe a bit more; kids, family in town, etc.

Pax,

homeless mind
 
Here are a few quick thoughts; points of intrigue:

A) Did someone have a few copies, and have Sir Charles sign them all at once?
A2) Was this a planned signing for X-# of copies for a friend/publisher/store owner?
B) Did he do it as part of his private vintage stock to move a few pieces?
Buk used to go down to Red _________'s (forgot his last name - plenty of folks here will know) bookstore in L.A. and sign copies. Not sure if he would have done it as far back as '68, but maybe...
 
This seller is about 15 minutes away from me. I want to find out where so I can go drool over his collection.

Oh, and replace "drool over" with "steal at gunpoint" and we'll have it all correct.
 
Ashley Books periodically lists very nice Buk stuff at what I think are rather inflated prices. Perhaps 25-30% more than they should get at market value. I suppose you can't blame them; if St.N wants to overpay, then they get a premium. At least we're not talking Gr*g*rb**ks or *b*kb**ks absurdity.

And despite recent postings, cooter_slick has had some decent prices on some really fine stuff that now lines me coffers.
 
8 Story Window was a looong time in the making, so to speak. B mentions the book in a few 1965 letters. Too many editors were involved and too many last minute changes took place.
 
Ashley Books periodically lists very nice Buk stuff at what I think are rather inflated prices. Perhaps 25-30% more than they should get at market value. I suppose you can't blame them; if St.N wants to overpay, then they get a premium. At least we're not talking Gr*g*rb**ks or *b*kb**ks absurdity.

And despite recent postings, cooter_slick has had some decent prices on some really fine stuff that now lines me coffers.

I've been comparing the stuff he's had for sale with Abe and yeah they seem a bit high... Though he kept dropping the price on 2 By Bukowski... I can only assume that it sold... I was hoping it'd get to like... $300...
 
Jordan: a sampling can be found at: http://www.studiomunch.com

I haven't updated the work/site recently; but my last major event at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino had 70 pieces on display. HR bought ten pieces, which is noted on my "news & blog" section of said site.

I also have some books kicking around...

I'm grateful/fortunate to have peeps/collectors who dig my work...

Pax,

homeless mind

SIDE NOTE: Funny: my son (12) is staying up until midnight to open up DOA shrimp he knows I bought for him...on the other hand...I will read Father Luke's, "The Seven Deadly Sins" at midnight. Yeah, I can't wait...
 
I've been comparing the stuff he's had for sale with Abe and yeah they seem a bit high... Though he kept dropping the price on 2 By Bukowski... I can only assume that it sold... I was hoping it'd get to like... $300...

Cooter and ashley both had 2 by buk; cooter kept reducing the price on the copy from Jack Grapes down a fair amount; never sold to my knowledge. It went down under $600, if I recall correctly. Not a bad price if my wife would agree not to disembowel me for it.

Ashley had a two or three-time listing near $800 although it was fucking mint.

Do as you will.
 
red stodolsky's baroque books. yep. also i think buk would sign stuff for scott harrison at abandoned planet. i really don't know much about the topic at hand though....where's mr. roberts???


speaking of red, i googled him and found an interesting (and stupid) article about him haunting the gallery where baroque books used to be.
http://creepyla.com/blog/2008/10/28/rick-castros-haunted-hollywood/


sorry, the thread's been o-ficially derailed...

Here I am to chime in...

I would suspect that circa 50 copies were signed outside of the original run. That is in addition to any copies that Montfort, Fogel or Red would have had him sign.

Still, I'd add at least $100 to a signed copy of this book over an unsigned, without regard to when it was signed by Buk.

What did you pay for it, if you don't mind me asking?

Bill

p.s. What does the binding smell like? If it smells like oranges and cloves then add $25 to that price. The clove smell is VERY rare.
 
Hey Bill!

Man the clam shell really rocks; It Catches fits in there like (Fill in sexual innuendo here). And the aroma...ahhh...oysters on the half shell, spiked with tabasco sauce and Gold's horseradish.

As for the price paid, it's written in pencil, $125, signed first.

However, I bought it back in the mid '90s. So the price probably isn't reflective of today's value...

Happy/Merry.

And again, TX for the great clammy. Anybody who's on the fence about getting one from Bill "” get off it; and buy one. Incredible product; where quality and beauty meet. (One suggestion, if possible: blind stamp your logo on the back, that would be waaaaay cool.)

Pax,

homeless mind
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Krumhansl #16; one of approximately 500 copies, published in the summer of 1965. From my private collection and you will not find a better condition copy of this book.

How do they know...?
 
They don't! It's a sales pitch! But it's safe to say, since books in a fine condition usually are rarer than books in a so-so condition. ;)
 
Last edited by a moderator:

Users who are viewing this thread

Back
Top