Bukowski Rarities go to Auction
Thursday is auction day at PBA, and a big one is coming up one week from today. On Thursday, June 2, PBA Galleries in San Francisco is auctioning the Ross Runfola collection of Charles Bukowski and his circle, what PBA calls, "Undoubtedly the finest collection of works by Charles Bukowski ever to appear at auction."
The auction is broken down into six sections:
Section I: Books, Broadsides & other Printed Material by Bukowski, Lots
1-141
Section II: Original Art by Bukowski, Lots 142-157
Section III: Manuscript Poems & Stories by Bukowski, Lots 158-237
Section IV: Letters from Bukowski, Lots 237-276
Section V: Books about Bukowski, Bibliographies, Ephemera, Periodicals,
etc., Lots 277-325
Section VI: Books & Art by other Authors & Artists, Lots 326-343
Certainly the rarity seen above will draw attention. This original oil painting of a man in a bow-tie signed "Buk" is tipped-in to a 1982 limited edition of Ham on Rye, published by Black Sparrow Press. Estimate: $3,000-5,000.
The first story Charles Bukowski ever published is here in the legendary Story Magazine. "Aftermath of a Lengthy Rejection Slip" appeared in the March-April 1944 issue, and this copy, though sunned and slightly rubbed, is as fine as they come. Estimate $3,000-5000.
7 Flowers Press published 103 copies of Bukowski's The Genius of the Crowd in 1966, but many were confiscated by the Cleveland Police Department. Called "a cornerstone piece of any collection," it seems no copy has sold at auction since at least 1975. Estimate $6,000-9,000.
A special deluxe edition of Bukowski's short story, "Not Quite Bernadette," published by the Graybeard Press in 1990. With nine hand-colored etchings (and two extra of a "more erotic nature" in a hidden compartment...) by James W. Johnson and binding design by Joe D'Ambrosio. Signed by all three. Estimate $4,000-7,000.
View the entire online catalogue.
Want to read more about Bukowski's artwork? Check out our feature from earlier this year on Buk's lost drawings.
All photos Courtesy of PBA Galleries.
The auction is broken down into six sections:
Section I: Books, Broadsides & other Printed Material by Bukowski, Lots
1-141
Section II: Original Art by Bukowski, Lots 142-157
Section III: Manuscript Poems & Stories by Bukowski, Lots 158-237
Section IV: Letters from Bukowski, Lots 237-276
Section V: Books about Bukowski, Bibliographies, Ephemera, Periodicals,
etc., Lots 277-325
Section VI: Books & Art by other Authors & Artists, Lots 326-343
Certainly the rarity seen above will draw attention. This original oil painting of a man in a bow-tie signed "Buk" is tipped-in to a 1982 limited edition of Ham on Rye, published by Black Sparrow Press. Estimate: $3,000-5,000.
The first story Charles Bukowski ever published is here in the legendary Story Magazine. "Aftermath of a Lengthy Rejection Slip" appeared in the March-April 1944 issue, and this copy, though sunned and slightly rubbed, is as fine as they come. Estimate $3,000-5000.
7 Flowers Press published 103 copies of Bukowski's The Genius of the Crowd in 1966, but many were confiscated by the Cleveland Police Department. Called "a cornerstone piece of any collection," it seems no copy has sold at auction since at least 1975. Estimate $6,000-9,000.
A special deluxe edition of Bukowski's short story, "Not Quite Bernadette," published by the Graybeard Press in 1990. With nine hand-colored etchings (and two extra of a "more erotic nature" in a hidden compartment...) by James W. Johnson and binding design by Joe D'Ambrosio. Signed by all three. Estimate $4,000-7,000.
View the entire online catalogue.
Want to read more about Bukowski's artwork? Check out our feature from earlier this year on Buk's lost drawings.
All photos Courtesy of PBA Galleries.
