(Berkeley, California, July 29th, 2021) – PBA Galleries announced an auction of Fine Literature – Beats & The Counterculture to be held on August 5th, 2021. The catalogue features over 400 lots of fine literature and ephemera, as well as a large section of scarce works from the counterculture and the Beat Generation. The sale includes a number or rare and signed works by John Steinbeck, Ray Bradbury, Ross MacDonald and others, as well as numerous first editions by Aldous Huxley, Ian Fleming, and other greats of the 20th century. The Beat/Counterculture section includes a number of scarce and signed works by the likes of Jack Kerouac, Lawrence Ferlinghetti, Allen Ginsberg and Richard Brautigan among other icons of the scene, as well as a large collection of ephemera, correspondence, and photographs from the legendary Loujon Press. Also present is a wonderful assortment of posters and ephemera from the San Francisco music and psychedelic scene of the 1960’s, including a collection of plates for a psychedelic light show.
First editions and rare fine literature are present throughout the catalogue, including Samuel Johnson’s Works of the English Poets – 68 volumes. This is a scarce complete set of the handsomely bound first edition of Johnson’s second great work (1779 – 81) (Estimate: $3,000-$5,000). Nabokov’s Lolita, a first edition, is expected to draw spirited bidding. The Olympia Press copy is the true first edition of one of the most important and controversial novels of the twentieth century ($3,000-$5,000). The Moon is Down is signed by John Steinbeck with the Steinbeck family bookplate ($3,000-$5,000).
The Beats and Counterculture are represented with works such as the City Lights Journal 1-4, signed by Ferlinghetti and others. All volumes are signed on the title page by Lawrence Ferlinghetti, with two additionally signed by Gary Snyder, Jack Hirschman and others ($1,000-$1,500). A collection of plates for a 1960s psychedelic light show includes 100 pieces in the case ($1,000-$1,500). A rare proof of the Quicksilver Messenger Service Fillmore poster features one large image along with three smaller versions ($1,000-$1,500).
PBA continues to safeguard the health of employees and clients by remaining closed to the public. PBA will limit live auction participation to online or phone bidding. For more information about upcoming sales or to schedule a Zoom preview or phone bidding for a future auction, please contact the galleries at 415.989.2665 or [email protected].