(8vo) white cloth, spine lettered in blue and red, white illustrated dust jacket. First Edition.
An incredibly important and unique volume with 46 autographs from members of the Counterculture, including musicians, Merry Pranksters, poets, writers, artists, political activists, and anyone else who was somehow involved in Counterculture of the 1960's. Many of the autographs are accompanied by wonderful, humorous, and fascinating inscriptions. Some key players signed twice, like Chet Helms and Ken Babbs. There are two color photographs (taken by Richard Synchef) pasted onto the front free endpaper, each captioned: "July, 1988. Taken at K[en] Kesey farm near Eugene, OR" (pictured is the Merry Pranksters bus "Further"); and, "Ken Kesey - Portland, OR. 10/28/90." Signed by the author Tom Wolfe on the front pastedown. On the next two pages (half title are facing blank), are the following autographs: Stanley Mouse (foremost artist of the 1960s and one of the The Big Five artists of psychedelic posters in the 1960s), Wavy Gravy (Merry Prankster, founder of the Hog Farm Commune, Counterculture poet), Lenore Kandel (poet, author of the book The Love Book; a book of erotic poetry, she was busted by SF Police Department and tried in the landmark obscenity case), George Walker (Merry Prankster), Stewart Brand (Merry Prankster, developer of the Whole Earth Catalog, old friend of Ken Kesey, futurist), Bill Thompson (manager of Jefferson Airplane), and Chet Helms (founder of The Family Dog, one of two premier promoters in SF, friend/promoter of Janis Joplin), Gretchen Fetchen (Merry Prankster, nicknamed The Slime Queen), Allen Cohen (founder, publisher and editor of the landmark underground newspaper in SF in 1967 - The San Francisco Oracle. His idea for the newspaper came to him in a dream, including scented ink and multi-color flowing print), Steve Brown (member of the Grateful Dead inner circle, ran their own short-lived label in the 1970s), Dennis Loren (psychedelic poster artist), Randy Tuten (psychedelic poster artist), Alton Kelley (The Big Five poster artist, of Kelley-Mouse studios), Gene Anthony (chronicler of the Haight-Ashbury of the 60s, author of the book The Summer of Love, Counterculture photographer), Lee Conklin (major psychedelic poster artist), Gary Grimshaw (major psychedelic poster artist). On the next two pages (the title pages) are the following autographs: Jami Cassady (Neal Cassady’s daughter), John Cassady (Neal's son), Barry Melton (lead guitarist for Country Joe and the Fish), David Singer (poster artist), Jerilyn Brandelius (Grateful Dead lighting director, wife of Mickey Hart, drummer of Grateful Dead), Michael, McClure (main Beat poet of the 1950s), Dan Hicks (member of the first psychedelic music band, Charlatans), and Herb Greene (one of the most important Counterculture photographers), Ken Kesey (author, Merry Prankster, designer of the bus), Dan Healy (Grateful Dead sound director for many years), Wendell Berry (novelist and activist who worked alongside Ken Kesey at Stanford University), and Chet Helms (second signature). On the next two pages (copyright & table of contents) signs: Country Joe McDonald (Country Joe & the Fish), David Nelson (member of the New Riders of the Purple Sage, Jerry Garcia played with them before Grateful Dead), Spencer Dryden (drummer for Jefferson Airplane), Ben Fong-Torres (one of the original writers of Rolling Stone Magazine, written a lot of books, significant SF figure), and John Barlow (songwriting partner of Bob Weir of the Grateful Dead for decades), Sam Andrew (guitarist for Big Brother & the Holding Company, Janis Joplin member of that band), David Getz (drummer for Big Brother and the Holding Company), Glen McCay ("Headlights" originated psychedelic light shows), Mountain Girl (Ken Kesey's lover, Merry Prankster, Jerry Garcia's wife for many years, real name Carolyn Adams). On the next two leaves are the following autographs: Bonnie Jean Romney (Wavy Gravy's wife, of the Hog Farmer Commune), Ken Babbs (Ken Kesey's dear friend, right-hand man, they were inseparable, Merry Prankster), Steve Parrish (head roadie for Grateful Dead, innermost circle, unofficial backstage manager, Jerry Garcia's dear friend), Ed McLanahan (Merry Prankster, writer), and Phil Lesh (bassist for the Grateful Dead), Ken Babbs (second autograph), Paul Krassner (co-founder in 1968 of the Yippies, or Youth International Party, political street theatre, father of the underground press, Merry Prankser, founder publisher of investigative journalism/satirical magazine The Realist). On page 211 Ken Babbs signs for the third time. On page 223, Bruce Barthol (bassist for Country Joe and the Fish) signs. Classic account of Ken Kesey and the Merry Pranksters during their bus trip across America in 1964. Considered as one of the best and most revealing books on the hippie lifestyle and philosophy. The autographs in this book were obtained one by one, as Rick Synchef attended clubs, concerts, book stores and speaker events, record stores, seminars, and at many, many venues and other places throughout the years. Rick was friends with Zane Kesey and knew Ken Kesey, and took the photographs affixed to the front free endpaper.