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The original working negatives along with the final plate ready negatives for the first printing of the Book Of Dreams, San Francisco, 1961, published by City Lights Books. The working negatives are taped on 2 pieces of orange masking paper, one 10x16” and the other  12½x19” made from the paste ups. The final negative is a composite image of the complete cover from which the offset printing plate would have been made. The original scotch stripping tape has deteriorated and the actual film negatives have come loose from the masking paper, but they are all there and complete.  Enclosed in the original printer’s job file identified in crayon, “Book Of Dreams, Cover”.

Published in an edition of 5000 copies, the book was printed by San Francisco printer Troubadour Press. The cover which was printed in blue, is from a photograph by Robert Frank, and has the price of $2.50. A great piece of displayable  Kerouac printing history. Provenance: From the files of Troubadour Press to the present owner.