The San Francisco Oracle
Edited by Allen Cohen.
Berkeley: Regent Press, 1991. Quarto. Gilt-embossed crimson cloth boards. Text block moderately soiled with a minor moisture wave, boards slightly bowed, also afflicted by some soiling, weakened hinges. Prospectus, related ephemera, and list of signatories laid-in. 385 pages. First facsimile edition, inscribed profusely, vernacular illustration. Good.
Handled extensively in the collection of signatures. Previous owner was once a bookseller and is now an accomplished book artist and fine printer. An incredible array of names, with all (except artist John Thompson who signed on the flyleaf and drew an occult symbol) inscribing or flat-signing the pages that feature their Oracle contributions. The list includes: Allen and Ann Cohen, Ken Kesey, Lawrence Ferlinghetti, Michael McClure, the surviving members of Big Brother and the Holding Company (including Getz), etc. Rumor has it that the original owner embellished the Kesey page with his own illustrations while tripping on mushrooms; he told the story to Kesey, and Kesey inscribed his reaction. Most of the signatures were gathered at the book's release party, the rest were friends of the printer. Once in a lifetime psychedelic Sixties artifact with cast-iron provenance.
“ . . . turn on, tune in, drop out."