Published in 1985, this calendar is a bit of a rarity in Black Sparrow Press’ bibliography of Charles Bukowski works. But this particular copy is even more uncommon because it was #15 of 25 copies that were originally produced according to publisher John Martin.
According to John Martin in a 1985 letter to his personal list of Bukowski collectors, he wrote:
”We are preparing to publish a 'Charles Bukowski Calendar' in 1986.
It was necessary to have a prototype prepared in time for this year’s Frankfurt Book Fair. Twenty-five copies only were printed for the year 1985. The artwork will now be redrawn for 1986.
Since you are especially interested in the work of Charles Bukowski, we thought you would like to have one of these printed prototypes of which there are only twenty-five numbered copies. We are billing you at our cost.”
Again, this is copy #15.
Interestingly, no calendar was published in 1986 or any other year. Perhaps a German man came up to Martin at the Frankfurt Book Fair and told him in broken English that the artist spelled “Calender” on the cover instead of “Calendar”.
There were two versions made, this being the smaller measuring 14.5” x 11” (closed) and is in Near Fine condition with some tiny bumps on the corners.
The spiral-bound calendar features a full-page illustration for each month spoofing a day-in-the-life of Bukowski's lifestyle. Individual dates on the calendar itself cite important moments in Bukowski's life and other events in literary and pop-culture history.
Charles Putris illustrated the calendar and I think his grainy depictions of Bukowski’s gritty life is spot on. I’m a little surprised John Martin had the sense of humor to print it after trying to protect Bukowski’s “image” for so long.
Crate 2
