Published by Black Sparrow Press in 1982, this is the Signed First Edition of Ham on Rye, Charles Bukowski’s autobiographical tales of growing up.
This is #37 of 350 signed copies of the book.
This copy comes with a copy of Bukowski’s Summer 1939 yearbook from Los Angeles High School, which was used for the cover of the book.
It also comes with the Senior Prom Invitation for the class, which was the basis of perhaps the most memorable coming-of-age passage from the novel. (The excerpt from the book is attached.)
The book is in Near Fine-minus condition with spotting on the page edges, not impacting the pages themselves. There is also a small lean to the spine from the stitched binding being slightly loose, probably from the book being stacked.
The covers and cloth spine are both in Fine condition with no fading or marks to the white positions of the covers.
The yearbook has many inscriptions and has held up very nicely over the years.
The yarn from the invitation is missing, with the invitation having been pasted in a scrap book at some point.
This copy came from estate of Red Stodolsky, owner of Baroque Book Store and a close friend of Charles Bukowski. Bukowski would go by Red’s shop regularly and the two would go to lunch at Musso & Frank Grill.
One of Bukowski’s most sought-after titles, thw whole package is unique and rare. I have never seen another invitation.
File Box 3, Shelf 1, Case 7
