OLE 3: Variant Cover with Hand-Colored Title, Standard Version of Issue, Flyer, and One Uncollected Charles Bukowski Poem

Included here is a variant copy of the cover for OLE 3 and a copy of what ended up being the standard issue. It also includes a flyer issued with this issue.

The variant is hand-colored and the only copy I have seen, so I’m not sure how many (if any) were produced this way or the exact reason behind it.

The variant has a different cover than the standard issue. More than likely, editor Doug Blazek was toying with some ideas for the cover and ultimately choose not to go with this design.

Blazek also hand-colored the title in the variant.

One the variant, the price is also listed on the front cover, while the standard has it on the back.

Inside, both copies are identical.

Published in 1965, Ole 3 is a great issue for Bukowski collectors.

It features the first and only publication of Charles Bukowski’s poem:
Drunk Again And Wondering, Wondering

This issue also features:

• An announcement for Bukowski’s Poems Written Before Jumping Out Of An 8 Story Window (It would actually take another two years to come out by a different press).
• An announcement for the ill-fated Border Press book of Bukowski drawings and poems (the editor ran away with Bukowski’s drawings)
• An announcement for a Bukowski biobibliography by Jim Roma, a Bukowski correspondent and early collectoe
• An advertisement for CONFESSIONS OF A MAN INSANE ENOUGH TO LIVE WITH BEASTS
• A plug for Steve Richmond’s Earth Books & Gallery in Santa Monica, California.

Also included is a flyer that was inserted into all copies of OLE 3. Reminding one of the internet boom, he describes his home base in Bensenville, Illinois, as proof that with the mimeo revolution, a magazine no longer needs to be based in a major city. He goes on to describe OLE 1 and 2 and previews OLE 3 and 4, along with a plug for both William Wantlings DOWN, OFF & OUT AND Bukowski’s CONFESSIONS OF A MAN INSANE ENOUGH TO LIVE WITH BEASTS, both of which were published by Blazek and OLE.

Ole was published by Doug Blazek, a fellow poet and early proponent of Bukowski’s work. They were friends and had a lengthy correspondence between 1964 to 1968. As with several other writers, the relationship ended abruptly after their first meeting in person.

Blazek published Bukowski in all eight issues of Ole between 1964 and 1967, and was responsible for Bukowski’s return to prose, publishing the chapbooks CONFESSIONS OF A MAN INSANE ENOUGH TO LIVE WITH BEASTS and ALL THE ASSHOLES IN THE WORLD AND MINE.

The variant is in Near Fine-minus condition with some toning to the covers. The outside of the staples are oxidized, but it’s a very solid copy with a tight spine, more than likely unread.

The standard copy is in Very Good + condition. There is foxing to the front cover and the edges of the interior pages. The rear cover has tonight and the outside of the staples are oxidized. It’s a very solid copy with a tight spine, also unread.

He flyer has toning on the fold and around the edges, with a few light creases. See pics.

Other contributors include Wm. Wantling, Jerry Parrott, Joel Climenhaga, Charles Newland, Kent Taylor, Harold Norse, Sid Shapiro, Clarence Major, Steve Richmond, Alex Morra, Al Purdy, Tom McNamara, Lee Pennington, Duane Locke, Walt Lowenfels, Kay Johnson, Richard Jaworski, Marcus J. Grapes, Emilie Glen, Kirby Congdon, Nancy Cave, Sherry Barba, Jim Boyle, Jau Billera, Will Inman, David Pearson Etter, Wally Depew, Bob Nystedt.

Box 11