Archive of material related to the publication of Crumb's work from the files of editor William Cole, totaling approximately 130 pages of material dated between 1968 and 1972, including a document signed by Crumb, printed material used in the publication of his books, many carbon copies of letters to Crumb and publisher, and letters to Cole from various editors and publishing executives. The archive begins at the outset of his career, prior to the publication of his first book, Head Comix, and continues through his publication and the film adaptation of Fritz the Cat.
Archive is highlighted by a DS signed "Robert Crumb," four pages on two adjoining sheets, 8.25 x 14, January 2, 1968. Agreement between Crumb and Viking Press regarding royalties "respecting a work tentatively entitled R. Crumb: His Book consisting of cartoons." Signed at the conclusion by Crumb as well as his wife Dana as a witness.
The other premier item is a printed design proposal labeled in the upper right, "back of jacket," 11 x 14, featuring Crumb's characters with speech bubbles for blurbs from critics praising his work. In a blank bubble, Allen Ginsberg penned his opinion, "Crumb Comix is inevitable underground comicstrip inaction of the post historic flower age," signing at the conclusion.
Balance of the lot primarily contains carbon copies of letters sent by Cole, as well as a few TLSs to Cole from publishers like Ballantine Books and Viking Press. In a carbon copy of a 1968 letter to a publisher in support of Crumb's fledgling career, Cole writes: "I've been thinking all day yesterday and much of last night about the Crumb problem…I always come down to one point—I've got to do what I think is best for my author—who is also my friend. He's twenty-four, extremely sensitive, and this book is the biggest thing in his life…I can certainly see where you and some others think Crumb is a little hairy for Viking—but he's so obviously great, so obviously one of the geniuses of now, that any publisher should feel it his obligation to publish him." In a 1972 carbon copy of a letter to Crumb, Cole writes: "I see that something good came from the movie. Ballantine finally got off their asses, as you know, and are doing the three Fritz books in cheaper editions…I thought the movie was a sack of shit. The only good things in it were the lines of yours that they left intact." Includes a handful of TLSs to Cole from Ballantine's notable editor-in-chief, Bernard Shir-Cliff, as well as a few other arts-world notables like David Amram and Laurie Colwin. Archive is in overall fine condition, with various toning to many of the letters and carbon copies. RR Auction COA.
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