"THE LUMBERJACKS ARE COMING!": SCARCE COLLECTION OF PIRATED EDITIONS OF TARANTULA, BOB DYLAN'S ONLY NOVEL
DYLAN, Bob. Collection of pirated editions of Tarantula. Various places: Various publishers, (1966-70). Octavo, original paper wrappers. $5800.
Scarce collection of 10 pirated editions of Dylan's first book, an experimental fusion of poetry and prose—"wacky, serio-comic improvisations which both satirize and excoriate the American scene."
When the singer-songwriter's July 1966 motorcycle crash delayed Tarantula's planned publication, pirated editions began circulating, "hawked on the street and under the counter… by self-appointed Dylanologists and hip rip-off artists" (New York Times, contemporary review). "Wacky, serio-comic improvisations which both satirize and excoriate the American scene… alternately violent, hilarious, sad and not infrequently obscure. In general, a ball while it lasts" (Kirkus). Macmillan finally published the book in 1971; "For Dylan to permit the release of the book now… is to acknowledge the loss of a battle in his never-ending war for privacy. Quite simply, his hand has been forced by his fans" (New York Times).
The collection consists of:
1. Madison, WI: [Wimp Press, 1966]. Octavo, staple-bound as issued, original stiff printed wrappers, black text cover issue. First pirated edition. Minor toning along edges of wrappers. Near-fine condition.
2. [New York: AJ Weberman, 1968]. Octavo, staple-bound as issued, original printed pink wrappers with lettering and illustrations by S. Clay Wilson, pp. 7-78. Rusting to staples, very faint evidence of sticker to upper corner of front wrapper. About-fine condition.
3. Another copy: [New York: AJ Weberman, 1968]. Octavo, staple-bound as issued, original printed pink wrappers with lettering and illustrations by S. Clay Wilson, pp. 7-78. Wrappers gently sunned. Near-fine condition.
4. [London: Compendium Books, 1969]. Quarto, staple-bound as issued, original white wrappers with "TARANTULA by Robert Zimmerman" stamped on front wrapper and rear wrapper, mimeographed sheets printed in brown ink, pp. 56. Sold at the Isle of Wight festival, among other places. Without upper staple (of three), light soiling to covers, extremely good.
5. Another copy: Unknown place, unknown publisher, [1970]. Quarto, original white stapled wrappers, mimeographed sheets printed in black ink, pp. 56, with "TARANTULA by Robert Zimmerman" stamped multiple times on wrappers. With one page excerpt of Dylan's Rolling Stone interview about Tarantula not being published. Staples slightly rusted, light soiling to covers, extremely good.
6. Another copy: Unknown place, unknown publisher, [1970]. Quarto, original white stapled wrappers, mimeographed sheets printed in black ink, pp. 56, with "TARANTULA by Robert Zimmerman" stamped multiple times on wrappers. With one page excerpt of Dylan's Rolling Stone interview about Tarantula not being published. Staples slightly rusted, upper staple (one of four) perished; light soiling to covers, extremely good.
7. Brighton/Albion: Booklegger/Unicorn Bookshop, 1970. Quarto, staple-bound as issued, original stiff yellow printed wrappers, cover design printed in black, pp. 50. 1/500 copies. Small creases near one of the staples, small stain to front cover. Near-fine condition.
8. Another copy—the publisher's own copy: Brighton/Albion: Booklegger/Unicorn Bookshop, 1970. Quarto, staple-bound as issued, original stiff yellow printed wrappers, cover design printed in red, pp. 50. 1/500 copies. From the archive of the publishers, Bill Butler, with pencil annotation to that effect on title page. An about-fine copy.
9. London: Wriptoff Books, 1970. Slim quarto, original half cloth, white card wrappers; pp. 78. Shallow bump to fore-edge. A near-fine copy.
10. Vancouver: The Georgia Straight, 1970. Folio (measures 11-1/2 by 17 inches), original color-printed wrappers, newspaper issue, folded; pp. 16, internal illustrations. Special 16-page supplement to the Dec. 2-9, 1970 issue of The Georgia Straight, Vancouver's underground newspaper, devoted to the unauthorized printing of select passages from Tarantula, one of he scarcest of the various bootleg versions. Includes letters from Dylan's lawyers trying to suppress publication. Light toning, faint marginal dampstains to outer edge, near-fine.
11. [San Francisco: Albion, 1965]. Small advertising broadside, single sheet of brown card, measures 5 by 7-1/2 inches, printed on recto, deckled edge. A brief excerpt from the typescript of Tarantula. Fine condition.
An excellent collection of scarce bootlegged editions in very good to near-fine condition.