Loujon Press Webb Jon Gypsy (3 results)

No Binding. Condition: Very Good. First Edition. Single sheet (approx. 66 x 21cm) printed on one side only, giving full information about the publication and its background, quotations by Miller and (from the book's introduction) Lawrence Durrell, and a striking photo of Miller by Peter Gowland. The sheet is folded three times, as issued, and kept in the printed envelope, stamped and addressed to the original recipient, along with an order form (unused). Inevitable creasing around the folds, but clean and generally crisp, the envelope somewhat worn.

Condition: Fine. - sc Small quarto [9-3/4 inches high by 8-1/2 inches wide]. 1-1/3 single-spaced typed pages on olive green Loujon Press letterhead. Dated "5/13/67". Boldly signed in red ink "Jon (& Louise) Webb". Folded twice for mailing. Near fine. A wonderful letter addressed to a writer, in which Webb regrets that he cannot include the scripts which he has sent him in his literary review Outsider #4. Webb then launches into a poignant description of the terrible financial difficulties facing the press: ".We went broke doing a few books from going overboard on format, and now hope only from the Miller book to get a press to replace the one we've got which has done its last job. / We need an angel, and we know one will pop up eventually, but we need one now. We feel pretty sure we'll have enough to make the initial payment on the press, but there'll be a lot of paper, ink and new type, and other things that cost plenty, for we use the best stock in our printing, best everything. That always kills profit. / Rare book dealers are now making dough on our productions. Gotham Book Mart and others sell first 3 issues of the Outsider for 17.50 for the set of 3, and we're out of #1 and #3, so can't sell a set to any one."Jon Edgar and "Gypsy Lou" Webb founded the Loujon Press in the French Quarter of New Orleans in 1960. The press's literary review the Outsider was hailed by the Village Voice and the New York Times as one of the best of its day and featured such authors as Charles Bukowski, Allen Ginsberg, Lawrence Ferlinghetti, Robert Creeley, Denise Levertov and Walter Lowenfels. Outsider #4, referred to in the letter, was eventually combined with Outsider #5 and was the last issue published. The press also published two collections of early poetry by Bukowski, and books by Henry Miller. The Miller book mentioned in the letter is "Insomnia", published in 1970.

Unknown. Condition: Very Good. No Jacket. 8vo - over 7¾" - 9¾" A superb collection of Loujon Press correspondence between Jon and Gypsy Lou (Louise) Webb, and Outsider contributor Marcus Jack Grapes. See extensive discussion of the Grapes / Webb relationship in Weddle: BOHEMIAN NEW ORLEANS: THE STORY OF THE OUTSIDER AND LOUJON PRESS. Spanning the years 1964 to 1970, this choice collection of 34 letters (many multi-page), 5 postcards, and 6 related items (some letters with additional material, inscribed ephemera, etc.), spans the greatest years of Loujon Press, and sees the press migrate from New Orleans to New Mexico, Tucson, and Nashville. Jack Grapes (b. 1940), was a Tulane undergraduate and aspiring poet. In addition to being an OUTSIDER author, poet, editor, and publisher, he was also one of the Webb's closest friends (one of only two people besides Charles Bukowski being allowed at the Webb's home during the production of CRUCIFIX IN A DEATHHAND) and a Loujon supporter. Grapes, who early in life began publishing chapbooks, was later founder of the Bombshelter Press and ONTHEBUS, and can be numbered at the fore of those influenced by Loujon and the Webbs. OUTSIDER 4/5 features an Album of Grapes untitled poems, 15 in all. As befits letters sent by a noted printers of hand-made books, the letters, in addition to remarkable content, are graphically quite interesting, and would both publish and exhibit well. BRIEF EXCERPTS (all from letters by Jon Webb): 9/16/64 ". Now I've gone over your work thoroughly. Your earlier work shows, it seems, a kind of influence, I'd say, from Wolfe, tho I could be wrong. But it has a flavor of the creative sentimentality of Wolfe, a good flavor, still it's a seeming derivative flavor, one which you've managed to get out of in your "8 poems about this and that". These poems, best you've done yet, can stand some reworking, but not too much. I've enough confidence in your redoing them right, that I'm setting aside a two-page spread for them in Outsider #4." 11/26/64 I want to congratulate you on two things: One, is the immense improvement in your work. I was and continue to be pleasantly surprised at the speed in which you jumped from a kind of creative fumbling to a much more surefooted touch in your writing, which is immediately evident in your latest stuff sent recently. It's hard to believe, the vast improvement in your handling of your material, and your good and promising leaning away from the "establishment". that is, poetry as it has been established and known among the academics, that is (again), poetry that follows the old ruts and is fast passing into boredom and obscurity; the old poetic poetry. You've escaped this tunnel. Second, I congratulate you on your discipline in this respect: your ability to stay away from the editor until you've produced a sizeable piece of work; as you did. it is always a bad thing for writer and editor to be too close while a writer is developing." 7/12/65 ". Our sudden leaving gave us no chance to contact you - I have held off writing till we got settled somewhere - have tried Arizona whole hog - but everywhere is Goldwater. No place for us to publish Outsider from. So we're off this Thursday by train to Santa Fe. All I hope is that the press keeps surviving the travels." 10/13/65 "Got your two fine letters, also the books and my god you've done a remarkable job of publishing, and the contents are more than exceptional. must say again the book is a great start as a book by you, and it's far better looking than the usual first book of poetry, better than any of Buk's first books." Buk will be here to visit for 3 days on the 15th. Sure wish you could be here. But it's really only 2 ½ days and 2 nights. And right after his visit, that is on the 20th, we'll be moving out of Santa Fe. Just can't take the altitude, and also can't get the supplies I'll need for #4. The 7000 feet has my heart pumping with exertion, so best to get out. And am short of breath most of the time. Can't risk a stroke. Breaks my heart to think of all the money it cost trying to make it here. [more printing press trouble] During the hurricane we tried about ten times to get you on the phone, but all lines were out or busy. We were worried about you, sir. We've rented an apartment unseen in El Paso, from ad in the paper, which is located in a section we know is slum territory, but only place we could get with the dogs, and besides it might be an experience." 9/6/66 ".I was just too stunned by your first letter, about the things you said I said on the phone - not like me. Remember most of the conversation, but I was crazy worried and was drinking wine, drank a whole bottle of sherry while talking to you, must have gone off my nut, plus I'd had a little stroke the day before. so I was going through a crisis when I phoned, a lot because we were out of paper and not knowing where to get money for another piece. I haven't been drinking at all, and the sherry knocked me silly, must have if I said all the crazy impossible things you say I said. If I said anything to hurt you must have been you were one close enough to let go my tension to in that worried hour. Love from us, and try to forgive any absurdities of the phone call; just don't recall saying a thing that was hurtful, tho I must if you say I did. God, not you of all people! I had to be temporary out of my head. Like Buk, who phones me sometimes plastered and gives Lou and me hell for impossible and fancied wrongs, and then apologizes for weeks. Tho he needn't for I understand him and know when he's calling me all sorts of things on phone he won't remember the next day, and that I'm one who cares enough for him to let him go and listen without interrupting or hanging up. But my call to you was for help and not to raise hell for you. Be good when we get out of this Tucson graveyard and back to N. Orleans." 3/12/67 [extensive discussion of Loujon awards for book design]. "Your latest book & pub. effort is a gem. I love precise neatness & pres.