Insomnia or the Devil at Large

Albuquerque, NM: Loujon Press, 1970. Wooden Box. near fine. edition "F". 23.5" X 19" wooden box containing: 12 prints by Miller (22" X 17"), a book of Miller's writings housed in a folding multicolored foil wrapper, a large photographic title page of Miller seated on a toilet, a large "half-title" printed on heavy card, two sheets of the Rafu Shimpo newspaper, and signed announcement from the publishers explaining the production delay. The wooden box has a sliding plywood cover with photograph of Miller and brass name plate engraved with "Arthur Goldsmith Jr." and "Ed. F". 4 inches of wood inlay perished from the top of the sliding cover, and one corner of the box has cracked but remains attached. Three of the prints are signed and dated by Miller (as called for in this edition) and have only the very subtlest of bumping to the corners. The book is signed and inscribed to Goldsmith by Jon Edgar Webb and Gypsy Lou Webb and is numbered #42 of 99. The fold edges of the book's foil jacket are lightly rubbed. near fine Edition F was the first of the heavily limited editions of this complex work to have prints signed and dated by Miller, and our copy has three prints signed, as called for. Although 99 copies were planned, it is likely that only 65 were produced, and across all editions, it is likely that only 300 wooden boxes were constructed (Shifreen & Jackson A175f). The present copy was purchased by Arthur Goldsmith Jr, a journalist and collector of art and counterculture books, and includes a poignant signed note from the book's publishers explaining their move from Las Vegas to Tennessee. Jon Webb states "Lou can't take this dusty climate with her emphysema, so we're moving later this month... Believe it will be Nashville, Tenn. That's the plan now... Have no place there yet- must find one when we get there. Hope you like the Miller here- Best Jon + Lou" Jon was to die just months later (June 9th, 1971) in Nashville. Overall a very nice copy of a monumental production with bright, clean plates by Miller. 1970