The Lark. Book I, Nos. 1 - 12 + Book II, Nos. 13 - 24 + Epilark. (All Published).

San Francisco.: William Doxey., 1895 – 1897.. Original publisher's pictorial brown cloth, and brown, titles in black to front boards and spines and with colour vignettes (by Gelett Burgess for vol. I & Florence Lundborg for vol. II) to front covers.. 25 issues in 2 vols. 8vo. (206 x 144 mm). (Book I, Nos. 1 - 12; Book II, Nos. 13 - 24 + Epilark issue).. Titles, contents leaves and printed text in English and illustration on newsprint stock throughout, illustration including woodcuts mostly by Gellett Burgess, but also some by Florence Lundberg, Ernest Peixotto, Willis Polk & Reginald Rix, tipped-in plates on smooth glossy stock, occasional deckle edges; issue 4 printed in green, issue 7 on thick, fibrous paper, issue 8 onward printed recto or verso only, all issues in vol. II with prospectus bound before issue, many in colour. A complete series of the humorous, innovative and occasionally proto-Surreal 'The Lark' in the publisher's cloth bindings.The first edition, second issue with the Doxey imprint as usual, the first issue issued in very limited numbers only. A complete set, with only 25 numbers published, of the little magazine put out by 'Les Jeunes', a fin-de-siècle band of San Francisco aesthetes which included Ernest Peixotto, Bruce Porter, Porter Garnett and Gelett Burgess. Chairman Burgess edited 'The Lark' and wrote many of the issues almost single-handedly. 'The Lark' is notable in particular for its extensive illustration some of which is determinedly proto-Surreal.Vol. II, i.e. issues 13 - 24 is of particular interest in the present copy as it includes the announcement or specimen for each number with a matching cover illustration, details of the contents and particulars of previous numbers; several of these specimens are printed in different colours such as green, blue or sanguine. The supplement with illustration, music and the words for 'Vals de Monterey Viejo' is bound in issue 22The first issue contains Burgess' famous pictorial nonsense poem 'The Purple Cow' ('I never saw a purple cow, I hope never to see one / but I can tell you anyhow, I'd rather see than be one'), and it was fitting that when 'The Lark' ceased publication with issue 25 ('The Epilark') in 1897, the penultimate issue (number 24) included Burgess' lines and illustration: 'Ah, yes, I wrote the 'Purple Cow' - / I 'm Sorry, now, I wrote it; / But I can tell you Anyhow, I'll Kill you if you Quote it!'; a paper flaw in the present copy has ensured that the 'you' in the final line is not present, almost suggesting one should insert one's own choice to fill the gap.