Anyone ever see a pic. of "Robert Ronnie Branaman" (1963) printed by Plymell, #1700 in JK? I've asked Plymell and he's got no recollection of it.
Hey, I actually need that one. (Should I care?)
Shame on both of you for not searching before posting. There's been one on Abe for a very long time, and for the bargain basement price of $75.00. Here's the seller's pic:
Thanks Rev. Maybe I can get him to sign it with my The Last Times "Final Star Edition" since he lives near me.
By the way, were you being sarcastic with the "Bargain Basement Price" statement?
My pleasure. :icon_biggrin:
Thanks!
Do you own a copy already, Rev?
Well the copy on Abe is gone. However, I don;t think I would have paid the price.
By the way, here's an abe coupon code that expires today for 10% off up to $10.
6TIMEFLIES
Actually, I don't own a copy of it. I was tempted by the one on Abe for awhile now, but I've been focusing my spending on British stuff.
Here's just a little info. regarding "Bob" Branaman.
He's how Plymell and Donahue met.
Plymell had printed Robert Ronnie Branaman (1963) and they were friends. A few years later, Donahue wanted to print his own tabloid featuring artists and the first issue would feature an artist he admired that painted and drew while on LSD, before most heard of LSD. He found Branaman who was also living in San Francisco. Branaman introduced Donahue to Plymell, who gave him some advice about printing a tabliod, as he was printing The Last Times then (September? 1967). Donahue had Momma-Daddie featuring Branaman's art printed, but it was destroyed (not before Donahue grabbed 6 or 7 copies of it). Donahue then suggested to Plymell they print a comic book, Plymell shows Donahue the Yarrowstalks #2 "Head Comix" page that he had "lifted" for The Last Times #1. They try to contact Crumb but can't locate him. Coincidently the following month of October, Donahue is introduced to Crumb who happened to be living in San Francisco for about 9 months, by "Mimi" (a friend of Robert's wife, Dana) at a party. Robert is looking for someone to print his comic book, which Donahue agrees to immediately. Crumb finishes drawing the first issue the following month of November (you all should know about Zap Comix #0 and the art being finished in October and sent to Brian Zahn of Yarrowstalks who then went to India for 2 years, he's the one that actually suggested to Crumb to draw a comic book after the success of his art in Yarrowstalks #1, 2, 3). Plymell and Donahue print Zap Comix #1 over approx. a couple weeks in February. It's finished being bound in Robert and Dana's apartment on 25 February 1968.
Here's some update info. I just received after sending the pic. of Robert Ronnie Branaman to Plymell.
"Yeah, I remember that before Robert moved to Big Sur. He's living with his family in his '52 ('49?) Chevy and hanging with Billy Jharmark at the Batman Gallery on the Fillmore. Dion Wright came to S.F. and sought him out. This was way before the Haight. Don't know how many printed, but not over 500. cp"
Quote from: Reverend on June 17, 2008, 12:08:08 PM
Actually, I don't own a copy of it. I was tempted by the one on Abe for awhile now, but I've been focusing my spending on British stuff.
I was surprised that there was one on Abe as I searched Google and it didn't show up. I don't think $75 is bad for what could be the very first Underground Comix ever printed and coincidently printed by Plymell. Since it's from 1963, it's unknown which came first, it or Das Kampf by Bode (May 1963), but even if it's the 2nd Ug, it's still probably the 1st one bound and it came out the year before Adventures of Jesus. In my opinion this one is a special one. Are there any other in JK that are from 1963? I'm looking forward to receiving it and will post more scans when it arrives.
Thanks again.
I was going to say that $75 for something like that, 45 years old and between 500-1,000 printed, is a damn good deal. I'm really surprised you wouldn't pay the $75, Arnie.
I'm sure he wouldn't admit he'd pay that until he owned a copy. But what would he sell it for? :icon_scratch:
By the way, were was the reference to 1,000 copies?
$550 in vg. The most I ever paid for a mini was $200 from Peter Kuper for the Crumb Mini/
Quote from: dr_s on June 17, 2008, 02:37:14 PM
$550 in vg. The most I ever paid for a mini was $200 from Peter Kuper for the Crumb Mini/
I think it's condition is being graded from a book seller, not a comic seller. If so, then a VG in book grade is about a Fine or better in Comics. (A Fine is Near Mint if I understand correctly and Near Fine is = VF)
Here's what I just looked up...
AS NEW; FINE; MINT: Without faults or defects.
NEAR FINE: a book approaching FINE (or AS NEW or MINT) but with a couple of very minor defects or faults, which must be noted.
[NOTE: From here on, there may be "+ (Plus)" or "- (Minus)" in a grade, which will mean that it is above the grade noted but not quite to the next higher grade for "+", and that it is below the grade noted but not quite to the next lower grade for "-", i.e., Very Good + (or Plus)/Very Good - (or Minus). Which means the book is better than Very Good and the dust jacket grade is less than Very Good.]
VERY GOOD: A book showing some signs of wear. Any defects or faults must be noted.
GOOD: The average used book that is totally complete (as issued) and intact. Any defects must be noted.
FAIR: A worn book that has complete text pages (including those with maps or plates) but may lack endpapers, half-title page, etc. Any defects or faults must be noted.
POOR or READING COPY: A book that is sufficiently worn that its only merit is the complete text, which must be legible. Any missing maps or plates must be noted. May be soiled, scuffed, stained, or spotted, and may have loose joints, hinges, pages, etc.
EX-LIBRARY: Must always be designated as such no matter what the condition of the book.
BOOK CLUB: Must always be noted as such no matter what the condition of the book.
BINDING COPY: A book in which the text block, including illustrations, is complete but the binding is lacking, or in such poor condition it is beyond realistic restoration efforts.
REMAINDER MARKS, BOOKPLATES, PREVIOUS OWNER'S NAME: These are faults and must always be noted, if they apply.
I'm sorry about the reference to the 1k print run. I had it mixed up with something else.
Edit: I just checked the wiki, which lists the 1k print run. I don't have a copy of Kennedy in front of me, but perhaps that's where I read it.
Quote from: Reverend on June 17, 2008, 03:41:04 PM
I'm sorry about the reference to the 1k print run. I had it mixed up with something else.
Edit: I just checked the wiki, which lists the 1k print run. I don't have a copy of Kennedy in front of me, but perhaps that's where I read it.
I saw that too, but wondered where it came from because it doesn't state it in the Kennedy.
Here's a little postscript.
Branaman drew the illustrations for a book titled Hellan, Hellan (1960) by Edward Marshall.
I received a response from "Bob" Branaman today. Sadly he doesn't even own a copy of this one. I might meet up with him next week and I might have some more info. then. Coincidentally he lives a couple blocks away to where my father used to have a business.
An interesting idea was put forward to me by Rosenkranz, if Plymell printed this 4 or more years before Zap Comix, could he have shown it to the artists (or could have Donahue) Robert Ronnie Branaman and could it have influenced Crumb or the other Zap artists?
This arrived today, I'm very surprised it's pure comix. The scanner doesn't capture the color of the outer cover which is bright florescent day glow red. 1963! Plymell might have forgotten he printed it, but it's there.
I have to thank Rev. again, what a find to just be looking for a pic. of the cover and be given the opportunity to buy it before I go meet Branaman with my copy of The Last Times that he did the centerfold for. $75 might seem a lot for an 8-pager, but not to me if it's possibly the oldest or 2nd Underground Comix printed. Hopefully the copy of Fux! Megascene will arrive soon also and I can bring all 3 with me (now for one of the 6 or 7 copies of Momma-Daddie). I'll try to take some pics too.
Updated the scans from another non-LED scanner.
That's very cool, indeed! It's always nice to see someone get something that's special to them, especially in such an unexpected way.
Some pics. from my visit to "Bob" Branaman a couple weeks ago...
Very cool. So, was he a nice guy?
Yes, very nice guy with a lot to tell and some incredible experiences in life and still active creating tons of art...
Received my copy of the Irregular Quarterly Vol. III : No. II (1986) today and it's not a comix, but a B&W self-published art/poetry mag. This copy seems to be a special one because it came with a letter signed by Dion Wright (who I believe produced the magazine) addressed to "Janine" (poet Janine Pommy Vega). Janie "Chipmunk" Lewis is the main subject of the 111 page mag. along with "Bob" Branaman. Janie died in 1985, about a year before this came out. It states:
"Hi Janine -
Do you have an adress for D. di Prima?? Would surely appreciate.
Hoping y'r well etc & say 'Hi' to Dacey should you see him.
Love Dion"
(Diane di Prima is a Beat poet who also printed the first two editions of "Psychedelic Prayers" by Timothy Leary in Spring 1966.)
It also has over 10 pages of Branaman's art, most being his comix in the same style as Momma-Daddie (I think some of it might actually be from the Donahue tabloid) and Robert Ronnie Branaman, making it definitely comix related. It also contains art or poetry by Dion Wright (drawings and sculptures of "Bob" Branaman), Bruce Conner (who died about a week ago), Allen Ginsberg, Charles Plymell, and many others. The cover is a photo of Branaman (in 1963, the same year "Robert Ronnie Branaman" was printed) by Lee Morgan.
Here is a sculpture of an impression of Branaman by artist Dion Wright (he's the artist that painted the Taxonomic Mandala which you can read all about here: http://www.ocweekly.com/features/features/lords-of-acid/18743/?page=1 ).
(https://headcomix.info/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dionwright.com%2Ffigurative%2Ffig10.jpg&hash=cac61433adce0bd43887741ab4c73a2db8a53a54)
The 12' x 8' painting can be seen here:
http://www.dionwright.com/mandala.htm