San Francisco: City Lights Books, 1963-1966. First editions. 3 volumes, 8vos, 112, 280, and 229pp. From the library of Jake. W. Ehrlich, with his ownership signature on title page of each volume. Each with illustrations, ads, and bound in illustrated card wrappers. Generally very good toning, rubbing, edge wear to wraps.

First three issues (of 4) of this important counterculture publication published by Lawrence Ferlinghetti at his City Lights Bookstore in 1963.  Despite just about every voice of the Beat Generation being contained in its pages, the journal was only sporadically published, with the 4 issues appearing over the span of 15 years, the first 3 coming between 1963 and 1966.  Contributors include Ginsberg, Burroughs, Kerouac, Ed Sanders, Gary Snyder, Neal Cassady, Gregory Corso, Michael McClure, Charles Bukowski, and many others.  

These copies from the library of J.W. "Jake" Ehrlich, the celebrity trial attorney from San Francisco who defended the likes of Alexander Pantages, Gene Krupa, Billie Holiday, Errol Flynn, Howard Hughes, and others.  Most importantly, Ehrlich was lead attorney for Lawrence Ferlinghetti in the 1957 obscenity trial following the release of Allen Ginsberg's Howl.  Ehrlich wrote a book in 1961 called Howl of the Censor, and he was portrayed by Jon Hamm in the 2010 Rob Epstein film Howl, both of which explored the 1957 trial.

Price: $500.00