Allen Ginsberg, 1992
You know, prior to the publciation of his Collected Poems, in 1984, Allen probably confronted City Lights Pocket Poet editions at his signings most of the time. Little room on the small (15.5 x 12.5 cm) blank page across from the title page—room for a sunflower, sun, and star or two. So, when Harper & Row came out with the larger sized books with the larger empty page—Ginsberg must have thought, wow, opportunity for artistic expression!—if there was time and appreciation of the person seeking his signature. The books in which Ginsberg most commonly inscribed with drawings were the Harper & Row editions from 1984 to 1986. However, he drew and inscribed on many editions of his books using a wide range of motifs, symbols, messages, and settings. As with his poetry and photography, his drawings demonstrate unique artistic genius script'd in detail.
—Walt Smith
| Click on thumbnail to enlarge. | Drawings and inscriptions are presented in chronological order. | ||
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1975. Courtesy of Eero Ruuttila. | ||
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October 31, 1975. Courtesy of Nanda Pivano. | ||
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January 9, 1986. Courtesy of Steve Silberman. | ||
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April 16, 1986. Courtesy of Eliot Katz. | ||
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March 6, 1987. Courtesy of Walt Smith. | ||
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December 15, 1988. Courtesy of Walt Smith. | ||
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December 13, 1989. Courtesy of Walt Smith. | ||
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June, 1990. Courtesy of the Allen Ginsberg Trust. | ||
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September 28, 1990. Courtesy of the Allen Ginsberg Trust. | ||
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October 23, 1990. Courtesy of the Allen Ginsberg Trust. | ||
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April 5, 1991. Courtesy of the Allen Ginsberg Trust. | ||
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April 8, 1992. Courtesy of the Allen Ginsberg Trust. | ||
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December 23, 1992. Courtesy of Stephen Miles. | ||
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February 7, 1993. Courtesy of Jim Cohn. | ||
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June 22, 1994. Courtesy of Eliot Katz. | ||
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November 9, 1994. Courtesy of Tullio Francesco DeSantis. | ||
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July 7, 1995. Courtesy of Benjamin Spencer. | ||
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June 6, 1996. Courtesy of Eliot Katz. | ||
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June 26, 1996. Courtesy of Jim Cohn. | ||
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July 12, 1996. Courtesy of Jack Collom. | ||
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November 17, 1996. Courtesy of Marc Olmsted. | ||
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March 27, 1997. Courtesy of Walt Smith. | ||
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May 24, 1997. Courtesy of David Cope. | ||
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Date Unknown. Courtesy of Gemini G.E.L. |
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Date Unknown. Courtesy of Gemini G.E.L. | ||
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Date Unknown. Courtesy of Gemini G.E.L. | ||
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Date Unknown. Courtesy of Gemini G.E.L. | ||
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Date Unknown. Courtesy of Gemini G.E.L. | ||
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Date Unknown. Courtesy of Gemini G.E.L. | ||
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