BIZARRE
compiled by BARRY HUMPHRIES (aka DAME EDNA) (First Edition)
Bell Publishing Company, 1965. 8 3/4" x 9". 240 pages. First printing
and the first appearance in print of the eccentric Australian humorist who is
famous around the world as Dame Edna Everage. An anthology of the bizarre, odd,
and grotesque in both art and nature. Profusely illustrated and chock full of
unusual people, places, and things. Lots of sideshow/freak show material. With
works by Sacher-Masoch, Jarry, Rops, Huysmans, Verlaine, Louys, et al. Fans
of surrealism with find this book particularly fascinating. Great author photo
of Humphries where he looks like a playboy mesmerist dandy. (BTW, he has been
married four times and is known to be quite the ladies' man, as well as a lady/man.)
CONDITION: Some fading and edgewear to non-price clipped dust
jacket. Bumping to top and bottom of spine of black and yellow cloth cover.
Bumping to lower corners as well. Some dirt and edgewear to dj. Interior is
in great shape with clean, crisp white pages with no marks and tight binding.
$30
KENNYWOOD:
ROLLER COASTER CAPITAL OF THE WORLD by CHARLES J. JACQUES (First Edition)
The Vestal Press Ltd, 1982. Presumed First Edition (not stated). 8 3/4"
x 11 1/4". 203 pages. Wonderful vintage photos throughout. A thorough and
well-researched history of the famous Kennywood Amusement Park in Pennsylvania,
located twelve miles from Pittsburgh.The park opened in 1898 (as a trolley park)
and, in 1987, was designated a National Historic Landmark. This is one of America's
oldest existing amusement parks, featuring a classic collection of rollercoasters
(and a vintage carousel as well). Sadly, there is no more vaudeville, or people
in hobble skirts and bowler hats wandering around, but Kennywood is still in
existence...go visit! Author Jacques was the editor of AMUSEMENT PARK JOURNAL,
so he is quite an expert on the subject.
CONDITION: Non-price clipped dust jacket. Has a number of tears
(1/2 inch to 1 inch deep) and a few large chips missing. Some shmutz and a few
small stains. Red cloth cover is in excellent condition. Old price in pencil
on endpaper. Interior like-new with clean, crisp paper and tight binding. $30
THE INCREDIBLE
THRILLING ADVENTURES OF THE ROCK by MICHAEL O'DONOGHUE (First Edition)
Random House, 1968. Paperback. First printing. Illustrated by Philip Wende.
First book published by the infamous, sharp-witted, and macabre National Lampoon/SNL
writer. (A collection of his comic book adventure series "The Adventures
of Phoebe Zeit-Geist"-- previously published in The Evergreen Review--came
out in the same year.) A short, succinct tale about the longing of a rock for
some adventure. Some say this foreshadowed or somehow inspired the Pet Rock
craze. His cynical view of the world is already in evidence here. The book's
editor Christopher Cerf, a Harvard Lampoon alumni, introduced O'D to George
W.S. Trow and some other funny people. This eventually led to his inclusion
in the original National Lampoon "crowd"--as the only non Harvard
guy in the very first editorial meetings. And thus, his unique brand of humor
was inflicted on the world, including the beautifully composed line "I
would like to feed your fingertips to the wolverines."
CONDITION: Bumping to corners. Slight shelfwear to paperback
cover. Former owners name (and dorm room) in pen on inside front cover. Clean
interior with tight binding and no marks. $25
MAN AND
DOLPHIN by JOHN C. LILLY (First Edition)
Doubleday and Company, 1961. 312 pages. This book isn't THAT odd, but John C,
Lilly sure was! Based on thirteen years of research spent studying the animal
family that includes dolphins, during which time he discovered that the vocal
chord and brain of the dolphin could accomodate communication with humans. Research
methods, dolphin training, vocalizations, anatomy, intelligence, brain weight
and comparison, evolutionary origins. A must-read on the subject of interspecies
communication. (BRRRRR CLICK CLICK DRKKKKKL!) Lots of photos of people stroking
dolphins. They seem to like it (the people AND the dolphins!) Lily invented
the isolation tank, hung out with Timothy Leary, and (not surprisingly) took
a lot of psychedelic drugs. Sometimes he took psychedelic drugs IN an isolation
tank OR in the company of dolphins, thereby saving time and combining interests.
CONDITION: Ex-library. Blank front endpaper torn out. In typical
ex-library condition with mylar sleeve, library stamp, and some pen markings.
Interior text pages clean with no marks or notes. $5