Purple Cow!, The
San Francisco, Caifornia: William Doxey, 1895. Gelett Burgess, The Purple Cow!, William Doxey, San Francisco, California. 1895. 16pp. 7.5 x 5.25 inches.
Stapled, printed and illustrated on both sides of rough bamboo paper. Housed in a custom made red morocco slipcase and chemise. Second leaf has small hole, which may be an imperfection in the fragile paper. Wrapper is slightly pulling from bottom staple but booklet fully intact. Very fragile production. Booklet in Very Good condition. Slipcase/chemise in fine condition
Burgess' famous couplet: "I never saw a purple cow. I never hope to see one; But I can tell you, anyhow, I'd rather see than be one!" became one of the best-known poems in the late 19th/early 20th century. First appeared in The Lark, vol. I, no. I, May 1895. This copy is the first state after appearance in The Lark, printed on both sides of rough bamboo paper. Burgess grew to resent the popularity of this ditty in favor of his other works and in the final issue of The Lark left this additional couplet, "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!
Also includes The Peculiar History of the Chewing-Gum Man. Delightful piece of Americana. Very Good / Slipcase and Chemise in Fine Condition. Item #145
Price: $250.00