Charles Bukowksi's famous rarity The Genius of the Crowd (1965) is to lead a dedicated sale at PBA Galleries.
The poem was printed in a run of just 103 copies by 7 Flowers Press, a countercultural publisher based at the Asphodel Bookshop in Cleveland, Ohio.
 Only 40 copies of Bukowski's Genius of the Crowd survive |
It features linoleum prints by artist Paula Marie Savarino.
Only around 40 copies of the book survive following a raid on the bookstore by local police - who accused owner Jim Lowell of printing obscene poetry.
Fittingly the poem includes the lines: "Beware those who are quick to censor, they are afraid of what they do not know".
The lot is expected to make around $6,000-9,000.
The auction house describes it as a "legendary Bukowski rarity" and "a cornerstone piece of any collection".
Another copy in similar condition made $4,800 at PBA Galleries in 2011.
A copy of Post Office, published in LA by Black Sparrow Press, is valued at $4,000-6,000.
It's numbered 12 of 50 copies and features original artwork from Bukowski and his signature.
The novel is probably Bukowski's best known, based on his miserable experience working as a mail clerk.
The auction will take place in San Francisco on July 14.
You can take a look at all our books and manuscripts for sale here.
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