Order and Chaos chez Hans Reichel

Tucson, AZ: Loujon Press, 1966. First Edition Limited. Octavo. This is the black oasis/signature edition limited to only 11 copies. The present copy is letter "M". This edition was not described in the original advertising prospectus nor identified in the colophon but appears to have been published at the same time as the other issues. The signature page reads in red: "M"/ [diagonal rule] / Henry Miller/ 9/5/66. [The letter "M" was taken from Henry Miller's name] This issue was to have only a postcard from Miller to Jon Webb but this particular copy has a two paged letter with the original envelope following the signature page. The two page ALS of Henry Miller is dated 9/11/1967 to Loujon Press (Tucson) with mailing envelope. "Dear Jo, ...OK about slow delivery to me of Cork editions, do you mean you have to have enuf to take care of re-orders?.....Will be delighted if you send Mme Reichel corrected copy and some extras "gratis" for her to give to friends. Yes, I believe I inscribed the last (3) pages you asked for.... Anyway, my best, Henry. P.S. Are you incorporating news of the awards in your circulars and broadsides? If so, send one to Grove Press NY and New Directions, NY ..." The introduction is by Lawrence Durrell. (Background): Once the Webbs relocated to Tucson, they continued their tradition of fine printing with their Loujon Press. Henry Miller gave them a fine hand press and offered them the rights of the book free of charge, "Order and Chaos Chez Hans Reichel". Though the book took them over a year to complete, once completed, it received top awards from the New York Type Directors Club for typography, design, and use of color. A disastrous flood occurred in 1968 that left many copies of their work in ruins including copies of Order and Chaos, along with paintings by Miller and Bukowski. Both Indiana University and Henry Miller came to their aid. Miller sent a check for $300 and he wrote: "Don't know how you manage to keep going...I'd have copped out long ago.' (Tucson Daily Citizen, August 12, 1968). The book is printed in blue, red, and black on various paper throughout, original black and white portrait photograph of Miller is bound in after page 11 and illustrated with numerous reproductions of Reichel's work. Bound by the Schuberth Bookbindery of San Francisco in original gray textured cloth backed in black morocco, spine lettered in gilt, fore-edges uncut, in publisher's printed pictorial dust jacket in black, gray, and mauve with two small chips along spine in original publisher's slipcase with orange-stained cork mounted to both sides printed in black, with small tear to paper at foot of opening and housed within the original cardboard insert for shipping box which is not present. A fine production and quite scarce. [Shifreen and Jackson-A157e].