ORIGINAL PHOTOGRAPHIC PORTRAIT OF WILLIAM BURROUGHS, INSCRIBED BY THE PHOTOGRAPHER by [Burroughs, William S.]: Lyon, Nelson - 1989

[Np], 1989. Original 16 x 20" black & white photograph (image size 12 x 18" landscape orientation). One corner faintly bumped, otherwise fine. A vintage print of this superb photographic portrait of Burroughs, taken at his shooting range. Burroughs, wearing a hat and combat jacket, with automatic pistol in hand, is standing in front of an array of bullet- riddled targets, framed by the larger rough timber and log backstop, facing the camera directly with a broad, closed-lipped grin. Inscribed by the photographer on the verso: "For Walter Reuben - Merry Xmas From Nelson Lyon '89." Lyon, screenwriter, producer, and former SNL writer, was associated with Burroughs on a number of projects, including the recording, DEAD CITY RADIO, and the audio- book version of NAKED LUNCH. According to the recipient of this print, Lyon made about six exhibition quality prints of this photograph in 1989, like the one in hand, all for presentation; subsequently, the photograph has been reproduced in books about Burroughs, and was used as the Burroughs obit photo by the SF CHRONICLE. Later printings of the photograph have been exhibited and sold through galleries. Burroughs contributed an introductory note to the 1979 catalogue of Reuben's Kerouac Collection.