Into the Night Life (sheet, signed by both) by Miller, Henry (1891-1980) and Bezalel Schatz - 1947

Berkeley: Privately published, n.d. [1947].. 4to. Pamphlet, issued in dust jacket. First edition. A handsome booklet designed by Bezalel Schatz printing his essay "The Story of the Making of the Book" along with quotes and texts about the book by Man Ray, Will Rogers, and others. Reproduces samples of the art work and design. Not in Shifreen & Jackson. Included is the original hand-addressed mailing envelope from Miller to a bookseller. Near fine.

Big Sur, undated circa 1947. First edition. A well designed promotional pamphlet that Miller sent to booksellers and other literary types to promote his 1947 work, "Into the Night Life." Signed by Miller himself, on 18th July 1955. Words by both Miller and the book's Palestinian illustrator, Bezalel Shatz. Comments from, among others: Beniamino Bufano, Man Ray, Will Rogers, Herbert Read and Anais Nin. Plain covers. Some fading. Internally clean and tidy. Book has obviously been creased at some point but is all in a very good condition. "Into the Night Life" took almost two years to produce. Only 800 copies were produced, and each one was signed and numbered. This pamphlet was designed to promote the book, by giving insight in to how it was made, what it is about, together with a few testimonials from individuals deemed qualified to appraise its merits. 280 x 220 mm (11 x 8¾ inches).

Los Angeles: George Yamada, 1949. Softcover. Very good-. Quarto, unpaginated (ca. 28pp.), illustrated. About very good, with large splits at the spine ends, but holding. Modest, but notable corner creasing and rubbing. Internally lovely. In the publisher's "wrappers," which are really an illustrated dust jacket over plain cardstock covers. This is a well-designed promotional pamphlet that Miller sent to booksellers and other literary types to promote his 1947 work, "Into the Night Life." While not unobtainably rare, this is the only copy we've been able to locate that is SIGNED by Henry Miller. Inscribed thusly: "To Marshall E. Bean. Bells you! Henry Miller 11/25/63." An excellent piece of book publishing history, and a scarcer than usual signed Miller item, at home in any serious Miller collection.

Big Sur: Henry Miller and Bezalel Schatz, 1947. Schatz, Bezalel. A visual riot of a book, printed totally in serigraph in bright colors. The text is derived from Henry Miller's Black Spring, and is presented in Miller's hand. The pages of text are interleaved with vividly colored images by Bezalal Schatz which also creep into some of the pages of text. These images range from small accent pieces to roaring two page spreads. One of 800 copies, although there is some doubt about how many copies have survived the rodents in Miller's basement. Signed by author and artist, cloth bound with serigraph printed on the binding and the vaunted bit of red felt is glued to the front. Book is in fine condition.The slipcase, while sound and visually presentable, may well have been a survivor of the attentions of Miller's gang of mice--there are a few minor stains and a couple of small rubbed spots. The spine of the case bears a small clear tape with the number (313) of this copy.