W.S. Burroughs's Address Book Pages, Feat. Nearly 200 Words in His Hand W/ 2 Partial Signatures; Includes Contact Info for Billy Burroughs, Beat Scholars, Poets, Artists, Etc.

A 4pp autograph manuscript in the hand of Beatnik writer William S. Burroughs (1914-1997), in the form of two loose double-sided pages from the author's address and phone book. The date "Mar '76" is found in one contact entry, and this, combined with other circumstantial evidence, points to a date range in the 1970s, when Burroughs relocated from London to New York City. Inscribed with nearly 200 words in Burroughs's hand. Technically, there are even two partial signatures present: the first as part of Burroughs's entry for his son as "Bill Jr."; and the second as part of Burroughs's entry for a New York City woman named "Karen Burrough." On finger-tabbed blue-lined paper in blue, black, and red ink, pencil, and green marker. Expected wear including even toning, minor edge darkening, and isolated chipped edges or closed tears. Else very good to near fine. 6.5" x 9." Accompanied by a commemorative card from Burroughs's memorial service, held at Liberty Hall in Lawrence, Kansas on August 6, 1997.

Burroughs's personal and professional relationships are here on full display: among the entries from the address book are found that of his son William S. Burroughs, Jr.; friends Paul Bowles and David Budd; and colleagues or associates Victor Bockris, George Dowden, and Dr. Ian Dunbar. The entries represent true "slices of life," each page a crystallized memento from a specific time and place. Burroughs himself might have approved of this presentation, as it resembles the literary framework he adapted in "Naked Lunch," his collection of episodic reminiscences of drug addiction and world travel published in 1959. The title "Naked Lunch" was conceived of by fellow Beat Jack Kerouac. When asked to explain what it meant, Burroughs said: "The title means exactly what the words say: naked lunch, a frozen moment when everyone sees what is on the end of every fork."

One page is from the "B" section of Burroughs's address book, from "Paul Bowles" to "Victor Bockris," comprising ten entries including two duplicates, for a total of approximately 93 words in Burroughs's hand. The other page is from the "D" section, from "Gordon A. Davis" to "Halpern Dannill," spanning ten entries including two duplicates, for a total of roughly 99 words in Burroughs's hand. Three of the 20 contact entries were written in different hands, and were not counted. The scope of Burroughs's acquaintance was truly international; listed individuals lived in Aberdeen, Scotland; Sussex and London, England; Tangier, Morocco; Baden-Baden, West Germany; and in Texas, Colorado, California, Florida, and New York City.

Burroughs carefully noted people's names, mailing addresses, phone numbers, and sometimes even appointment dates and times, updating this information when relevant. Important entries relate to:

FAMILY

- William S. Burroughs, Jr. (1947-1981), as "Bill Jr.," first under a Santa Cruz, California address and, after March 1976, under a Boulder, Colorado address, where Billy was recuperating from a liver transplant. Boulder was a favorite hangout of Burroughs and Allen Ginsberg. Billy was Burroughs's only child; his mother was Burroughs's second wife Joan Vollmer, whom Burroughs had fatally shot in Mexico City in 1951 in front of the then 4-year-old boy. Like his father, Billy was also a drug addict and talented writer. Billy received a liver transplant at age 29 in 1976 after developing severe cirrhosis. Billy died of liver failure and alcoholism at age 33 in 1981.

- The lawyer "Gordon A. Davis" from West Palm Beach, Florida is listed. This suggests a possible connection with Burroughs's parents, who lived in Palm Beach, or possibly with Billy, who lived with his grandparents in Palm Beach between ages 5 and 13.

FRIENDS

- Paul Bowles (1910-1999), as "Paul Bowles / 2117 Tanger Socco." Bowles was an American expatriate writer, composer, and translator who lived in Tangier, Morocco after 1947. It was he who encouraged Burroughs and other Beats to visit North Africa. Burroughs lived in Tangier for roughly four years in the mid-to-late 1950s.

- David Budd (1927-1991), as "David Budd / 876-7000 / Room 509C." An architecture school dropout, Budd later became a painter. He taught Fine Art at the New York City School of Visual Arts from 1973-1986.

SCHOLARS AND OTHER ASSOCIATES

- Victor Bockris (born 1949), as "Victor Bockris / 929-0375 / 106 Perry St between Bleecker & Hudson…" Bockris was a British-American Beatnik scholar.

- George Dowden (also known as Kaviraj George Dowden) (born 1932), as "George Dowden / 67 Marine Parade / Brighton, Sussex." Dowden was a Beatnik poet and acolyte, and is believed to have been one of the first university-level professors to teach Beatnik literature at American colleges. He compiled a bibliography of Allen Ginsberg's works in 1971.

- Dr. Ian Dunbar, as "Dr Ian Dunbar…" Dunbar's expertise in drug addiction, as well as medical experimentation, seemed to forge a connection between him and Burroughs as early as the 1970s. The two corresponded well into the 1980s.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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