Meatball #1 and #2 were the first two issues of a handmade poetry zine series published by Joel Deutsch (Lone Ranger Biology Press) in San Francisco. Deutsch was a friend of R. Crumb's from Cleveland who stayed with Crumb when he moved to the Bay Area. Both issues have stapled wraps with art by Crumb in each. Issue #1, published in May 1969, has Crumb’s display lettering on the cover and three 8-panel strips on the inside back cover (Edgar and Maryjane Crump in “On the bus”; Let’s Be Honest featuring Schuman the Human signed by R. “Polack” Crumb; and Mr. Spif signed R. Crumbstien). Issue #2 (November 1969) features cover art and a 12-panel strip by Crumb on the inside front cover illustrating the first lines of Dorothy Fields’ lyrics to the 1930 song “On the Sunny Side of the Street.”Poetry contributors include Deutsch, T L Kryss, Don Foster, Rich Manglesdorff, Philip Ramp, Mark Browning, Hugh Knox, Hugh Fox, Steve Hyman, Art Cuelho, Doug Blazek, Mike Trudeau, and others. The poems on the interior pages were typewritten so there are faint traces of ink on some opposing pages, but none on the artwork. Issue # 1 has no back cover but appears to have been printed without one. Each issue has one unattributed silk-screen page. Both are 8.5" x 11” and in very good condition, with some rusting on the staples.

From the personal collection of Charles Boucher, owner and operator of the iconic Portland, Oregon bookstore, Counter Media (1996-2014). Please see pictures for condition and details. Please read shipping terms. Local Pick up or Third-party shipping by a local UPS store. Please note that when bidding. Invoices totaling over 5,000 require money order or wire transfer. Please see terms of sale before bidding.