1968 BOB DYLAN. Bootlegged Pre-Publication Illustrated Edition of Tarantula.

Bob Dylan's Tarantula was an experimental prose poetry collection, written in 1965 and 1966, then widely bootlegged and partially published by various underground magazines in the late 60's until its official publication in 1971. 

It employs stream of consciousness writing, somewhat in the style of Jack Kerouac, William S. Burroughs, and Allen Ginsberg. One section of the book parodies Huddie "Lead Belly" Ledbetter's song Black Betty. Reviews of the book liken it to Dylan's self-penned liner notes for two albums produced in the same period, Bringing it All Back Home and Highway 61 Revisited.  When it was finally issued, it was largely scorned by critics. 

Dylan would later cite Tarantula as a book he had never fully signed up to write: "Things were running wild at that point. It never was my intention to write a book." He went on to equate the book to John Lennon's nonsensical work In His Own Write, and implied that his former manager Albert Grossman signed up Dylan to write the novel without the singer's full consent. Although it was to be edited by Dylan and published in 1966, his motorcycle accident in July '66 prevented this.

This particular bootleg is rather rare, published c.1968, and considered the best in terms of production value. It was published by A. J. Weberman who had received a Xerox copy of what he said he believed were original printer's proofs. That was here faithfully reproduced. He ends his notes with Dylans' own words, ironically, "If you don't lay me off, I'm gonna rip you off . . . ." appropriate for a pirated edition, to be sure.

Proceeds from sales were said to be going to legal defense funds. Illustrated by underground psychedelic cartoonist, S. Glay Wilson with crazed panel entitled, "The Meth Freaks Fight the Feds to the Finish," not known from any other source. Rare illustration by Weberman, and likely the cover image as well. 

Dylan, Bob. Tarantula. A. J. Weberman. Nd. c.1968. 71pp. [i.e. p.7-78]

A very good, complete example. Wraps a bit handled and lightly faded as shown and contrasted with rear internal flap image. Very solid. Rear illustration crisp and fresh. 

An inferior copy to this, precisely the same edition, sold at PBA Galleries Auction for $660.00.