The release of Crumb’s Work On It Etching Edition in TWO versions

On the inside cover of Crumb’s comic book Mystic Funnies #1 (1997) is a strip called “Mr. Natural & Flakey Foont Thinkin’ About Death n’ Stuff”. In the early-2000’s, Jesse and I, with Crumb’s approval and help, condensed the first two panels of the strip into one to create the Work On it t-shirt for the website, which was then owned by Jesse. It’s still selling well because it’s so funny. In fact, it’s one of my favorite cartoons of all time. Maybe because we all wrestle with the concept and fear of our own death (with poor results) that this becomes so amusing for us to witness someone else spinning their wheels. It’s funny, poignant and effectively uses both of Crumb’s best known characters–Flakey sweating and fretting while Mr. Natural stays cool.

But I also wanted to offer Crumb’s original version which he drew using two panels. I took a small survey from an assortment of Crumb readers as to which version they preferred–it was basically two to one in favor of the single panel version. So I’m offering both versions with two limited signed etching editions: the single panel etching edition which is 40 prints, and the double panel etching edition which is only 20 prints.

Single Panel Etching: 
Paper Size is 10” x 12”; Image Size is 5” x 5”

Double Panel Etching: 
Paper Size is 12” x 10”; Image Size is 8” x 5”

Both editions are numbered, signed and dated by Crumb. Neither of the editions have any customized sigs (except one signed R. “I’m Still Workin’ On It” Crumb which is not for sale). Both editions are for sale for $420 per print. 

Release date: Friday, November 30th, 2018.

Single Panel $420 Each 

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Double Panel $420 Each 

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2018 Summer Sale Sold Out R Crumb Prints

Each summer I sell prints from my personal print collection, or prints acquired in trades. All of these prints are from editions that are now sold out. They're in mint condition and have been stored in a flat file where they have never been exposed to light. I highly recommend using UV protected glass if you're going to buy and frame any of these prints.

-- Alexander Wood, Printer

Mystic Funnies Serigraph Print

Printed in 1998, there were 24 colors used in this edition. Stored flat, mint condition. White paper is 22" x 30".  Image size is 17.5" x 25". This was signed by Crumb before he started dating his prints, so it's just signed R. Crumb and not dated. It's numbered 194 of 200. With certificate signed by Jesse and Alex. 

SOLD

San Francisco Comics #3 Serigraph Print

There are 110 prints in this edition, printed in 2009. It's a 16 color edition printed on white acid-free paper (Rives BFK) that's 20" x 28". The image size is 13.5" x 19.5". The certificate is written by Robert. The print is numbered, dated and signed by R. "'Scuse Me" Crumb. This is print #60 of 110. Mint condition. 

$750

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Heroes of the Blues Serigraph Print

This 150 print serigraph edition sold out within a year it was published (2010). The cream paper size is 22" x 30", image size is 16.5" x 25". This is print number #66/150, and is signed by Crumb as R. "Triple Virgo Crumb (Wow, That's Heavy)" Crumb. There were 17 colors used to create this edition. Comes with its cert written by Crumb. Mint condition.

SOLD

BB King Serigraph Print

This 245 print edition was signed by both BB King and Robert Crumb. The certificate is signed by Floyd Lieberman (who was BB's manager in 2002) and Alex. There were 31 colors (29 screens) used to print this edition. The cream paper is 25" x 22". The image size is 17" x 14".  This is print number 226/245. Mint Condition– stored flat and never seen the light of day. 

SOLD

Twas Ever Thus Serigraph Print

This 16 color serigraph (14 screens) was printed in 2008. There are 150 prints in the edition. The cream paper is 22" x 28". The image size is 15" x 18.5". The cert was written by Crumb. The print is numbered (143/150), dated and signed nicely by Crumb. Mint condition.

$800

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Fritz the Cat Serigraph Print

24 colors using 20 screens were used to print this edition in 2001. There are 200 prints in the edition. The white Rives BFK paper is 22" x 30". The image is 18" x 22.5". The certificate, which is signed by Jesse (in his jazzed-up, crazy mode) and Alex, was written by Robert. The print is in mint condition. Numbered, signed and dated by Robert, this is print number 159/200.

$850

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Head Comix Serigraph Print

This edition was printed in 2001. The edition never had a certificate created for it. There is a very light indicia printed at the bottom of the cream paper, which is 22" x 30". The image size is 14" x 18.5". There were 18 colors used to print the edition. Numbered, signed and dated by Crumb. This is print number #56/200.

Stored flat; never has seen the light of day.

$750

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Mr. Natural #2 Serigraph Print

This 110 print edition sold was printed and released in 2005. The cream paper is 22" x 30". The image size is 15" x 22". There were 19 colors used to print this edition with 16 screens. There was never a certificate issued with this edition, so there's no cert. There is an indicia printed at the bottom of each print giving all the information of the edition. Numbered, dated and signed by Crumb in capital letters. This is print #83/110. Mint condition.

SOLD

Zap #0 Serigraph Print

There were 110 prints printed for this edition on white 22' x 30" paper. The image is 15" x 21". 14 colors using 11 screens were used to create this edition in 2007. The certificate is written by Crumb. This is print #106/110. Dated, numbered and signed by RC. Mint condition.

SOLD

Arcade #2 Serigraph Print

This 120 print edition was printed and signed in 2005. It took a while to sell out but it remains a high point in our collection of editions. There were 23 colors and 21 screens used to create this edition. The registration and spit-fountains (a total of five blends were used in the edition!) work perfectly. I was also able to hold the best detail with 230 mesh/dpi dither output of the films I used–the perfect combination. I think, as a printer, this is one of the best editions I've printed. The image size is 13" x 18.5". The cream paper size is 20" x 26". Comes with its cert, written by Crumb and signed by both Jesse and Alex. Mint condition, has never seen the light of day. This is print #112/120.  

$750

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Short History of America Poster

This poster edition, printed on 90 pound ivory acid free paper, was printed in 2003. It sold out in a couple of years. The entire edition is unsigned. Each print is stamped with its number in the lower left-hand corner. This is print #999/1000. The paper is 22" x 29", the image size is 17" x 24.5". 

I think it originally sold for $90. It sold out more than 10 years ago.

SOLD

Tommy the Toilet Giclee   

First printed and released as a giclee edition in 2008, it took six years for this 200 print edition to sell out. I still have two prints left from the edition: #1 and #199/200. I'm selling #199 now. The acid-free paper is 18" x 24". The image size is 13" x 19". The number is stamped (early giclee prints were stamped with numbers, this was later replaced by numbering by hand with pencil) in the lower left-hand corner of the print. None of the prints in this edition–except the artist proofs–are signed. 

SOLD

Keep on Truckin'  Serigraph Print

This 12 color edition was printed and released in January of 2017. It sold out in a couple of weeks, if I remember properly. There are 95 prints in the edition. This is print number 50/95 and it's signed R. "Butter & Egg Man" Crumb. The white paper size is 25.5" x 19". The image size is 19" x 12". In mint condition. Comes with its certificate of authenticity written by Crumb. 

SOLD

Cheap Thrills  Serigraph Print

This 250 serigraph print edition was printed in 1997. It's numbered, signed and dated by Crumb. The cert was written by Crumb and signed by Jesse and Alex. 24 colors using 24 screens were used to produce this large and excellent edition. Paper is 27" x 28" and the image size is 21" x 21". Stored flat, mint condition and it's never seen the light of day. 

SOLD

Harmonica Blues Serigraph Print

This is print number 178 from an edition of 200. Printed in 2000, it was very difficult to print with all the blends in the sky. I don't know if I would attempt this kind of print at this point in my life–only when I was young and foolish. 26 colors were used in this edition. The white acid-free paper is 26" x 26.5". The image size is 21" x 21". The cert is signed by Jesse and Alex. A small paragraph for the cert was written by Crumb...begrudgingly. Mint condition, stored flat–never has seen the light of day.

$950

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Mr. Natural Conjures The Devil Girl  Serigraph Print

This 210 piece edition was printed and published in 2003. This is print number 193/210. The cream paper is 22" x 30" and the image is 15.5" x 20". 25 colors were needed to create this edition. The cert is signed by both Jesse and Alex. Numbered, dated and signed by Crumb. The print is in mint condition , stored flat and has never seen the light of day.

$850

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The Adventures of R. Crumb Himself  Serigraph Print

This is the second edition I printed and published with Crumb, way back in '95. This is actually the most difficult print for me to find, as I haven't any extras of this edition. There were no certs made for this edition. We wouldn't do that until the next year when we published Robert Johnson. I think this is about a 26 color edition. The paper is 22" x 30". The image size is 17" x 25". In mint condition, never been framed or matted. This is print number 188/190.

$950

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Despair Serigraph Print

This edition was released in 2006. It's the only edition I printed using a color process-printing method, producing many different colors resulting from over-laying the basic process colors. The paper is 22" x 30". The image is 15" x 21". This is print number 89/100. The cert was well-written by Crumb. Numbered, dated and signed by Crumb as well. Stored flat and has never seen the light of day. Mint condition.

$750

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Beloved Music Makers of Days Gone By Portfolio

This is a portfolio of three different individually numbered and signed prints. There are 200 portfolios in the edition, released in 1999. This portfolio is numbered #179/200. Each portfolio is bound by a portfolio jacket and also enclosed is a certificate of authenticity.  The certificate is signed by Alex Wood and Jesse Crumb. The portfolio cover is 13" x 16". The three prints inside (Jack Teagarden-jazz; Memphis Minnie & Kansas City Joe-blues; The North Carolina Ramblers-country) are each signed, dated and numbered by Crumb. So you get three signed Crumb prints for the price of one! The portfolio and its prints are in mint condition. 

SOLD

Dale Steinberger Serigraph Print

There are 200 prints in this edition, and this is print number 172/200.  The edition was released in 2004. The cream Rives BFK paper is 22" x 30". The image size is 14" x 19". The certificate, written by Crumb, is signed by both Jesse Crumb (with his crazy, large-sized Sharpie pen) and Alex Wood. Mint condition, stored flat, never has seen the light of day (except when it was photographed). 

$600

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Footsy Serigraph Print

The very first edition I printed and published with Crumb in 1994. I used almost 30 colors and 4 blends to convince Crumb we could create a really fantastic edition. There are 200 prints in the edition, and this is print number 196/200. There was no certificate created with this edition. And it was also before Crumb dated his serigraphs by his signature, so it has only the print number and his signature. He also signed this in hard pencil in France, far away from me so I couldn't suggest he use a softer, darker pencil. So his signature is too faint for my taste, but it's there if you look closely. A rare and difficult print to find for me. Whatever its limitations may be, I was always very happy with the way this edition turned out. The cream paper is 22: x 30". The image size is 18" x 25". Mint condition.

$900

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BB King Etching

Released in 2011 as a 35 print etching edition, it also had 6 artist proofs and 2 printer proofs. I'm selling one of my printer proofs, number 1/ 2. The paper is 14" x 17". The image is almost 8" x 10". This is one of the largest etchings we've done. Numbered, signed and dated by Crumb. Great illustration. Crumb's not even interested in BB King, but he did it for us (Jesse and me). I'm still thankful to him for this great illustration.

$950

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Le Monde Selon Crumb Etching

This poster was originally created for a comic show in Angouleme, France in 1991. We released it as a forty piece etching edition in 2016. This is print number 31 of 40. The paper size is 12" x 14". The image size is 7" x 9". "Kick their ass Take their gas"!

$850

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Mr. Sixties Etching

Released in 2015, this is a reworking of the Fantagraphics Complete Crumb Volume 4 cover. There are 40 prints in the edition. The paper is 13" x 13". The image size is a little more than 8" x 7". This is print #7/40. Numbered, titled, signed and dated by Crumb. 

$850

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Bare Yer Soul

This is the only etching we've created from Crumb's sketch book. Published in 2016, this etching edition is an edition of 40 prints. This is print 14 of 40, with a nice signature. Paper is 11" x 9". Image size is 7" x 4". "Sweat some blood!!" "G'Wan, do it!"

$700

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On the Crest of a Wave

Released in 2014, this was taken from a Fantagraphics The Complete Crumb Volume 6. Crumb touched it up a bit and added a person of color to encompass more of the social revolution taking place at the time-all smashed against the wall of reality. Edition of 50 with 3 printer proofs and 6 artist proofs. I'm selling my printer proof 1/3. It has a custom sig of R. "Ol' Starchy" Crumb. The paper measures 14" x 13". The image is 9" x 7".

$800

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Whiteman Meets Bigfoot

Redrawn from the last panel of Crumb's epic Whiteman Meets Bigfoot, this etching edition was released in 2011. There are 50 pieces in this edition. This is print number 44 of 50. Paper size is 13" x 14". Image size is 8" x 7". Numbered, signed and dated by Crumb. Mint condition.

SOLD

Whiteman Meets Bigfoot Original Artwork

In 2011, I proposed to Crumb we use his last panel of the Whiteman Meets Bigfoot strip as the next etching edition. He liked the idea, but when he looked at the original strip, he wanted to "touch up" the artwork to make it better. He ended up starting all over, and made an entirely new rendition for the etching edition. I paid him a couple of thousand to do the "touch up" work, and surprisingly, he very generously gave me the original artwork in order to get the film made for the etching plate (instead of sending a good copy of the artwork). The edition was released in January of 2012.

I sold the artwork earlier this year for $12,000, but the buyer, for personal reasons, must now liquidate most of his material possessions and asked me to resell the artwork for him. I agreed to place it on the Newsletter this summer. Please contact me directly if you're interested in purchasing this original artwork for $12,000. My email address is: alexanderwood@sbcglobal.net

R. Crumb's Mr. Natural On A Bicycle Limited Edition Etching

The Release of R. Crumb's Mr. Natural on a Bicycle Etching Edition

This drawing was originally created as an advertisement for the Winters Bike Shop in Winters, California circa 1989, two years before Crumb moved to France. It’s one of the more happy and carefree pictures of Mr. Natural, riding his special bike, custom designed by Crumb himself. 

The pig in the basket is an interesting character. Crumb first introduced that character in his strip The R. Crumb $uck$e$$ Story (The People’s Comics, 1972). He brought him back for I Remember the Sixties (Weirdo #4, 1981) and My Troubles With Women, Part 2 (Hup #1, 1987). When I asked Crumb what the character was about, Crumb said, “I don’t know what that pig is about. I don’t understand it myself. [laughs] I can’t explain him. I don’t know what it means. I never consciously defined what the pig was in my own mind. It just seemed funny to me when I drew it. That stuff just comes out of my subconscious. I don’t stop to analyze what it means.” A couple of years ago, Crumb named the pig Prufrock Piggy. There you go–you learn something everyday. 

There are 40 etchings in this edition, with an additional 5 artist proofs and 3 printer proofs. Each print is numbered, signed and dated by Crumb. There are no custom signatures in this edition. The white Hahnemuhle paper is 11” x 14”. The embossed area is 6”x 8”. The image is 5” x 7”. Each print comes with our guarantee for your complete satisfaction. 

$380

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Release date:  June 7th, 2018

Signed Giclée Artist Proofs For Sale

Wildwood Serigraphs started publishing giclée editions with Crumb in 2007. Each year we add a new edition in an effort to have more affordable Crumb images in a high quality archival format available. With each edition, Crumb is given either 30 or 40 artist proofs per edition, depending on the edition size. He just has given me four numbered, signed and dated artist proofs of each of the following editions to sell:

• Adventures of R. Crumb Himself
• Cradle to Grave
• Fritz the Cat
• Mystic Funnies #1
• Robert Johnson
• San Francisco Comics
• Zap #1

Each artist proof is numbered, signed and dated by Crumb and sells for $540 each. Other signed artist proofs from giclée editions like Heroes of the Blues, Mr. Natural #2, Twas Ever Thus, Arcade #2 and Short History of America will be available next year. 

Adventures of R.Crumb Himself

Giclée edition of 300 with 30 signed artist proofs. I have only four of Crumb's artist proofs from 6/30 to 10/30.  Somerset Velvet white archival paper is 17" x 24". Image is 13" x 20". Signed, numbered and dated by Crumb in 2018.

$540 each

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Cradle to Grave

Giclée edition of 300 with 30 signed artist proofs. I have four of Crumb's artist proofs from 6/30 to 10/30.  Somerset Velvet white archival paper is 17" x 24". Image is 12.5" x 19". Signed, numbered and dated by Crumb in 2018.

$540 each

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Fritz the Cat

Giclée edition of 300 with 30 signed artist proofs. I have only four of Crumb's artist proofs from 6/30 to 10/30.  Somerset Velvet white archival paper is 18" x 24". Image is 14.5" x 18.5". Signed, numbered and dated by Crumb in 2018.

$540 each

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Mystic Funnies

Giclée edition of 300 with 30 signed artist proofs. I have only four of Crumb's artist proofs from 6/30 to 10/30.  Somerset Velvet white archival paper is 18" x 24". Image is 13" x 19". Signed, numbered and dated by Crumb in 2018.

$540 each

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Robert Johnson

Giclée edition of 300 with 30 signed artist proofs. I have only four of Crumb's artist proofs from 8/30 to 12/30.  Somerset Velvet white archival paper is 18" x 24". Image is 14" x 19". This is Crumb's favorite version. He selected each and every color for this edition, and he's very happy with it. Signed, numbered and dated by Crumb in 2018.

$580 each

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San Francisco Comics

Giclée edition of 300 with 30 signed artist proofs. I have only four of Crumb's artist proofs from 6/30 to 10/30.  Somerset Velvet white archival paper is 17" x 24". Image is 12" x 7". Signed, numbered and dated by Crumb in 2018.

$540 each

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Zap #1

Giclée edition of 300 with 30 signed artist proofs. I have only four of Crumb's artist proofs from 6/30 to 10/30.  Somerset Velvet white archival paper is 17" x 24". Image is 13" x 17.5". Signed, numbered and dated by Crumb in 2018.

$540 each

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Price Correction: Short History of America Giclee Typo

We made a mistake by posting the Short History of America 15 Panel giclee price as $430 on the Newsletter you received yesterday, which is incorrect. This is an unsigned giclee edition, so the price per print is actually $90, not $430.

$90

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As long as we're sending out a new Newsletter to rectify our mistake yesterday, I would like to bring attention to some small details in the Short History of America edition that you might not notice:

In panel 4 (1880's), there's a path that follows the fence line. In panel 5 (1890's), that path has been widened to a road, so the fence had to be removed and a portion of the side yard as well to make room for the road.

In panel 10 (1940's), Crumb has suggested the old outline of the "El Ropo" cigar poster coming through the fading "Myer's Drug Store" sign on the brick wall. I have colored it accordingly, but you might need magnification to appreciate Crumb's attention to detail. 

Also in panel 10, they implemented a new rain water sewage system as the grates show.

In panel 11 (1950's), they have replaced the 1940's railroad crossing light they had installed only about a decade earlier. America was wealthy around this time.

Those are just some of the details that I enjoy. There are many, many other details waiting to be enjoyed by another viewer.

Because the response has been stronger than I anticipated, I won't be able to fulfill all the orders until early next week. Thank you!

Alex

R. Crumb's 15 Panel Short History of America Giclee Edition

RCrumb.com Proudly Releases R. Crumb's 15 Panel Short History of America Giclee Edition

In 1992, Denis Kitchen of Kitchen Sink Press published Crumb's Short History of America as a serigraph edition. Denis might have requested Crumb to add three additional panels to the original 12 panel poster in an effort to differentiate the new serigraph edition from the posters. The three new panels predicted three possible future scenarios: Ecological disaster; Techno Fix and the Ecotopian Solution. 

Denis hired me to print that edition, and I did, using 24 colors. Since then, I've printed and published the original 12 panel SHA serigraph edition, and also released it as a limited edition giclee print (500 pieces). Now, we're very excited to be releasing the giclee version of the 15 Panel Short History of America edition.

I scanned the 1992 serigraph and spent weeks cleaning it up, brightening up some colors in Photoshop as I knew Crumb considered the original serigraph edition too dark. I printed it out and sent it to Crumb for his approval. He had many color changes! All the trees and grass in each panel needed to be lightened. Certain cars had to have a certain color–"Turquoise was a popular color for Studebaker in those years," according to Crumb. And many other color changes per his historical color sense were requested. It took me over 70 hours to finish the job.

While I was on the phone with RC, I pointed out one of the details in the image, and said, "I've often wondered if you took this image from multiple historical photographs, or if you drew this from your imagination. This detail is so realistic, I have to think you found some photographs and based these panels off of them."

Crumb answered, "I drew that image entirely from my imagination. I wish I had found some photos, it would have been more accurate. For example, one mistake I made was with the railroad crossing signs. The real signs have "crossing" on one board, and the "rail" and the "road" broken up on the sign behind. I mistakenly flip-flopped 'em and broke up the word "crossing."

He went on to say, "When I was in study hall in high school, I used to draw street scenes circa 1900. Then I would erase it all and redraw it as if were in the teens. Then I would erase that and redraw the same scene as if it were in the '20's." [laughs]

Each print is on Somerset Velvet archival white paper (25" x 22"). The 21" x 18.5" image is printed with archival Epson UltraChrome inks. The edition is 500 pieces, with 40 artist proofs and 3 printer proofs. Each print is numbered by hand in pencil. To be released Friday, April 27th. Your complete satisfaction is guaranteed. 

Release date: Friday, April 27th, 2018

$90
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-Alexander Wood