Minutes to Go
Paris: Two Cities Editions, 1960. First edition. 8vo, 63 pp, printed wraps illustrated after drawings by Brion Gysin. One of 1000 copies. Signed by both Burroughs and Gysin at the title page.
Burroughs' third book, and the first standalone publication to employ the cut-up technique as Gysin & co. envisioned it. The original manifesto and manual of the method." - Oliver Harris. This copy is signed by both Burroughs and Gysin at the title page, and is rare with both signatures together.
Furthermore, this copy is a cut up cut-up - the Burroughs contribution REACTIVE AGENT TAPE CUT BY LEE THE AGENT IN INTERZONE is alted with the addition, in blue ink in an unknown hand, of a series of grids aligned by both number and symbol, as well punctuation marks. The only example of the first standalone cut-up book we've seen which enacts the principle of the cut-up within the body of the book, and a site of tantalizing conjecture but unknown provenance. This copy came out of Germany.
Maynard & Miles A3a.
A battered, beat copy, wraps heavily faded, with numerous tears along the spine. Item #30534