San Francisco: Elder and Shepard, 1901-03. Bandana Edition. 7 volumes, 18x14cm, unpaginated. Introduction by Gelett Burgess. One issue signed and inscribed by Irwin to Mr. Hitchcock of the Grafton Press, another from the library of Ellen Biddle Shipman, with her and her husband's ownership signature at front. Each sewn-bound in different red patterned "handkerchief" cloth with printed paper labels. Generally very good or better with toning to pages and some fraying and rubbing to cloth. One issue good with spine cloth partially split and rubbed away, housed in a paper chemise.

Seven variant copies of Wallace Irwin's (1875-1959) verse collection written in tough, American slang, each an issue of the "Deliriously absurd irresistibly clever Bandana Edition bound in genuine bandana handkerchief." (Literary World, April, 1902).   The trade edition in card covers was 25c at publication, with the Bandana Edition priced at 50c.

The project started as a literary prank at the behest of his friend, Gelett Burgess, with Irwin transforming his previously composed sonnets into these slang versions.  Elder and Shepard published the collection in pamphlet form and it became quite popular, staying in print for several years.  One of these copies has a date of 1901 on the copyright page and "printed at the Tomoye Press," with no additional dates.  Another has a copyright date of 1901 with a title page date of 1903.  The other 5 are copyright 1901 with 1902 on the title.  

Price: $350.00