You know, prior to the publciation
of his Collected Poems, in 1984, Allen probably confronted City
Lights Pocket Poet editions at his signings most of the time.
Little room on the small (15.5 x 12.5 cm) blank page across from
the title page—room for a sunflower, sun, and star or two.
So, when Harper & Row came out with the larger sized books
with the larger empty page—Ginsberg must have thought,
wow, opportunity for artistic expression!—if there was
time and appreciation of the person seeking his signature. The
books in which Ginsberg most commonly inscribed with drawings
were the Harper & Row editions from 1984 to 1986. However,
he drew and inscribed on many editions of his books using a wide
range of motifs, symbols, messages, and settings. As with his
poetry and photography, his drawings demonstrate unique artistic
genius script'd in detail.
—Walt
Smith