OU Deluxe Edition of "The Book of Breething" (1974)

My apologies for the minor "cover-up", but you get the idea.

Ingatestone, Essex, England: Henri Chopin / OU (book, numbered, signed), 1974.
6.25" x 9.5" x 0.625", 120 sheets, 120 pages (printed on one side only), English/French/Dutch text, softcover.

The Book of Breething by William S. Burroughs, as presented in its first edition state as a softcover edition published by OU (Henri Chopin, Ingatestone, Essex, England) in 1974. This is accompanied by illustrations by Bob Gale. The text is in the English language, with translations into French (Le Livre des Respirations) and into Dutch (Het Boek der Ademhalingen) at the end of the book. Four hundred of this edition were printed, with fifty of them released in a "deluxe" format – numbered and signed by William S. Burroughs. The trade copies are not numbered.

Somewhat inconsistent with the notes at colophon, the deluxe format (50 copies) are printed on Holland Van Gelder paper, and the trade format (350 copies) are printed on a verge laid Van Gelder paper. The deluxe format is ever so slightly thicker than the trade one. [Thanks to Jim Pennington for his observations on the material]

This is one of the "deluxe" copies, numbered "XIIL / L" – which I suspect is an odd way of representing copy #38 of 50 – and signed by William S. Burroughs. This copy was formerly in the collection of Darin Scope (England) and was acquired directly from them.

Note that later English-language editions of this book are spelled The Book of Breeething [with three 'e's].

Shoaf I.29.
Schottlaender v4.A31.A.