SAD MICHAEL. An original drawing by John Lennon for his first book IN HIS OWN WRITE.

Later published by Jonathan Cape in London and Simon and Schuster in New York. 1964. Pen and ink, on paper. Measuring 25.2 x 20.3cm. Drawn by John Lennon to illustrate the chapter Sad Michael. The illustration of a British Policeman standing over the seated Sad Michael is reproduced from this drawing on page 34 of the first edition. In 1963, Tom Maschler, editorial director of John Cape, commissioned journalist Michael Braun to write a book on the contemporary British pop scene. Braun later returned to Maschler with a set of drawings and writings scribbled on the back of hotel notepaper. The author and illustrator was John Lennon. Maschler began to read, and laugh, the writing, he thought, was "extraordinarily witty". He immediately commissioned the "surprisingly willing" Beatle to write his first book. In His Own Write, a collection of nonsensical, often surreal short stories and line drawings was published in March 1964 to great critical and commercial success. It is also notable in being the first solo Beatle project in any form. Lennon's second book, A Spaniard in the Works, was published the following year. Provenance: Tom Maschler, titan of British publishing and head of the Jonathan Cape publishing house. A brilliant talent-spotter he brought to Jonathan Cape an extraordinary range of talent such as John Lennon, Thomas Pynchon, Gabriel Garcia Marquez, Roald Dahl, Philip Roth, Bruce Chatwin, Tom Wolfe, Ian McEwan and Martin Amis. Further details and images for any of the items listed are available on request. Lucius Books welcomes direct contact with our customers.