Waiting for Food: Restaurant Placemat Drawings — R. Crumb

WAITING FOR FOOD, Volume 1: Limited S&N edition of 250 by ROBERT CRUMB. This signed & numbered edition includes a special bookplate signed and numbered by Crumb. This is the first of several volumes reproducing the famous French restaurant place mats on which Crumb drew while literally Waiting for Food. The original illustrated place mats (especially the ones with wine and gravy stains) routinely sell in galleries for around $5,000 and more each. This 1995 Kitchen Sink Press first printing is the only one of the Waiting for Food series (by several publishers) to sport a dust jacket and this is also the ONLY signed edition. The cover features daughter Sophie Crumb and also eating spaghetti on the bookplate is Crumb s close friend Pete Poplaski (see also Sketchbook Adventures of Peter Poplaski ). The drawings inside often portray his wife Aline Kominsky-Crumb, self-portraits, numerous café customers and the expected Crumb fantasy elements. Limited to just 250 signed and numbered copies, published in 1995, this is the last of the publisher s private stash set aside over a decade ago!