When back in 1973 the William S. Burroughs Archive was sold to Roberto Altmann in Vaduz, Liechtenstein, the Descriptive Catalogue of the William S. Burroughs Archive, published in the same year by Covent Garden Press in London, was somewhat incomplete. Miles, who catalogued the archive in 1972, was still traveling all over the world, following the paths of the ever moving author, who left behind the literal suitcase in every place he lived, thus unearthing more material as the months went by. He then catalogued it to be finally sold to Altmann and included in the Vaduz Archive.

Subsequently Roberto Altmann backed out from buying & bookseller Richard Aaron went on selling the material to various interested parties. The listings themselves were left unpublished.

Today, after half a century in the making so to speak, we are very proud to present the Descriptive Catalogue of the William S. Burroughs Archive II.

This second volume will include numerous listings, unpublished as such, from manuscript files to correspondence, from detailed descriptions of Scrapbooks to tape reels, and will also contain the description of the Archives of Brion Gysin & Claude Pélieu.

Miles’ comprehensive introduction & prefatory notes to each section disclose the fascinating backstory of the William S. Burroughs Archive & make this second volume of the Catalogue an indispensable source for William S. Burroughs scholars, an important addition to university libraries, and a must have for the serious collector.

The editors were happy to win renowned Swiss graphic artist Patrick Gloor, www.patrickgloor.ch, to ennoble the catalogue with design. The same goes for Bolzano-based printer Longo SPA, with many years of experience in the art of printing.

Martin, Luzius & Miles, Barry (eds.):
A Descriptive Catalogue of the William S. Burroughs Archive II
Expanded Media Editions
Bonn/Basel 2024
ISBN 978-3-88030-055-2