One of Just 17 Full-Size Serigraphs of Kilgore Trout

Purple Heart ["Formal portrait of the science fiction writer Kilgore Trout..."]

Vonnegut, Kurt

Notes: 18 by 24 inches. Seven color silkscreen (serigraph) on Coventry deckle edge paper.

Officially titled "Purple Heart." Captioned below the image, "Formal portrait of the science fiction writer Kilgore Trout, wearing a purple heart awarded in December 1944 for frostbite during World War Two in Europe, posed for in Skokie, Illinois, where he was employed by a diaper service in 1947."

A classic ten-eyed portrait of Vonnegut's literary alter-ego depicted in military uniform. Trout, a prolific, if little-appreciated science fiction writer, was a recurring character in Vonnegut's work, appearing in Breakfast of Champions; God Bless You, Mr. Rosewater; Slaughterhouse-Five; Jailbird; and Timequake, among other novels. Fellow SF novelist Philip José Farmer perpetrated one of the great literary practical jokes of all time by actually writing and publishing Venus on the Half-Shell, a fictitious book by Trout which was part of God Bless You, Mr. Rosewater.

A terrific screenprint, here issued at full size. Another version, without the caption, was printed at just 5-3/4 by 8-3/4 inches. Only 17 copies were issued in this format. One of the most desirable of Vonnegut's silkscreens.

Edition + Condition: First edition (first printing). Copy 7 of 17. Signed by Vonnegut in pencil.

Publication: Lexington, KY: Joe Petro III, 1997.

Item No: #5896

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