Life Science Library book sourced directly from the Seattle home of Kurt Cobain and Courtney Love, hardcover, 200 pages, 8.5 x 11, published by Time-Life Books in 1972. The volume, entitled ‘Drugs,’ features copious ballpoint notations in an unknown hand to the first four pages; the first free end page contains five names with phone numbers, including that of Jimmy Boyle, a friend of the Cobains who worked at Def American; the half-title page, as well as its reverse and adjacent page, include a raw yet impressively detailed genealogy of the Cobain family, with particular emphasis placed on the lineage of his mother Wendy Fradenberg, his father Donald Cobain, and his grandmother Margaret Dawson Irving.
The family tree makes note of past events, occupations, disorders, personality traits, and causes of death for many of the listed relatives, with highlights as follows: the Cobains—“Burl (suicide), ‘Molested Bev’? One of her cousins,” “Leland Cobain, Great Grandfather Cobain, Fireman, Asphalt Co., Suicide Gun, Mother?”; the Fradenbergs— “Charles Fradenberg, heart attack, died on a dance floor,” “Margaret Fradenberg-alcoholic, dimples, cancer/throat mouth,” “Arden Fradenberg, homosexual in 30’s, alcoholism,” “Chuck, redhead, Patrick, redhead, Aids gay, schizophrenic, blue eyes, manic depressive, occult poet,” “Wendy, nightmares”; and the Irvings—“Bill Buchanan, schizophrenic/paranoid, alcoholic, homeless, high IQ,” “Irene Hegg, compulsive, addictive, workaholic, perfectionist,” “Donald Irving, genius, leftbrained, inventor, slender,” “manic states were cruel, ‘slit his stomach open in front of family.’” In very good to fine condition, with scuffing to the covers, and some cracking to the hinge.
During the early 1990s, the consignor of this book worked as security for Kurt Cobain and then later as a night watchman at his Seattle home at 171 Lake Washington Boulevard East. This book was one of several items gifted to him during his time of employment.
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