Strike Up the Band. In Three Volumes

Milwaukee, WI, 1997. One of 10 copies only, each signed and numbered by the artist. Vol. I, 54pp; Vol. II, 54pp; Vol. III, 56pp. Page size: 3-5/8 x 1 inch. Bound: wood-grained paper over boards in shape of cigar with cigar label at pointed end with volume number hand-lettered and onlaid to the original wrapper by the artist; all housed in "cigar box" of wood-grained paper with cigar band and stamp onlaid and title hand-written by Poehlmann. Each page is hand-written by the artist on the verso and the recto has an original cigar band mounted to the page. The text is a mix of aphorisms, history, and lore of tobacco and smoking, with quotes by famous authors, etc. The Introduction tells us that the cigar band was invented by Catherine the Great of Russia, when she tied a bit of silk ribbon around her stogie to avoid staining her fingers! A witty production with the actual cigar labels quite attractive.