STREETS WITHOUT ROAD by CLAERHOUT- Manuscript Copy

This is an interesting hand produced book, the story of which is still uncertain. A copy sold on this site was thought to be a one off and unique. However, I have seen several copies of both the English and Afrikaans versions (Strate Sonder Pad). Each has handwritten poetry accompanied by 12 tipped in Claerhout graphics or prints. Each copy differs in the handwriting and some copies have original Claerhout drawings on the prelims. This copy has no original drawings and is 30pp. It is hand bound in book cloth and has the original hand produced dw. (which is always the Afrikaans version ie. Strate Sonder Pad). The rear pastedown bears a rubber stamp (as do the other copies I have seen) "Roman Catholic Mission - Tweespruit" which is where Claerhout lived and worked. My belief is that this book was produced by Claerhout as a school or mission project and that the text (in different hands) was written by the pupils. I do not think that there could have been more than 20 or 30 copies produced and it remains a scarce Claerhout item. An inexpensive printed version (in larger format in wrappers) was published by Claerhout at a later date. The two should not be confused.