The Print Mint: A Haven for Crumb's Psychedelic Art

Located on Telegraph Avenue, The Print Mint played a significant role in Robert Crumb's career, combining poetry, spirituality, and multicultural interests with psychedelic design. At the time, San Francisco was home to a nascent comic book scene, which would soon give rise to underground comix. It was here that Crumb's art first appeared in Yarrowstalks on May 5, 1967.

Crumb's wife Dana joined him shortly after, and they settled into the vibrant Haight-Ashbury neighborhood. In a letter written in March 1963, Crumb described his job at the time as 'indescribably dismal.' However, he was soon promoted to the Hi-Brow Department, where he spent the next several years creating hundreds of cards.

After experimenting with LSD for several years, Crumb left Cleveland and headed west, meeting two men in a bar who were driving to San Francisco. This marked a significant turning point in his career, as he began to push boundaries beyond what other writers and artists were doing at the time.

Crumb's work caught the attention of Harvey Pekar, a budding comic writer who lived just a few blocks away. Pekar would go on to become a prominent figure in the underground comix movement alongside Crumb.

The Print Mint proved to be a haven for Crumb's unique brand of psychedelic art, which redefined the comic book genre and brought it back to its roots. As a central figure in Berkeley's underground comix cultural scene, Crumb's work continues to inspire artists and fans alike. Today, a natural on a trash can near the Cal campus reminds us of Crumb's enduring legacy, which is still celebrated at Natural, located on the southeast corner of Bancroft Way and Telegraph Avenue.

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