SIX VINTAGE ORIGINAL 1957 NEGATIVES MEASURING 4X5 INCHES FEATURING BEAT POET LAWRENCE FERLINGHETTI IN THE HOWL OBSCENE TRIAL. “Howl” contains many references to illicit drugs and sexual practices, both heterosexual and homosexual. City Lights publisher Lawrence Ferlinghetti was subsequently arrested for publishing the book. At the obscenity trial, nine literary experts testified on the poem’s behalf; Ferlinghetti, a published poet himself, is credited by David Skover and Ronald K. Collins with breathing “publishing life” into Ginsberg’s poetic career. Supported by the American Civil Liberties Union, Ferlinghetti won the case when California State Superior Court Judge Clayton Horn decided that the poem was of “redeeming social importance”. The case was widely publicized. Articles appeared in both Time and Life magazines. An account of the trial was published by Ferlinghetti’s lead defense attorney Jake Ehrlich in a book called Howl of the Censor. The 2010 film Howl depicts the events of the trial. James Franco stars as the young Allen Ginsberg and Andrew Rogers portrays Ferlinghetti.