M. Vasalis/Gerard Reve - Verjaars-brief voor Gerard - 1983-2003

'Birthday Letter for Gerard' is a bibliophile edition of a poem/text by the poet M. Vasalis, which appeared on 14 December 2003 on the occasion of the eightieth birthday of Gerard Reve.

The edition was published in 2003 to honor Reve's 80th birthday and the 20th anniversary of the poem itself, which originally appeared in 1983 in the literary magazine Tirade.

Printed and published by De Vijf Winden Pers from Leiden. The text was set in the Spectrum type with the consent of Vasalis's heirs and printed on luxurious Simili-Japon paper.

It is an extremely creative collectible object. The bound booklet (cahier-stitch, 16 pages) is wrapped in a special 'First Day Envelope' (First Day Cover) equipped with a stamp bearing Reve's portrait. This whole is housed in an unopened box with an illustration of a table-tennis–playing group on the top.

There are in total only 300 numbered copies printed, of which 250 entered the regular trade. This is number 'Kiekie'. Kiekie was Vasalis's nickname for intimates.