Writer Charles R. Cross has been searching through Kurt Cobain’s archives for a new book, “Cobain Unseen.” The book will contain a compilation of never before seen photos, artwork and journal entries of the tragic rock star.

Cross was granted access into Cobain’s archives, which he describes as, “Like a James Bond movie. But once you got past security, all his possessions were just in boxes.”

The author is trying to create a “visual history” of Cobain’s life which is complex and cryptic.

He says, “Kurt created work that has such mystery that we still can’t capture its essence. It’s that intangible thing that made him a star.”

During the six years of his professional career, thousands of photos were taken of Kurt Cobain both in concert and offstage — but he hated the bulk of them. This photograph, taken at Seattle’s legendary Crocodile Cafe in the fall of 1992, was one of the few personal snapshots Kurt liked enough to keep in his own scrapbook.

Kurt at five months old with his father, Don, July 1967 (a note on the back of the photograph reads “Kurt’s first time to steer the car”).

A two-year-old Kurt at his aunt Mari’s home, holding a tambourine. He loved music even from an early age, and was exposed to bands like the Byrds (pictured on the three posters behind him) by his aunts and uncles.

A portrait of the young man as an artist. For his eighth birthday in February 1975, Kurt received this easel from his paternal grandparents. Comic book characters were his favorite art subjects in childhood; he began with Disney-related fare, such as Donald Duck, but quickly moved to superheroes. Here, Kurt is copying the cover from Giant-Size Werewolf #4, an April 1975 Marvel comic.

Both Kurt and Courtney Love collected heart-shaped boxes, and by 1994 they had several dozen in their home. They often gave them to each other as gifts, sometimes filled with personal effects such as hair or a note, or on occasions containing antique valentines.

Courtney cites this photograph as her single favorite picture of Kurt. It was taken at their North Seattle house in late 1993.

[RS]