Poetry

A. Mondadori, Milano: 1935 -- A. XIII First edition, Italian text, 83 pages, 8vo, 20.5cm, copy number 000090, publisher's embossed copyright stamp on title page, white paper covers are still in the original publisher's glassine dust wrapper, publisher's stamp and number are on title page. This copy is inscribed to Giuseppe Prezzolini, signed "Sibilla," and dated "Roma, gennaio 1935 XIII." Her seventh published book, and her second volume of poetry, SÍ ALLA TERRA dates from 1928-1934. Under the nom-de-plume of Sibilla Aleramo, Rina Pierangeli Faccio (1876-1960) was the first Italian woman to write about the vulnerability of Italian women. Raped at sixteen by one of her father's business associates, she fought and freed herself from a loveless marriage. After her separation from her husband and the death of her son, she produced a body of literary work in the form of novels, poetry, and newspaper articles. Even though she signed Benedetto Croce's Anti-Fascist Manifesto, she did become a fascist for a time. In the 1940's however, she became active in the Resistance, and after World War II, she joined the CPI. This is an interesting association copy, dedicated "A Prezzolini con l'antica amicizia, Sibilla," as Prezzolini was the discoverer and friend of Mussolini, but he never became a fascist, spending the years of World War II in New York. This copy is unopened: Prezzolini did not read this copy, thus making an interesting footnote to the complicated world of Fascist Era Italian politics, when writers and publishers often did things in order to eat. This is a fine, bright, fresh, unopened copy, one printed on very good paper. The glassine dust wrapper is slightly soiled at the top. more information

Offered by G. Gosen Rare Books & Old Paper (United States)

Done into book form by the Roycrofters, at their shop, which is in East Aurora, Erie County, New York, MCMXVII 18.8cm x 13.7cm, bound in blue suede, Roycrofter watermark, [1 blank; 32 pages, colophon; iii]. Condition fine. more information

Offered by G. Gosen Rare Books & Old Paper (United States)

Olten, Georg Rentsch Söhne: 1948 First edition, limited and numbered edition. 18.7cm, 47 pages, verso of page 47 blank and unpaginated, limitation page followed by concluding blank. Page 8 unpaginated. Printed under the auspices of the Vereinigung Oltner Bücherfreunde. This copy is number 1033. 1135 copies were printed: I-XXXV on hand-made Büttenpapier, "Marais," signed by the poet; copies numbered 1-100 printed on Büttenpapier, "Van Gelder Zonen," signed by the poet; copies numbered 101- 1035 printed on white offset paper from Biberist and bound in orange paper boards. Front cover title label. Spine worn and chipped at the head. Covers faded and slightly soiled. Interior bright and fresh. A tight copy. more information

Offered by G. Gosen Rare Books & Old Paper (United States)

Literaria, Cernauti, Rumanien: 1939 First edition, signed and inscribed by the author, limited edition exemplar number 177 of 500, as originally published in 1939 in a black paper wrapper, now bound over with a hardcover black buckram binding, with the original black paper covers preserved and bound in before and after the endpapers, 86 pages, 23 cm. In three parts: Geheimnis, Versicht, and Das Mythenbuch, fifty-four poems in total. Title page inscribed "Für Rosa und Heinrich Schlechter..." and signed, "Freddy." Old tear to the title page repaired archivally without any loss of paper or text. A rare surviving German-language first edition, signed by a Jewish poet-author, living in Bucharest in 1939. The last poem in this extraordinary anthology is about Jesse Owens, "Der Neger Jessy Owens." General condition is very good, but the spine is slightly sun-faded. more information

Offered by G. Gosen Rare Books & Old Paper (United States)

Edinburgh, printed by the author, [n.d.] An original small broadsheet poem (27.5cm x 21cm) signed boldly in ink by the Great McGonagall himself (1825-1902), as "Sir. Wm, Topaz McGonagall, poet". Printed on salmon pink paper with the royal arms of Queen Victoria at the top, flanked with the "V." of Queen Victoria to the left of the Lion and Unicorn of England, emblazoned with "Honi Soit Qui Mal Y Pense" above "Dieu Et Mon Droit" on the lower banderole, and the "R" of Regina on the right. Immediately below the "V" is "Copyright" and immediately below the "R" is "All Rights Reserved." Below that are supposed citations from H.R.H., the Duke of Cambridge; the War Office, London; an advertisement for a 'new poem of Sir William Topaz McGonagall, Knight of the White Elephant, Burmah' [sic], giving his address as No. 12 Grove St., Edinburgh; and an excerpt of a letter from the Rev. George Gilfillan." Below all this is the title, under which McGonagall, ever styling himself as a great Shakespearean, quotes from HAMLET: "The play, the play's the thing that will catch the conscience of the king!" A twelve verse poem from the man who earned in his own lifetime the cult status of the "worst poet in the English language." His readings took the aura of a comic séance, whether from Shakespeare or his own wretched verse, those in the front row learning to duck when he gesticulated with a broadsword. The concluding verse of this poem: "And, in conclusion, I will say without dismay, / Visit the theatre without delay, / Because the theatre is a school of morality, / And hasn't the least tendency to prodigality." Condition fine, slight creasing as this copy was folded into an autograph album, traces of the mount remain on the back. more information

Offered by G. Gosen Rare Books & Old Paper (United States)

Vallecchi Editore, Firenze: 1930 First edition, Italian text, 16cm, 8-vo; 65 pages, [1 blank; avviso al lettore; half-title; title page; foreword of Giambattista Vico; author's dedication to Dino Garonne; poetry begins with page 11 and continues through page 65, followed by an index]. White paper covers with red title and black author/publisher lettering on front cover, with black lettering on the spine. Born March 3, 1905, Roberto, "Berto," Ricci died just short of his thirty-sixth birthday on February 2, 1941 in battle against the English at Bir Gandula-Cirenaica. He directed UNIVERSALE in Florence (January 1931 - August 1935). Among the poems in this rare early anthology is Ricci's "Satira a Ardegno Soffici." Four of the signatures have not been opened. Two typographical errors occur on pages 29 and 64 respectively, both hand-corrected in ink, probably by the author: on page 29 "santità" printed instead of "sanità" and on page 64 "stesse" printed instead of "stelle." This is a fine copy, printed on very good, heavy paper. The spine is slightly sunned. Original price of 6 lire on the back cover. more information

Offered by G. Gosen Rare Books & Old Paper (United States)