Eighteen Poems by Robert Peters by Peters, Robert - Circa 1972

n/p: Robert Peters, Circa 1972. Second(?) Self-Published Edition; First edition Thus. Stapled Wrappers. Good/ Near Fine. "In the end/ a man loves himself/ alone." (first stanza, "Arrogance," pg. 1) A tall, slender chapbook of poems by Robert Peters (1914-1924), the great poet, playwright, critic & educator who was originally a scholar of Victorian literature & became one of the foremost sui generis men of American letters. There is no copyright, colophon or any information to be found in this apparently self-published item. There is a reference to it in a list of Peters' published works preceding the title page of his first volume of criticism, The Great American Poetry Bake-Off (1979): "Eighteen Poems, 1971, 1972, 1973." We have seen images of an edition of this work consisting of stapled sheets, & presume it is the original 1971 edition. The list of "Books of poems by R. Peters" on the last page of this edition refers to books published through 1971, with another "forthcoming." Also, a previous seller(?) has written "1/500" in pencil on front cover. Therefore, we believe this to be the 1972 (possibly) limited first edition thus. On inner front cover, Peters has hand-inscribed & signed: "For Jim-/ 20 May 86/ (signed) Robert Peters/ doodle flourish." "Jim" is James Perrizo (1944-2006), a major Beat-&-Beyond collector & scholar who was a friend & extensive correspondent with Peters. A most interesting & scarce early Peters production, with significant association & provenance. In good-to-near-fine condition with mild rubbing, browning, spotting & some short, faint creases to front, back covers & stapled spine; mild wear & some tiny bumps at edges & corners of same; one miniscule gauge at middle lower edge of front cover; very short, closed tear at lower right edge of same; staples in process of rusting with minimal interior bleeding. Interior in fine condition with only small crease-bumps at upper corners of some page leaves; diminishing echoes of gauge & tear noted above through first few of same; tiny bit of rust-bleeding esp. at stapled middle page leaves noted above.

Signed by Robert Peters to James Perrizo.