AU SEUIL DE LA 'PATAPHYSIQUE : ON THE THRESHOLD OF 'PATAPHYSICS . . . [with:] WHAT IS THE COLLEGE OF 'PATAPHYSICS? [broadside caption title] by Shattuck, Roger; Philippe Dumarçay (illus.) - 1963

Charleville, France: Collège de 'Pataphysique, 1963. First Edition. Softcover. Very good. Dumarçay, Philippe. XC [i.e., 1963, the Feast of the Nativity of Alfred Jarry (1873-1907)]. [89],12-1,[2] pp. including numerous in-text illustrations. Printed wrappers. In French, English, Polish, Spanish, Italian, Russian, German, Latin, and Japanese. Ownership signature of Ned Polsky in front wrapper, inscription in his hand in rear wrapper verso, "New York City Jan. 1963 (from Seymour Hacker)." Covers worn and lightly soiled. Contents clean. Very good. With broadside, 27 x 21 cm. Printed correction pasted at bottom margin. Original horizontal fold. Neat 2-inch closed tear from right edge at fold. Right edge lightly chipped. Good.

An introduction, in nine languages, to the undefinable (by definition) "science of imaginary solutions," by Roger Shattuck (1923-2005). Illustrated by Philippe Dumarçay (born 1932) with [xxx] and images of Alfred Jarry's Ubu Roi. The accompanying broadside is a flyer advertising membership in the College of 'Pataphysics, printed at Imprimerie de l'Ardennais at Charleville, and likely issued with some copies of the main title (OCLC records two copies of the broadside). From the collection of Ned Polsky (1928-2000), sociologist of mid-20th-century American counterculture and author of HUSTLERS, BEATS, AND OTHERS (Chicago, 1967).