Search Results: Books by theodore roethke

New York: New Directions, 1946. First edition. Original cloth, original dust jacket. Fine/Fine. FIRST EDITIONS, AN OUTSTANDING ASSOCIATION COPY: Theodore Roethke's copies of Books III and V, with Book III inscribed in Roethke's hand "Ted Roethke's book, gift of W.C. Williams" and Book V inscribed by Williams "Ted from Bill". With first editions of the remaining volumes. William Carlos Williams was one of the most influential figures in Theodore Roethke's creative life. "At a time when Theodore Roethke was finding his poetic voice, he called William Carlos Williams 'my toughest mentor.'" From 1940-1948, as Roethke was developing his poetry, he submitted his latest work to Williams to critique. Williams repeatedly responded candidly and forcefully, issuing "a series of challenges to Roethke, and these challenges changed the direction and scope of Roethke's art" (Robert Kusch, "My Toughest Mentor": Theodore Roethke and William Carlos Williams). Roethke's own volumes of Paterson - Williams's… Read More

Iowa City: Stone Wall Press, (1963). First edition. One of only 60 specially bound copies signed by Roethke and Roy. A very fine copy of this beautiful book. Small 4to, original quarter leather and pictorial boards, publisher's slipcase. A very fine copy of this beautiful book.

Iowa City, IA: Stone Wall Press, 1963. First edition. Hardcover. Fine/very good +. John Roy. Number 34 of 60 copies on Rives Heavy, signed by Roethke and the illustrator John Roy. One the very best books from the Stone Wall Press. Roethke died shortly after signing the sheets for this edition. Book is completely fine, black paper slipcase has just a touch of paper loss, strong VG+.

Iowa City: Stone Wall Press, 1963. Edition limited to 330 copies, of which copy numbers I-LX are signed by Roethke and the wood engraver, John Roy; this is copy LXIX, signed by both; 8vo, pp. [32]; 14 full-page wood engravings by Roy; original russet morocco-backed pictorial boards, gilt-stamped spine, publisher's slipcase; fine. From the library of Kim Merker. Berger, Printing and the Mind of Merker, 13: "I was printing at this time in my basement and not making any money ... I loved Theodore Roethke's poetry. We corresponded and he finally agreed to let me do this sequence ... ." Roethke died before the book was completed.

Iowa City, (IA): Stone Wall Press, 1963. quarter leather, decorated paper covered boards, slipcase. Stone Wall Press. 8vo. quarter leather, decorated paper covered boards, slipcase. unpaginated. Limited to 270 copies, of which this is one of 60 deluxe copies bound thus and signed by the author and the illustrator. Thirteen full-size wood engravings by John Roy. Printed by K.K. Merker. A tight, bright, and unmarred copy in a near-fine slipcase.

Iowa City: Stone Wall Press, 1963 Limited Edition in slipcase, beautifully printed on Rives Heavy with interleaved illustrations on Mulberry paper, one of 60 deluxe copies (of a total print run of 330) bound in quarter leather and illustrated boards signed by both Roethke and engraver Roy, this copy number X, one tiny nick to leather at spine tail, a beautiful copy of this justly-celebrated production printed by Kim Merker at the Stone Wall Press; from collection of Jenijoy La Belle, who studied with Roethke at the University of Washington (along with her close friend, Tess Gallagher) and the author of the influential book, The Echoing Wood of Theodore Roethke; tall 8vo; 31 unnumbered pages and 12 engravings, each on folded leaf; additional (unnumbered) engravings preceding title page & colophon. Signed by Author. First Edition. Hard Cover. Fine.

Iowa City: Stone Wall Press, 1963. First Edition. Leather bound. Fine. A beautiful collection of poems, printed by Kim Merker, with illustrations printed on delicate mulberry paper bound in between. This book is generally regarded as one of the finest from the press, which is known for the excellence of its letterpress printing and book design. The edition size was 270 copies, of which this is one of 60 deluxe copies bound in quarter-leather and paper printed with an engraved design by Roy. These copies, numbered with Roman numerals, are signed by both Roy and Roethke, who died soon after the printing was completed. Roethke won both the Pulitzer Prize and the National Book Award for poetry. First edition, first printing, deluxe issue. A fine copy, no. XXX of 60, signed by Roethke and Roy. The publisher's paper-covered slipcase is beginning to split along the bottom edge.

New York, 1959. Unbound. Fine. A small collection of ephemera pertaining to the 1959 National Book Awards. Fine. A collection of press releases, short biographies, fact sheets, and programs for the tenth National Book Awards held on March 3, 1959. The winners that year were Bernard Malamud in the fiction category for *The Magic Barrel*, J. Christopher Herold in non-fiction for his book, *Mistress to an Age: A Life of Madame de Staël*, and Theodore Roethke in poetry for *Words for the Wind*. The archive includes manuscript copies of the address given by Arthur H. Compton, copies of the winner's speeches, "replies from previous NBA winners," and an author photograph of Malamud. Roethke was unable to accept the award in person and it fell to poet Daniel Hoffman to accept on his behalf. Hoffman's acceptance speech is featured here where he writes, "were Theodore Roethke here to accept this honor tonight he might have said..."these poems -and I say this detachedly and humbly-are not, in any final sense,… Read More

Garden City: Doubleday, 1948. 1st edition (second printing), full black cloth, with illustrated dust jacket. Specially signed and inscribed by Roethke in his signature green fountain pen ink. The inscription is to William O'Connor, a distinguished literary critic and English professor who knew and admired Roethke. The inscription reads: "For the William Van O'Connor's / with best wishes, / Ted Roethke" on the FEP. Additionally, Roethke has corrected a typo on page 15 using the same green ink. In our experience, we have never seen another copy of this title with the corrected typo. In 1962 O'Connor attempted to lure Roethke from University of Washington to the University of California Davis, where O'Connor was chairman of the English Department. O'Connor's custom bookplate appears on the pastedown. The author's second book has become increasingly scarce in fine condition with an attractive dust jacket, and particularly so signed. In addition to the long title poem, the text includes "My Papa's Waltz"… Read More

New York: Doubleday & Company, Inc, 1948. First Edition. First edition. Signed by Theodore Roethke on the front free endpaper in his signature green ink. 64 pp. Publisher's black cloth lettered in gilt. Near Fine with a little reading wear in an unclipped dust jacket with a quarter-sized chip to the back panel, else Very Good with tears near head and foot, rubbed and a little worn. Roethke's second book of poetry, generally considered to be his best.

London: Secker and Warburg, 1957. First Edition. Hardcover. Student's name on the front endpaper with his small ink stamp at the bottom of that page and one text page. About Fine in a Fine dustwrapper. Precedes the American edition. INSCRIBED and SIGNED by the poet to a student "with affection (and respect)."

New York: Doubleday & Company, 1948. 1st Edition. Hardcover. Near fine/Good. THEODORE ROETHKE: THE LOST SON and OTHER POEMS (SIGNED) his second book, first ediion signed in bright, green ink. 64 pages, hardcover with dust jacket. Wear to the edges and spine of the dustjacket. 2 small tears and a small stain to back of dust jacket. Book itself in near fine condition.

Sewanee, TN: Reprinted from the April Number of The Sewanee Review, 1947. First separate edition, an offprint. The bibliographer, McLeod, notes only the periodical appearance, C80, not the offprint." The Lost Son", one of Roethke's finest poems, was the title-poem of his second book. Wrappers faded toward margins, otherwise a very good copy. Rare. 8vo, original printed wrappers. Wrappers faded toward margins, otherwise a very good copy. Rare.

ROETHKE, THEODORE. Open House. 8vo. Original blue cloth, in dust wrapper. Alfred A. Knopf, New York 1941. First Edition, First Printing, of Roethke's first book. Limited to 1000 numbered copies. This copy #784. Presentation copy inscribedon the front free endpaper, "For Naomi, With sincere regard, Theodore Roethke." With a small photo of Roethke pasted onto the front pastedown. Dust wrapper chipped at top, spine darkened; gilt lettering on spine and cover of book dulled but legible; a few light pencil notes; endpapers darkened; o/w Very Nice, in scarce dust wrapper.

[Reno, Nevada]: (The Black Rock Press, 1966. Softcover. Fine. First separate edition, issued as a holiday greeting; the rear cover states "Greetings from Kenneth & Patricia Carpenter". Single sheet French-folded to make four pages. Cover illustration. Prints the text of Theodore Roethke's sixteen-line poem, "The Harsh Country." A fine copy. *OCLC* lists a single holding (Princeton). Not in McLeod. Rare.

Garden City NY: Doubleday, 1958. First US Edition. Hardcover. Near Fine in Good+ dust jacket. Includes The Waking (1953 Pulitzer prize) and 38 poems never before published in book form in America. 212 pages, first US edition, inscribed by Roethke on title page. Black cloth, gilt lettering on spine. DJ spine ends and corners scuffed, one small chip and 1/4" split at lower edge of front panel (in mylar sleeve).; 5 3/4 x 8 1/2 "; Signed by Author.

Iowa City: The Stone Wall Press, 1963. First edition. Gilt-lettered orange paper-covered boards, slipcase; Tall 8vo. Number 252, of 270 copies (330 total) printed on a Washington Press from Romanee Type and original blocks on Rives Heavy and Mulberry. The first publication of these twelve poems considered by critics as among his finest, with accompanying wood engravings by John Roy. This sequence included in the posthumously published THE FAR FIELD won the National Book Award; previously Roethke had been awarded the Pulitzer and Bollingen. Prospectus laid in. Spine a bit sunned; one small tear to tail of spine. Minor wear to case. Near fine.

Garden City: Doubleday, 1948. 1st edition, full black cloth, with illustrated dust jacket. Specially signed by Roethke in his signature green fountain pen ink on the FEP. This first printing (with the "First Edition" statement on the copyright page) of the author's second book has become increasingly scarce in fine condition with an attractive dust jacket, and signed. In addition to the long title poem, the text includes "My Papa's Waltz" and "Child on Top of a Greenhouse" among several other notable poems. A fine copy, in price clipped fragile jacket showing wear to edges.

San Francisco: Poems in Folio, 1957. Unbound. Near Fine. First edition. Large broadside poem. 12" x 18". Illustrated with woodcut initial by Mallette Dean. Slight foxing, near fine. One of 150 numbered copies printed in Arches mould-made paper and Signed by Roethke; this copy unnumbered and out of series.

Iowa City, (IA): Stone Wall Press, 1963. paper covered boards, slipcase. Stone Wall Press. 8vo. paper covered boards, slipcase. unpaginated. Limited to 270 copies, of which this is one of 210 numbered copies bound thus. Lacking the slipcase. Very light fading to the spine, else a near fine copy. Thirteen full-size wood engravings by John Roy. Printed by K.K. Merker.