Beat Generation

San Francisco: Shirt Pocket Editions, 2006. 1st edition. Soft cover. Fine/No Jacket (as issued). Near Fine. 32mo, 25 leaves (printed one-side on card stock), comb binding. INSCRIBED to the painter Jack Freeman by the author on the first interior page. One of an unknown but presumably microscopic number of copies of the self-published first edition of this pocket-sized poetic collection by a key figure in San Francisco's North Beach from the Beat era until his death a few years after this was issued. Just about as new (minor marks on cover appear to be printing artifact).

New York: Pat Hearn Gallery, 1987. 1st edition. Soft cover. Very Good/No Jacket (as issued). VG+. 4to, 8pp, stapled self-cover. Uncommon original publication from a 1987 Philip Taaffe exhibition, with transcription of a conversation with William Burroughs, edited by the late Diego Cortez and James Grauerholz. Schottlaender G78. Unmarked copy, minor wear.

Aspen, CO: Aspen Bookshop / Aspen Institute for Humanistic Studies / Jargon Society, 1968. 1st edition. No Binding. Very Good/No Jacket (as issued). VG. Rare letter-sized announcement printed in black on white stock, folded for mailing. While the year is not given, the date suggests this was from 1968 (presumably the referenced Cape volume was delayed). A bit of toning and general wear.

1970. The poem measures 61 x 45 cm. Kenneth Patchen sent it out for The Christmas holiday and is accompanied by a long 40-line letter he wrote to Larry Lake, publisher of Mano-Mano (Bowery Press), dated June 2, 1971 (in original hand addressed envelope), with his Palo Alto address. In this letter he says things have become a bit scrambled regarding permission to have his work quoted in Mano-Mano. He refers to his letter of January 20, [1971] where he says "you wrote us a letter in which you say..." here he quotes what Larry Lake had written about the proposed issue and Lake's note that he plans to dedicate it to him and list all his works. He also notes that his wife [Miriam] had sent a note of thanks and granted permission. Note: here we have the original letter of 20 lines from Miriam dated January 24, 1971 (also in original hand-addressed envelope in which she beautifully expresses her thanks for his desire to honor her husband but inexplicably she writes: "of course you have permission for… Read More

San Francisco, City Lights Foundation, 2014, trade paperback, 120 pp, First Edition, First Printing, Signed by the Author without inscription on the title page, Fine condition. Straight, tight and clean with no markings in bright, pictorial card covers, slightest corner bumps, covers slightly tending to lift. A collection of new poetry from the legendary leading female beat poet, educator, and Poet Laureate of San Francisco (2009) with a prose introduction reflecting on the scenes and people of San Francisco that meant so much to her. ISBN 9781931404150

This volume shows almost no wear, spine is good, no loose pages or scuffing, pages clean. Poem "Bomb" as centerfold. Signed by author, "Ciao! Gregory Corso 1975"

New York: Kulchur Press Inc, 1960. 1st edition. Soft cover. Very Good/No Jacket (as issued). VG+. 8vo, 52pp, printed wrappers. Nice copy of the scarce first issue of this essential avant-garde magazine from the early 1960s, includes The Conspiracy by William S. Burroughs (Schottlaender C17, Shoaf III-15), plus work by Bowles, Ginsberg, Olson, and other prominent Beat-era writers. Unmarked copy, light outer wear, staples have a little rust.

Toronto: McClelland and Stewart Limited, 1962. 1st edition. Soft cover. Very Good/No Jacket (as issued). VG. 8vo, 80pp, printed wrappers. INSCRIBED by Irving Layton on the half-title page (LOVE in the title is indicated as "My favourite four-letter word"). Classic anthology, includes 5 poems by Leonard Cohen plus work by other eminent contributors. Owner name to half-title, no other markings, a bit of general wear.

Buffalo, NY: LeMar International, 1969. 1st edition. Soft cover. Very Good/No Jacket (as issued). VG+. 4to, 24pp, self-cover. The rare third issue of this pioneering journal of marijuana reform, edited by Mike Aldrich and Ed Sanders. Includes a cover photo of Tim Leary, other interesting content. Solid unmarked copy, light outer spotting.

New York: The Floating Bear, 1965. 1st edition. Soft cover. Very Good/No Jacket (as issued). VG+. 4to, 16pp, stapled front wrapper drawn by Jess Collins. This copy addressed and mailed to Art Ford in New York. Another key issue of this incomparable private-circulation mimeo revolution mag from the heart of the sixties cultural ferment. Most content by John Wieners. Mailing address and postage plus Return to Sender stamp to last leaf (no other markings), horizontal mailing fold, a little toning, minor wear overall.

New York, Quill, 1967, trade paperback, 222 pp, First Edition, First Printing by numberline, Near Fine condition, no dustjacket as issued, Signed and inscribed by the Author as Amiri Baraka on the half-title page "To Youxie Unity + Struggle Amiri Baraka 1982". Straight, tight and clean, slight wear to spine ends and edges, touch of soiling to textblock edges, a few tiny dots to top edge. A collection of essays and critical reviews by the contemporary poet publisher, playwright, editor, and educator focusing upon the lives, styles, and performances of black jazz musicians including John Coltrane, Ornette Coleman, Cecil Taylor, Sonny Rollins, Thelonius Monk, Albert Ayler, Don Cherry and Archie Shepp. Illustrated with 4 pages of black-&-white photographs. Appended: A Brief Discography of New Music, Index. ISBN 9780688243449

West Glover, VT: Something Else Press, Inc, 1973. 1st edition. Soft cover. Very Good/No Jacket (as issued). VG. 8vo, 80pp, printed wrappers. A landmark collection of Gysin material, edited by Jan Herman, with supplemental texts by William Burroughs and Ian Sommerville (Schottlaender v4.G31; Shoaf I-24a). Unmarked copy, light sunning and wear.

San Francisco: Beatitude, 1979. 1st edition. Soft cover. Very Good/No Jacket (as issued). VG+. 4to, 88pp, printed wrappers. Clean copy of the 20th anniversary issue of the classic San Francisco underground Beat magazine, includes a particularly select range of contributors. Unmarked copy with light outer soil.

New York: The League of Militant Poets, 1962. 1st edition. Soft cover. Very Good/No Jacket (as issued). VG+. 8vo, 128pp, printed wrappers. The first and only issue of this Leftist literary review with a particular focus on Cuba. (Spanish-language poetry is presented in facing-page translation; prose appears in English.) Unmarked copy, light wear and soil.

Los Angeles: Black Sparrow Press, 1971. 1st edition. Soft cover. Very Good/No Jacket (as issued). Near VG. 8vo, 120pp, printed wrappers. One of 2000 stated copies of this first printing (1971 date on title page) in wrappers. Unmarked copy from the collection of Opal Louis Nations, spotting to page edges and moderate soil and toning.