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Ha! Ha! Houdini! by SMITH, Patti - 1977

by SMITH, Patti

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Ha! Ha! Houdini! by SMITH, Patti - 1977

Ha! Ha! Houdini!

by SMITH, Patti

  • Used
  • Signed
  • first
New York: Gotham Book Mart & Gallery, 1977. Darkened along fore-edges of wrappers, with light toning to extreme fore-edges of sheets, some other light soiling along spine. Despite these flaws, a scarce chapbook with the original lock and keys. 8vo (8.5 x 5.25 inches). [16] pages. Duotone portrait frontispiece, and seven images in text. Stapled as issued in printed stiff wrappers; with the original hole-punch along the foremargins (with clean tear through, evidently from pulling the lock out), original lock and two keys on ring (all in working condition). FIRST EDITION, number 31 of 100 numbered and signed copies from an edition of 126 (the additional 26 copies were lettered A to Z). This is the scarce edition of Smith's 100-line poetic ode to Harry Houdini, written in 1972 but published here for the first time. Smith dedicated the book to Jacques Stern, the author whom William S. Burroughs called "a great writer" (he reported to Ginsberg that Stern had written a novel in nine days). Stern had moved into the Chelsea Hotel in 1970 and it was there he met Smith. She held her first solo exhibition of drawings at Gotham (the publisher) in 1973.

Smith's free verse poem delves into the mystique of Houdini, "more than a man. / he was an angel. / true. an imperfect one..." "His name was fake but he was not... no / heaven-born conjurer. but a man who / sought heaven thru natural magic." Celebrating him throughout, she concludes that "One night when you least expect it. / the moon will crack like an egg. / and sliding down that long gold stream / will be no easter chick... / It will be Houdini! / Harry Houdini. / with a wave a flourish and a smile / that will break the heart of every / locksmith in America.
  • Bookseller Riverrun Books & Manuscripts US (US)
  • Book Condition Used - Darkened along fore-edges of wrappers, with light toning to extreme fore-edges of sheets, some other light soiling along spine.
  • Quantity Available 1
  • Publisher Gotham Book Mart & Gallery
  • Place of Publication New York
  • Date Published 1977
  • Keywords ABAA-NY

We have 4 copies available starting at A$1,162.47.

Ha! Ha! Houdini!
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Ha! Ha! Houdini!

by Patti Smith

  • Used
  • first
Condition
Used - Near Fine, tracest soiling and handling wear.
Edition
First Edition
Quantity Available
1
Seller
Ridgewood, New York, United States
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 5 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
A$1,162.47

Show Details

Description:
New York: Gotham Book Mart, 1977. First Edition. Stapled gray pictorial card wraps [octavo], printed with blue and black ink, 16 pp. Near Fine, tracest soiling and handling wear.. First edition, unsigned (not one of the 100 numbered or 26 lettered signed editions) of Smith's early poetry chapbook put forth by Gotham Book Mart in 1977, five years after it was authored.
Item Price
A$1,162.47
Ha! Ha! Houdini!
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Ha! Ha! Houdini!

by Smith, Patti

  • Used
  • near fine
  • Signed
  • first
Condition
Used - Near Fine
Edition
First Edition, Limited Issue
Quantity Available
1
Seller
Portland, Oregon, United States
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 5 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
A$1,864.92

Show Details

Description:
New York: Gotham Book Mart, 1977. First Edition, Limited Issue. Near Fine. First edition, limited issue. One of 100 numbered copies [and 26 lettered copies] signed at rear by Patti Smith; this copy marked "O/S," perhaps out of series, though there is no hole-punch at the fore edge margin, and no lock and key set present. Bound in publisher's illustrated stapled wraps. Near Fine with shelf wear.
Item Price
A$1,864.92
Ha! Ha! Houdini! [One of 26 Lettered Copies]

Ha! Ha! Houdini! [One of 26 Lettered Copies]

by Smith, Patti

  • Used
  • very good
  • Paperback
Condition
Used - Very good
Binding
Paperback
Quantity Available
1
Seller
Decatur, Georgia, United States
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 5 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
A$3,108.20

Show Details

Description:
NY: Gotham Book Mart, 1977. Paperback. Very good. Paperback. "L" of 26 lettered copies out of a total edition of 100 issued with a lock and two keys. Rubbed overall, edges of wraps and pages discreetly repaired at hole punch where it looks like the lock tore through at some point, but still a decent copy of one of Smith's scarcer editions.
Item Price
A$3,108.20
Ha! Ha! Houdini!
More Photos

Ha! Ha! Houdini!

by Smith, Patti

  • Used
  • Signed
  • first
Condition
Used - Wrappers, hole punched with small padlock and key. Some toning to wrappers, near fine
Edition
First edition, copy H of 26 lettered copies, lettered and signed
Quantity Available
1
Seller
New York, New York, United States
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 5 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
A$4,662.30

Show Details

Description:
New York: Gotham Book Mart and Gallery, 1977. First edition, copy H of 26 lettered copies, lettered and signed by the author. Illustrated. Unpaginated, [16] pp. 1 vols. 8vo. Wrappers, hole punched with small padlock and key. Some toning to wrappers, near fine. First edition, copy H of 26 lettered copies, lettered and signed by the author. Illustrated. Unpaginated, [16] pp. 1 vols. 8vo. Copy H of 26, Signed by Patti Smith. Nice copy of the lettered state (100 numbered copies were also issued), with the original lock. Smith has lettered this copy "H Ha! Ha!" and signed below on the limitation page.
Item Price
A$4,662.30