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HOWL and Other Poems -First Edition-

HOWL and Other Poems -First Edition-

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HOWL and Other Poems -First Edition-

by Allen Ginsberg (Introduction by William Carlos Williams)

  • Used
  • very good
  • Paperback
  • Signed
  • first
Condition
Very Good
Seller
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 5 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
New York, New York, United States
Item Price
A$11,637.75
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About This Item

San Francisco: City Lights Books “Pocket Poets Series, Number Four”, 1956. First Edition/First State (1 of 1000 copies) . Softcover. Very Good. 12mo (44 pages). This is a very good copy of the true First State of the First Edition (with the name “Lucien Carr” – later removed – on the dedication page). There is some faint staining to the white front cover panel and to the title page, which is SIGNED and dated in ink: “Allen Ginsberg, ‘74” beneath a drawing by Ginsberg of the sun and a large flower that utilizes the “O” in “Howl” as its corolla. Perhaps the most important volume of American poetry of the twentieth century, signed and uniquely decorated by the author.

Synopsis

"Howl" was originally written as a performance piece by a young, new poet, Allen Ginsberg.  When published by poet Lawrence Ferlinghetti in 1956, Howl broke so many social taboos that copies were impounded as obscene, and  Ferlinghetti arrested. In 1957 the courts ruled that the poem was not obscene, and "Howl" went on to become the most popular poem of the Beat Generation. I saw the best minds of my generation destroyed by madness, starving hysterical naked, dragging themselves through the negro streets at dawn looking for an angry fix; Angel-headed hipsters burning for the ancient heavenly connection to the starry dynamo in the machinery of night.

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Details

Bookseller
Chartwell Booksellers US (US)
Bookseller's Inventory #
141379
Title
HOWL and Other Poems -First Edition-
Author
Allen Ginsberg (Introduction by William Carlos Williams)
Format/Binding
Softcover
Book Condition
Used - Very Good
Quantity Available
1
Edition
First Edition/First State (1 of 1000 copies)
Binding
Paperback
Publisher
City Lights Books “Pocket Poets Series, Number Four”
Place of Publication
San Francisco
Date Published
1956
Size
12mo (44 pages)

Terms of Sale

Chartwell Booksellers

30 day return guarantee, if an item arrives misdescribed or damaged.

About the Seller

Chartwell Booksellers

Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 5 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Biblio member since 2024
New York, New York

About Chartwell Booksellers

CHARTWELL BOOKSELLERS is the only standing bookshop in the world devoted to the writings of WINSTON CHURCHILL. Now in our 40th year as an independent bookstore in the heart of midtown-Manhattan, we offer the finest selection anywhere of rare Churchill first editions, books about Winston Churchill, newly-published works, and autographed Churchilliana, including signed books, letters, documents and all manner of paper ephemera. We are your source for value in the Churchill market. We guarantee the authenticity of every item we sell. And have been doing so for over 40 years. Chartwell Booksellers also offers an array of rare Military books, classic English Literature in hardcover, rare Photography books, Art books, and Literary Collectibles. Learn more about our rich history at: www.chartwellbooksellers.com.

Glossary

Some terminology that may be used in this description includes:

First Edition
In book collecting, the first edition is the earliest published form of a book. A book may have more than one first edition in...
First State
used in book collecting to refer to a book from the earliest run of a first edition, generally distinguished by a change in some...
12mo
A duodecimo is a book approximately 7 by 4.5 inches in size, or similar in size to a contemporary mass market paperback. Also...
Title Page
A page at the front of a book which may contain the title of the book, any subtitles, the authors, contributors, editors, the...

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