Fagin, Larry (editor)

Adventures in Poetry

New York, NY: Larry Fagin, 1968-1970. First Editions. Staplebound w/o spine wrappers as issued. Issue Numbers 1-5 The first 5 issues of one of the most significant productions of the NYC "Mimeo Revolution," a period of great literary ferment during the 1960s & 1970s. As described by its legendary editor Larry Fagin, who remains active in the East Village of NYC, "The title derives from a children's textbook, Adventures in Reading. I was trying for a kind of funky elegance...A typical issue was 300-350 copies, consuming thirty reams of 24# mimeograph paper, run through the Gestetner machine of The Poetry Project at St. Mark's Church." (Clay, Steven & Phillips, Rodney, A Secret Location on the Lower East Side: Adventures in Writing, 1960-1980, p. 195). Each issue contains contributions from many important poets & prose writers, including John Ashberry, Joe Brainard, Ted Berrigan, Jim Carroll, Tom Clark, John Giorno, Frank O'Hara, Francis Picabia, Anne Waldman & many others. Issue Number 1 is missing the front cover, but is otherwise near-fine with only relatively minor wear & inevitable age-related browning to edges, contents page & back cover. Issue Number 4 is completely intact, has water stains on front & back covers & minor ripples on front cover, otherwise near-fine with only wear & browning to edges & covers. Issues Numbers 2, 3 & 5 are all completely intact & in near-fine condition with only wear & browning to edges & covers. Most rare & collectible artifacts from the heart & heyday of the NYC independent literary scene. Important Note: This is the first offering from the collection of the late James Perrizo (1944-2006). We recently acquired the vast legacy of this devoted collector, correspondent & scholar of the Beats & related authors. Hundreds of the rarest & most collectible broadsides, journals & books will be incrementally presented. Your Curator is in the midst of an intensive study of this remarkable collection & the man who gathered it, & articles will appear in our NewsBeat department. [Item #1639]