[Item #3527] Ira Nowinski's San Francisco: Poets, Politics, and Divas with: Publisher's Promotional Press Release. Jack von Euw, Rebecca Solnit, William S. Burroughs, Gregory Corso, Robert Duncan, Lawrence Ferlinghetti, Allen Ginsberg, Jack Hirschman, Ted Joans, Bob Kaufman, Michael McClure, Jack Micheline, Leontyne Price.

Ira Nowinski's San Francisco: Poets, Politics, and Divas with: Publisher's Promotional Press Release

ISBN: 1597140406
Berkeley, CA: The Bancroft Library, University of California, Berkeley; Heyday books, 2006. First Edition. Softcover. "What catches Ira Nowinski's eye and what he captures with his lens are people- the beat poets of North Beach, opera divas radiating passion and delighting in adulation, cigar-smoking old Italians, tenant organizers, and an alert shirtless old man in a boxer's stance. These are photographs from three decades that speak eloquently and powerfully about the timeless virtues of courage and dignity, photographs that probe the depth of the human spirit, indeed the very heart of San Francisco." (front flap) A bold, beautiful collection of images by Ira Nowinski, the great American photographer. The location of every image is San Francisco, & the book is divided into three sections as described in publisher's original loose single promotional sheet "For Immediate Release" included in this copy: "In this book, three faces of San Francisco are gloriously brought to life: The vibrant Beat Poet scene of North Beach, the defiant tenants of South Market's bygone residential hotels, and the electrifying energy backstage and onstage at the San Francisco Opera." For our Third Mind collectors' purposes, the North Beach section is of the highest interest. Such iconic figures of the Beat Generation & beyond as William S. Burroughs, Gregory Corso, Robert Duncan, Lawrence Ferlinghetti, Allen Ginsberg, Jack Hirschman, Ted Joans, Bob Kaufman, Michael McClure & Jack Micheline are shown unposed at work & mingling with each other, their families, friends & fans. The South Market section poignantly shows the lonely, downtrodden but defiant residents of now-vanished old SRO hotels fighting the gentrification which has since subsumed them & their neighborhood. The opera diva section features such legends as Leontyne Price preening on & off stage. With preface by Bancroft Library pictorial curator Jack von Euw; foreword by acclaimed writer Rebecca Solnit. Large-format softcover in sewn binding with cover flaps; first edition, first printing as indicated by number sequence on copyright page & presence of press release described above. A wonderful, most collectible production. In fine condition with only light rubbing to front, back covers & spine; very light wear & a few tiny bumps, creases at edges & corners of same; one short, closed tear at lower left corner-edge of front cover, spine; mild rubbing & spotting to edges of text block esp. upper edge. Interior very fine with only spotting at/near right edge of mostly blank front endpaper. Promotional sheet in very fine condition, printed-copied on both sides. Fine. [Item #3527]

Price: $40.00