Various (Ashbery, John; Auden, W.H.; Baber, Alice; Blackburn, Paul; Bogan, Louise; Gardner, Isabella; Ignatow, David; Knott, Bill (Saint Geraud); Kunitz, Stanley; Merwin, W.S.; Sexton, Anne; Wakoski, Diane et al.)

The New York Quarterly, Number 1, Winter 1970

New York, NY: The New York Quarterly Poetry Review Foundation, Inc., 1970. First Printing. Softcover. "There are, we believe, certain basic craft considerations to be found in a poem by a confessional poet, a Black Mountain poet, a "beat" poet, a subjective imagist poet, a New York School poet, a rock lyric poet, or any other dominant or emerging school of poetry writing today...The concept, then, is craft. And the New York experience. And all that implies. The poet at his craft, in his city. In many ways, this is the dilemma of the modern artist, his crisis of identity, and his assertion of the human spirit."(from foreword) The first number of the venerable high-quality poetry journal. Featuring the first of its "Craft Interviews" with W.H. Auden, the canonical british-born poet who was still living in New York City at this time, with photographs. Also poems (usually just a single poem each) by Auden, Paul Blackburn, Isabella Gardner, David Ignatow, Stanley Kunitz, W.S. Merwin, Anne Sexton & many other luminaries who thrivingly practiced their craft in NYC. With a section of photographs of poets including Gardner, Sexton, Diane Wakoski & a surreal image of Bill Knott (1940-2014), the Michigan-born poet who fictionally committed "suicide" in 1966 & became known as Saint Geraud; fascinating appendices including "Written Criticisms," "Auction of Literary Materials" & "Poetry Awards"; brief notes on contributors & contemporary ads. The initial advisory board of NYQ listed on back cover included Auden, Blackburn, Gardner, Knotts/Geraud, Kunitz, Sexton & Wakoski, along with John Ashbery & Louise Bogan. Softcover in sewn binding with front cover color artwork by Alice Baber, details of which are reproduced in black & white on several interior pages. A landmark literary collectible, the first of this important series. In near-fine condition with only moderate rubbing to front, back covers & spine; very light wear, small bumps & creases at all corners & edges of same; thin vertical creases across front & back covers near spine-edges; light rubbing, scratching, spotting & wear at all edges of text block. Interior very fine with only small creases & bumps at upper corners of most page leaves. Near Fine. [Item #2853]

Price: $35.00