Padgett, Ron; Coolidge, Clark

Supernatural Overtones

ISBN: 0935724400
Great Barrington, MA: The Figures, 1990. Limited First Edition. Stapled Sheets. Inscribed & Signed by Ron Padgett & Clark Coolidge to Tom & Angelica Clark. A fascinating collaborative work by legendary New York School-&-Beyond poets Ron Padgett & Clark Coolidge. On each page leaf with printing on recto only, there is a Haiku-like, fragmentary poem by Coolidge boxed in margins, below which is humorous, enigmatic commentary by Padgett. Both are exemplary of their respective styles, & add up to a whole creation of mutual inspiration/provocation. As stated in colophon, this is one of a limited first edition of 500 copies, of which 26 were lettered & signed by the authors. Although this is among the 474 copies not officially lettered & signed, there is this hand-written inscription with signatures on the title page: "For Tom & Angelica/ from/ (signed) Ron & Clark." Our careful comparison of the poets' handwriting & signature samples leads us to conclude that Padgett wrote the inscription & his first-name-only signature; & that Coolidge signed his first name himself. "Tom & Angelica" are, we are reasonably certain, Tom Clark (1941-2018), the prodigious & prolific poet & biographer who recently died, & his wife (now sadly his widow) Angelica. From the collection of James Perrizo (1944-2006), a devoted collector & scholar who at one time was the assistant to Edie Parker, Jack Kerouac's first wife. A rare & desirable collectible collaboration between two outstanding poets, with very significant association & provenance. In very fine condition with only a few tiny spots just below & above margins near upper left corner of front cover most probably as issued; very light rubbing to front, esp. back cover sheets; tiny bumps & a few short, faint creases at corners & edges of same; slight bending outward of front cover right side edge, decreasingly extending into same edges of page leaves. Interior very fine with only bending noted above; otherwise substantially mint. Very Fine. [Item #2907]

Price: $80.00