Dumont, Robert; Yearout, Joshua L. (Plymell, Charles)

NYC Transit[s] with: Wichita Jazz and Vice Between the World Wars

ISBN: 1401075886;9781929
Thorofare, NJ; Wichita, KS: Xlibris; Rowfant Press, 2002; 2010. First Softcover Edition, Later Printing; First Edition. Softcovers. NYC Transit[s] inscribed & signed by Robert Dumont to Charles Plymell; Wichita Jazz and Vice with handwritten annotations by Charles Plymell. A fascinating & collectible bundle of two books, both of literary merit in themselves & also linked with that Legendary Literary Outlaw, poet-printer-publisher Charles Plymell: (1) NYC Transit[s], a volume of short prose pieces by Robert Dumont, the Oklahoma-born writer who has long resided in NYC. "Uptown. Downtown. The city on the move. In ceaseless motion below the ground and on its streets...an assemblage of narratives and mini-dramas; of rants, apercus, and New York moments that constitute the daily experience of voyaging from here to there amid the urban vortex." (from back cover) Trade-format softcover, there is a reference to a hardcover edition on copyright page. At lower left corner of rear endpaper there is a reference to the printer, place & the date of "April 22, 2014," so we presume that this is a later printing of this 2002-copyrighted work, printed on demand by the author. On the title page, Dumont has hand-inscribed & signed: "To Charley Plymell-/ mind the closing/ doors- next stop/ Barrytown, NY/ 7-31-2016/ (signed) Bob Dumont." (2) Wichita Jazz and Vice Between the World Wars by Joshua L. Yearout (1975-2009), a wonderful survey of that long-gone time & place which the author researched while working as an archivist in Special Collections at Wichita State University Library. With many vintage images, "It's all here, from King Oliver to Charlie Parker- music that passed through town and music that was created in Wichita, while the clubs served contraband whiskey and the people frolicked." (back cover) Plymell, a Kansas-born Wichita denizen during his childhood & youth, is referred to on pg. 74, & has hand-written his signature at his reference. On the next page, he has hand-written & initialed an anecdote about his friend, the great jazz musician Paul Bley. Elsewhere in this volume, Plymell has hand-written memories & observations about the old Wichita jazz scene on two stick-notes attached near relevant passages. Trade-format softcover original, first edition as stated on copyright page, presumed first printing. Altogether an exciting collection of NYC portraits, & a delightful work of scholarship by a promising writer who died tragically young (like so many of his subjects...), both enhanced by their association with & being from the library of Charles Plymell. (1) in very fine condition with only a tiny amount of rubbing to glossy front, back covers & spine; a few miniscule bumps at corners of same. Interior very fine with only tiny bumps at corners of a few page leaves; otherwise substantially mint. (2) in fine condition with mild rubbing, scratching & creasing to front, back covers & spine; mild wear & short creases, small bumps at edges & corners of same. Interior very fine with only medium-size creases at upper corners of two page leaves where folded by Plymell; much smaller creases & bumps at mostly upper corners of many of same. Very Fine; Fine. [Item #3367]

Price: $50.00