[Item #3416] Z No.s 1-5. Kenward Elmslie, John Ashbery, Russell Banks, Glen Baxter, Bill Berkson, Ted Berrigan, Joe Brainard, Clark Coolidge, Donna Dennis, Ray Johnson, Kenneth Koch, Joanne Kyger, Frank O'Hara, Ron Padgett, Karl Torok, Anne Waldman, John Wieners, Trevor Winkfield.
Z No.s 1-5
Z No.s 1-5
Z No.s 1-5
Z No.s 1-5
Z No.s 1-5
Z No.s 1-5
Z No.s 1-5
Z No.s 1-5
Z No.s 1-5
Z No.s 1-5

Z No.s 1-5

ISBN: 0915990032;0915990
New York, NY; Calais, VT: Z Press, Inc.; The Poetry Project at St. Marks Church In-The-Bowery, 1973-1976. First Printings. Softcovers. The first five contiguous numbers (of a total of only six) of the cutting-edge avant garde literary journal edited & with contributions by Kenward Elmslie, the noted & prolific poet-artist associated with Joe Brainard, the uncategorizable cult legend who also contributed to this series. The poets, writers & artists on & between the covers of these issues represent a dizzyingly eclectic array of movements & schools at early, middle & later phases of their development including the Beat Generation, the New York School & ultimately sui generis practitioners of literature & art. The first issue, "Z," (1973) includes poems & other forms of writing by Ted Berrigan, Brainard, Trevor Winkfield (who also created all the illustrations reproduced on front & back covers & throughout the issue) & many others. Interestingly, the texts are roughly evenly divided into two sections between different directions, a phenomenon we believe was intentional to emphasize its contents' avant garde-anarchic qualities, but there is the possibility that this is a flaw, since this is the only specimen we have seen or acquired. The second issue, "ZZ," (1974) includes contributions by the late great canonical American poet John Ashbery; several chapters from Russell Banks' first novel, Family Life, before publication (Banks would go on to acclaim with such novels as Affliction); Clark Coolidge; Elmslie; master of the New York School Ron Padgett (who also provided the front cover illustration) & many more, including a section of short texts & illustrations by Glen Baxter. The third issue, "ZZZ," includes contributions by Ashbery; Elmslie; Kenneth Koch; New York School icon Frank O'Hara; the venerable John Wieners, a charter member of the original Beat Generation; & Wickfield, among many others. Also in this issue is a color portfolio of whimsical "Hotel" facades by Donna Dennis, along with her black-&-white front cover illustration. These first three issues are co-published & affiliated with The Poetry Project at St. Marks Church In-The-Bowery (NYC) as noted on their copyright pages, the legendary venue-movement founded in the 1960s by Anne Waldman, Allen Ginsberg et al., which still flourishes. The fourth issue, "ZZZZ," includes works by Ashbery, Elmslie, Padgett, Waldman & many other distinguished poets & writers. Also in this issue are illustrations on front cover & throughout by Karl Torok. The fifth issue, "ZZZZZ," features poems & prose by Bill Berkson, Brainard, Coolidge, O'Hara & many others including a portfolio of collage & illustrations by Ray Johnson entitled "Snakes." These fourth & fifth issues do not include any direct reference to affiliation with The Poetry Project. A near-complete & contiguous set of a most important & collectible series of daring literary journals with a dash of provocative, sometimes puzzling & humorous art. All five numbers in fine condition with only mild rubbing, browning & creasing to front, back covers & spines; mild wear & occasional tiny bumps at edges & corners of same; mild rubbing, browning & occasional spotting to edges of text block (esp. first, third & fifth issues). Interiors all very fine with only slight browning esp. at blank margins of page leaves; tiny bumps at corners of some page leaves. Fine. [Item #3416]

Price: $250.00