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