[Item #3423] Armadillo. John Weber, Barbara Weber, Margaret Atwood, W. H. Auden, Ted Berrigan, Tom Clark, Jack Hirschman, Robert Kelly, Michael McClure, David Meltzer, Kenneth Patchen, Diane Wakoski, John Wieners.
Armadillo
Armadillo
Armadillo

Armadillo

Sarasota. FL: Periplus Press, 1970. First Printing. Softcover. Signed by Diane Wakoski. This issue of the literary journal chiefly edited & with contribution by John Weber is an especially rich gathering of works by some of the most notable poets of different generations & schools: An early poem by Margaret Atwood ("Lying Here"), who would go on to write the prize-winning & explosively influential The Handmaid's Tale & its sequel; a late, whimsical poem by the great W.H. Auden ("A Bad Night (A Lexical Exercise)"); "3 Pages" (actually one page in length) by New York School-&-Beyond master Ted Berrigan; the very short "December 27/ Vikings 23/ Rams 20" (that's the entire poem-in-title) by the prolific poet & biographer Tom Clark; "The Apple (For Peter Marin)," a stream-of-consciousness prose-poem by the prolific poet, translator & San Francisco "Baby Beat" mentor Jack Hirschman; "Chambers" by the revered Black Mountain-Deep Image poet Robert Kelly; "United Air" by Beat Generation- San Francisco Renaissance founding poet & playwright Michael McClure; "Hero on Land" by David Meltzer, another towering figure of the SFR; a boldly reproduced color artwork with the text of "If Miracles Believed in Us" by the legendary Kenneth Patchen on front, back covers & spine; "Anticipation of Sharks" by the acclaimed, prolific & iconoclastic Diane Wakoski; "Indignation" by Beat icon John Wieners & much more. Below her printed name at the end of her poem, Wakoski has hand-signed her name with characteristic series of vertical doodles (which extend above & below) in blue ink. With graphic design including hand-calligraphy throughout by Barbara Weber (John's wife?). This un-numbered issue may be the first, & possibly only ever published, as we have never seen any other. In a subscription section near the end, there are references to issues No. 1 & 2, & to "a limited (400 numbered copies) facsimile edition of ARMADILLO #1" being available. We tentatively conclude that this is the first (only?) issue, first printing, not the numbered facsimile edition per above quote. An astonishingly eclectic & prestigious collection between beautiful Patchen covers; especially with Wakoski's signature at her contribution. In very fine condition with only very light rubbing & a few short scratches to front, back covers & spine; mild wear & a few tiny bumps, creases at edges & corners of same; very slight rubbing & occasional tiny spots at edges of text block. Interior very fine with only tiny bumps at corners of some page leaves. Very Fine. [Item #3423]

Price: $40.00