Various (Weber, John (Editor); Weber, Barbara; Atwood, Margaret; Auden, W.H.; Berrigan, Ted; Clark, Tom; Hirschman, Jack; Kelly, Robert; McClure, Michael; Meltzer, David; Patchen, Kenneth; Wakoski, Diane; Wieners, John et al.)

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