[Item #3665] Mad Dogs of Trieste with: Related Gerard Malanga Ephemera. Janine Pommy Vega.
Mad Dogs of Trieste with: Related Gerard Malanga Ephemera
Mad Dogs of Trieste with: Related Gerard Malanga Ephemera
Mad Dogs of Trieste with: Related Gerard Malanga Ephemera
Mad Dogs of Trieste with: Related Gerard Malanga Ephemera

Mad Dogs of Trieste with: Related Gerard Malanga Ephemera

ISBN: 157423126X
Santa Rosa, CA: Black Sparrow Press, 2000; 2010. First Softcover Edition. Softcover. Book inscribed by Janine Pommy Vega to Charles & Pamela Beach Plymell; sympathy card inscribed by Gerard Malanga to the Plymells. "Janine Pommy Vega went from Union City, New Jersey to New York City at age sixteen in search of the Beat Generation whose books she'd been reading. She met Gregory Corso, and through him the other writers. After graduating high school she moved permanently to New York. In the fall of 1962 she left America with Fernando Vega, and traveled with him for three years through Israel and Europe. After his death in 1965 she returned to America and finished her first book Poems to Fernando, which was published by City Lights Books in 1968. In San Francisco she spent time with the Diggers, Hell's Angels, and North Beach writers..." (from biographical note) And that only takes us through her late twenties. A large collection of then-new & selected poems by Janine Pommy Vega (1942-2010), the Gonzo Beat Progeny Poet who did it all & knew 'em all. A Black Sparrow production with cover illustrations by David Wojnarovicz (1954-1992), the great American artist-polymath who died tragically young of AIDS. This copy is from the first trade-format softcover edition, published simultaneously with trade & deluxe hardcover editions in the Black Sparrow tradition. On the title page, Vega has hand-written & signed: "Northampton 3- 2001./ For Charlie & Pam/ with big love/ in the great wilderness(?)/ with the woods spider(?)/ here we are/ Love/ (signed) Jan." "Charlie & Pam" are Charles Plymell, the legendary poet, printer, publisher & Literary Outlaw; & his wife & right-hand collaborator Pamela Beach Plymell. The Plymells & Vega were dear friends & colleagues, truly kindred spirits with profound mutual respect & affection. Also included here between inside front cover & endpaper is an American Greetings sympathy card sent to the Plymells by Gerard Malanga, the acclaimed poet, photographer & key member of Andy Warhol's "Factory" circle, upon Vega's death. The card is hand-written, dated, inscribed & signed as follows: On left panel above printed Psalm 23:1-4 ("The Lord is my shepherd;..."): "For Janine, her memory." On second panel above printed expression of sympathy is the hand-written date "27:XII:10," or December 27, 2010 written in the characteristic Malanga style. Vega had passed away four days earlier, on December 23, 2010. Below printing, Malanga writes: "Dearest Charley & Pam,/ My sincere condolences/ for the loss of/ your friend./ X/ (signed) Gerard." Card only, without envelope. While this first edition of Mad Dogs is the least rare per se, the bundle of associations & provenance here make it an outstandingly rare, significant & poignant Vega & Co. collectible. Book in very fine condition with only light rubbing to front, back covers & spine; very mild wear & a few tiny bumps at edges & corners of same; light, mild spotting & staining to edges of text block esp. upper edge. Interior very fine with only tiny bumps at corners of a few page leaves. Ephemera in very fine condition with only a few tiny bumps at edges & corners. Very Fine. [Item #3665]

Price: $100.00