Clark, Tom

Heartbreak Hotel

ISBN: 0915124572
West Branch, IA: The Toothpaste Press, 1981. Limited First Edition. Sewn Wrappers. Signed & with hand-drawing & quote by Tom Clark. "Death is good, revenge is a waste of time, and who ever thought up the profit motive didn't understand either of those things, John said, tipping his head back to pour another drink into it." (from "Death, Revenge and The Profit Motive") A small chapbook of very short stories by Tom Clark (1941-2018), the great American poet, novelist, editor, biographer & artist who perhaps most exemplifies our category of "The Prolific & Underappreciated." The title story & others take up only a paragraph, & opposite each is a drawing by Clark. An exquisite production sewn into handmade Bengal covers from India; one of an edition of 550 copies published during November 1981, of which "...500 are numbered & signed by the author. This is number..." per colophon. But there is no number or signature below this reference, this copy may have fallen through the cracks so to speak & not been signed or numbered as intended where indicated; or it may be among the 50 copies undesignated for numbering & signature. Nevertheless, on the title page, Clark has hand-written his signature below a colored hand-drawing of a palm tree-landscape & the hand-written quote: "..While the cash-green/ palm-fronds sway.." The quote is the beginning of the story "Stories Told by the Shores of the Lakes of Africa," the first in the collection. A charming collectible in the Clark canon; especially rare in this unique form. In very fine condition with only a touch of wear & a few miniscule bumps at edges & corners of front & back covers (no spine as issued); tiny bumps at upper corners of a few page leaves; otherwise substantially mint inside & out. Very Fine. [Item #3782]

Price: $40.00