Clark, Tom

Journey to the Ulterior (Two Editions)

Santa Barbara, CA: Am Here Books/ Immediate Editions, 1981. Limited First Editions. Stapled Sheets. Both editions signed by Tom Clark. "...at noon, darker, lighter, both ways, down/ always, never up, dark, wet, cold,/ cracked, split, frazzled, spots in eyes/ joints leak, pain, monkeys, thin/ wines of suicide sucked in by/ zombies through glass straws/ broken catheters, screams, tapes/ of wet cloth across mouths, big/ open impossible O-mouth screams/ not audible through big cloud structure/ graylight sieve, overhead mysteries/ dispelled & only glum truth remains." (from Section III, "Ulterior") The title poem in three sections by Tom Clark (1941-2018), the great American poet, editor, novelist, biographer & artist who is the poster-child exemplar of our category of "The Prolific & Underappreciated." With front & rear cover sheets depicting a famous image of a surrealistically-serene looking, well-dressed woman who has just committed suicide, having landed on & destroyed the roof of a car from a great height. We offer two editions of this most disturbing work in the Clark canon: (1) Limited first edition published by Richard Aaron's venerable Am Here Books/ Immediate Editions imprint, large-format stapled sheets. On title page, Clark has hand-written his signature in blue ink below his printed name; & near lower right corner is the hand-written limitation designation of "8/50." (2) Identical to (1) with Clark's hand-signature in black at lower blank margin of title page, next to which is the hand-written limitation designation of "53/100." We cannot definitively explain why these two otherwise-identical copies have different limitations, but here they are in all their violent, twisted glory. Indeed, this production is somewhat uncharacteristically harsh & fragmented among Clark's works; the juxtapositions, sharp evocations & stream-of-consciousness remind us of William S. Burroughsian cut-ups. Uniquely rare Clark collectibles, both in very fine condition: (1) with mild rubbing, occasional creasing & spotting to front, back covers (no spine as issued); a bit of wear & a few tiny bumps at edges & corners of same; area at blank right margin of front cover with very light spot-staining; mild rubbing & spotting to edges of text block, esp. upper edge. Interior very fine with only tiny bumps at corners of a few page leaves. (2) with very light rubbing, sparse spotting & short, faint creasing to covers; miniscule wear & a few tiny bumps, creases at thin edges & corners of same; several tiny, non-penetrating dimples at blank upper left margin of front cover; mild rubbing & spotting to edges of text block. Interior very fine with only tiny bumps, creases at mostly upper corners of some page leaves. Very Fine. [Item #3799]

Price: $80.00