Ratch, Jerry

Osiris

Berkeley, CA: Cloud Marauder Press, 1977. Limited First Softcover Edition. Softcover. Inscribed & signed by Jerry Ratch to Thomas Rain Crowe. "whose soul/ do you have/ how many are/ you/ there are several/ running from death,/ laughing,/ whom you might know" (final stanzas) A chapbook with the title poem inspired by the ancient Egyptian deity by Jerry Ratch, the acclaimed Chicago-born American poet. With front cover & many interior illustrations by Mary Ann Hayden. As noted in colophon, this copy is from an edition of 750; with 700 softcover-chapbooks in sewn binding as here, & 50 hardcover copies. On blank front endpaper, Ratch has hand-written, signed & dated in the year of publication: "For Tom/ (signed) Jerry Ratch/ SF/ Dec 1977/ with/ Love." "Tom" is Thomas Rain Crowe, the noted poet & publisher who was at the center of the Baby Beat Generation/ Second San Francisco Renaissance during the 1970s (see our book, Starting from San Francisco, item No. 3071, Deluxe Edition No. 3075). At the place & time noted by Ratch here- San Francisco in 1977- Crowe was in the midst of his work as a poet & impresario. An essential Ratch collectible with very important poet-to-poet association & provenance. In fine condition with moderate rubbing, scratching, sparse creasing & spotting to front, back covers & spine; mild wear & some tiny bumps, creases at thin edges & corners of same; light rubbing & spotting to edges of text block. Interior very fine with only tiny bumps at mostly upper corners of some page leaves. Fine. [Item #3804]

Price: $25.00