Martin, Brent

Hunting for Camellias at Horseshoe Bend

St, Paul, MN: Red Bird Chapbooks, 2015. Limited First Edition. Sewn Wrappers. Inscribed & signed twice by Brent Martin to Thomas Rain Crowe. "On a small bluff along the Little Tennessee River, just above the point where the river's free-flowing journey from the mountains of North Georgia ends at North Carolina's Fontana Resevoir, is a colony of one of the rarest of Appalachian shrubs, the Mountian Camellia (Stewartia Ovata). These plants reside within one of Appalachia's wildest remaining landscapes..." (pg. 11) A diaristic-poetic essay by Martin Brent, a distinguished poet-essayist-conservationist who resides in rural North Carolina. Martin chronicles his searches for the rare native Appalachian flora of the title in this beautifully crafted production, from an edition of 100 copies- this is copy No. 42/100, as hand-noted with drawing of a red bird (as in publisher's name) below a short biography of Martin on the final page leaf. With several vintage illustrations, & a fold-out reproduction of an 1886 typographical map of the region in North Carolina where the Mountain Camellias reside. On the shorter title page, Martin has hand-written & signed: "To Thomas-/ in appreciation/ for your friendship/ and commitment to/ the wild work-/ (signed) Brent." "Thomas" is Thomas Rain Crowe, the acclaimed 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). Crowe & Martin are fellow North Carolinians, colleagues, collaborators & kindred friends, as demonstrated in this warm inscription. Additionally, on the full title page, Martin has hand-written his full signature below his printed name, which he has crossed out. A rare flower of a Martin collectible, with rich poet-to-poet association & provenance. In very fine condition with only very slight wear & a few tiny bumps at edges & corners of front, back covers & spine; tiny bumps at corners of some page leaves; one short, faint crease to map besides fold-creases; otherwise substantially mint inside & out. Very Fine. [Item #3868]

Price: $35.00 save 20% $28.00