Crowe, Thomas Rain

Deep Language

Sylva, NC: New Native Press, 1991. First Edition. Stapled Wrappers. Signed (thrice) & inscribed by Thomas Rain Crowe to his parents. "Ransacked in the renaissance of evening sun,/ the moon has taken the half of my bed that's sleep./ With only enough room to write, and visions of memory wiritng me,/ I lean back into my body of rock wanting to dance..." ("The New (Part I No. 5)," first stanza) A collection of poems by 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). The poems are divided into two sections ("Moon Cycles" & "Sun Cycles"), & were inspired by Crowe's receipt of seashell fragments sent by the noted artist-sculptor Barbara Ann Carver-Hunt. With an introduction by Carver-Hunt which appears to be an excerpt from a letter sent to her by Crowe that accompanied the shell fragments (which she terms "shell letters"), explaining their significance & the circumstances of their gathering. Also with front cover & interior illustrations by Carver-Hunt. An exemplary chapbook production of Crowe's own New Native Press imprint, one of 300 copies hand-numbered & signed by Crowe at colophon, this is copy No. 108/300. Crowe has also hand-written his signature below his printed name on title page; & on blank page opposite colophon has hand-written, signed & dated at time of publication: "For Mom & Dad,/ ...where the language began/ with love and gratitude/ always,/ (signed) Thomas/ 3/91." A most important & desirable mid-career Crowe collectible, greatly enriched by these three signatures & heartfelt familial inscription. In very fine condition with only a bit of rubbing & fading to front, back covers & esp. stapled spine; very light wear & a few tiny bumps at edges & corners of same; staples in process of rusting with minimal bleeding at interior; slight browning & spotting to edges of text block. Interior very fine with only tiny bumps to mostly lower corners of some page leaves. Very Fine. [Item #3910]

Price: $30.00 save 20% $24.00