Matthews, Sebastian

Ragtime: a loose portfolio of poems

Iowa City, IA: Q Avenue Press, 2004. Limited First Edition. Sewn Wrappers. Inscribed & signed (twice) by Sebastian Matthews to Thomas Rain Crowe. "I walk down the path/ and just go until/ the silent hill crests/ and the unspoken heart/ lifts then is still." ("And What It Mustn't," first stanza) An earlier collection of poems by Sebastian Matthews, an acclaimed poet, memoirist & editor. An alumnus of the University of Michigan here in Ann Arbor, Matthews now resides in Asheville, North Carolina. This writer is particularly intrigued by "Art Pepper Meets the Rythm Section: January 19, 1957, Los Angeles," about the great jazz saxophonist & titled after one of his most classic albums. An elegantly simple chapbook production with front cover artwork movingly depicting the open road by Curtis Bauer, one of fifty hand-numbered copies per colophon, this is copy No. 49/50. On blank front endpaper, Matthews has hand-written, signed & dated during the very month of publication (per contents-copyright page): "To Thomas/ Rain Crowe/ a guide on/ this path/ to the new/ native./ well met!/ This loose/ portfolio!/ (signed or initialed) Sebastian Matthews/ 4-28-04." "Thomas" 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). Matthews' term "new native" is a reference-homage to Crowe's imprint, New Native Press. Additionally, Matthews has hand-written (or initialed?) his signature below his printed name which he has crossed-out on contents-copyright page. An extremely rare Matthews collectible with rich protege-poet-to-poet association & provenance. In very fine condition with only very light, sparse rubbing to front, back covers & sewn spine; a bit of wear, some tiny bumps & short, faint creases at edges & corners of same. Interior very fine with only tiny bumps at upper corners of a few page leaves. Very Fine. [Item #3961]

Price: $30.00 save 20% $24.00