Ginsberg, Allen; Kramer, Jane; McNeely, Bob; Wieners, John

Original Photograph of Allen Ginsberg with John Wieners with: Allen Ginsberg in America

San Francisco, CA; New York, NY: Bob McNeely; Random House, Inc., 1969; 1972. Original Photograph; First Edition. Photograph over Mount; Hardcover. With description in Allen Ginsberg's hand on verso of photograph. A one-of-a-kind bundle of rarities relating to Allen Ginsberg, Founding Father of the Beat Generation: (1) an original photograph (appx. 9&7/8" x 7&3/4") depicting Ginsberg (1926-1997) in the company of John Wieners (1934-2002) at the Republican National Convention in Miami during 1972. The two primary Beat poets joined many other countercultural literary & musical celebrities to protest the nomination of Richard Nixon for a second term as President. The photographer, Bob McNeely, became friends with Gonzo Legend Hunter S. Thompson during this time, & was later the official White House Photographer during the Clinton administration. On verso is McNeely's stamp with additional hand-written information; & below that is the following, hand-written though not signed by Ginsberg (according to previous seller's richly detailed description card included, & our seasoned eyes): "A.G. John Wieners/ MIami Political Convention/ 1972." In very fine condition with only one tiny spot, a few short, shallow scratches & a bit of browning at blank white margins not at all effecting image; a few tiny bumps at edges & corners. Carefully mounted over stiff board with above-described stamp & writing on verso. Previous seller's card (printed on recto only) in excellent, substantially mint condition. (2) Allen Ginsberg in America, the early (1969) biographical portrait of Ginsberg's life & milieu by Jane Kramer, the respected journalist associated with The New Yorker magazine (where much of this book first appeared in a different form). As noted on front flap, "The single literary voice most respected by young America is that of Allen Ginsberg- mystic, original beatnik, political protester, and paterfamilias for every yearning youth. Indeed, Ginsberg is probably the frame through which young and concerned Americans judge our national culture. In this original and provocative portrait, Jane Kramer captures all the fascinating and varied tapestry of Ginsberg's life, his companions, and the kaleidoscopic, shifting American scene." Hardcover in unclipped dust jacket, first edition, first printing as stated on copyright page (although with number sequence ending with "2" thereon). An informative, near-contemporaneous collectible compliment to (1) which we are basically "throwing in" due to its merely relatively good condition: Book with mild rubbing to front, back covers & spine; mild wear & fading to edges & corners of same; small rectangular areas of darkening-residue at/ near upper & lower edges of covers; very light rubbing & sparse spotting to edges of text block; slight fading & scratching to red-dyed upper edge of same. Interior with vertical series of brown stains-residue across blank white front & rear paste-downs; hand-underlining & marginalizing in red ink or green pencil on pgs. 11-13, 16-18, 21 & 23 (not effecting legibility of text); tiny bumps at upper corners of a few page leaves. Dust jacket good with mild rubbing & slight browning to front, back covers, spine & flaps; mild wear, some tiny bumps, creases & a few tiny chips at edges & corners of same; tape reinforcement at/ near inner spine-edges & corners; one very small area of staining & surface paper loss at lower right edge of front flap barely effecting one letter of text. Very Fine; Good / good. [Item #4059]

Price: $400.00