Various (Eshleman, Clayton (Editor); Artaud, Antonin; Ashbery, John; Davidson, Michael; Enslin, Theodore; Fisher, Sandra; Morley, Malcolm; Olson, Charles; Rothenberg, Jerome; Sanders, Ed; Subin, Nina; Tarn, Nathaniel et al.)

Sulfur 8 (Vol. III No. 2, 1983) with: Sulfur 9 (Vol. III No. 3, 1984)

Pasadena, CA; Los Angeles, CA: California Institute of Technology; Sulfur, 1983; 1984. First Printings. Softcovers. Both issues signed by editor & contributor Clayton Eshleman. Two early, contiguous numbers of the deep & varied literary journal subtitled "A Literary Tri-Quarterly of the whole art" founded, chiefly edited & with contributions by the great Clayton Eshleman (1935-2021), the award-winning American poet, editor, translator & academician who was our local friend & mentor: (1) Sulfur 8 (Vol. III No. 2, 1983)- this issue features the long poem "Sappho On East Seventh" by the iconic Beat-&-Beyond, 1960s Lower East Side NYC countercultural poet, publisher & impresario Ed Sanders. With graphics, drawings & footnotes, this is a dense & exemplary Sandersian epic simultaneously scholarly, satirical & surreal. Also contributions of poetry by Michel Deguy (translated by Eshleman), Theodore Enslin, Jerome Rothenberg (a contributing editor), Nathaniel Tarn & others; a portfolio of photographs with preceding commentary by Nina Subin & more. With a section of notes, correspondence & reviews (the latter including by Eshleman); contemporary ads. On the title page, just below upper edge, Eshleman has hand-written his signature in bold black ink. (2) Sulfur 9 (Vol. III No. 3, 1984)- this issue features two contributions by the great French avant-garde actor-dramatist-poet-essayist Antonin Artaud (1896-1948): Facsimile pages from his notebooks, followed by a selection of letters & fragments co-translated by Eshleman. Following these is a portfolio of Artaud inspired-themed artworks by Nancy Spero (selections from "Codex Artaud"). Also poems by John Ashbery & others; portfolios of artworks by Sandra Fisher, R.B. Kitaj (including front cover) & Malcolm Morley; & more. Again with a section of extensive notes, correspondence & reviews (including of Charles Olson's Maximus poems by Michael Davidson); contemporary ads. On the title page, again just below upper edge, Eshleman has hand-written his signature in bold black ink. Two vintage issues of this rich & rare journal, both signed by its founder & mastermind, our dear departed friend Clayton Eshleman. (1) in very fine condition with only very slight rubbing & scratching to front, back covers & spine; a few tiny bumps at edges & corners of same; one tiny spot at lower edge of text block. Interior very fine with three tiny spots at blank areas of title page (two of them just below Eshleman's signature); tiny bumps at mostly upper corners of some page leaves. (2) fine with very light rubbing & scratching to front, back covers & spine; light wear & a few tiny bumps at edges & corners of same; several small but visible creases at lower area of blank (except for price) cover esp. near lower left corner. Interior very fine with only tiny bumps at corners of a few page leaves. Very Fine; Fine. [Item #4355]

Price: $60.00 save 20% $48.00