Snyder, Gary

Riprap, & Cold Mountain Poems

ISBN: 0877040273
San Francisco, CA: Four Seasons Foundation, 1969. First Edition Thus. Softcover. Signed & Inscribed by Gary Snyder. "I wanted a good place to settle:/ Cold Mountain would be safe./ Light wind in a hidden pine-/ Listen close- the sound gets better./ Under it a gray-haired man/ Mumbles along reading Huang and Lao./ For ten years I haven't gone back home/ I've even forgotten the way by which I came." (Cold Mountain Poem No. 5, pg. 41) Two collections of poems in one volume by Gary Snyder (b. 1930), the Canonical Beat Generation, San Francisco Renaissance & environmentalist American poet who is still with us & active as of this writing at the age of 92, & whose works have recently been enshrined in the venerable Library of America. Originally published separately during 1958-59, these two collections were first issued together by Four Seasons Foundation & edited by the legendary Donald Allen in 1965. These two collections are among the most celebrated in Snyder's oeuvre- Riprap consists of Snyder's own exemplary nature-devoted poems; while Cold Mountain Poems are his translations of poems by Han Shan, a revered ancient Japanese poet. Offered here is the "New Edition" of 1969, first edition thus, with reset text & a vintage 1953 frontispiece photograph of Snyder at a mountain lookout. Trade-format softcover original, one of 5000 first printing copies published April 30, 1969 with price of $1.50 at lower left back cover & all other points in McNeil, A10(c), pgs. 18-19. On the title page, overlapping & below his printed name, Snyder has hand-signed & written, in bold black ink: (signed) Gary Snyder/ for Josh." From the collection of Kevin Ring, publisher of Beat Scene magazine as well as other most indispensable & collectible productions in the UK (many of which are available here), & our good friend. A rare & desirable version of this classic Snyder compilation, with the great poet's signature-inscription & distinguished provenance. In fine condition with mild-to-moderate rubbing, browning, sunning & faint scratching to front, back covers & spine; very light wear & some tiny bumps, creases at thin edges & corners of same; mild-to-moderate rubbing, browning & a few very small, light spot-stains at edges of text block. Interior fine with very slight browning & occasional spotting to blank white inner covers & endpapers; gift inscription in cursive black ink by previous (to Ring) owner "J," who we presume is the same "Josh" referred to in Snyder's inscription, at upper margin of front endpaper; slight offset-residue of above at same area of opposite (inner front cover) page; tiny bumps at corners of a few page leaves. Fine. [Item #5088]

Price: $100.00 save 20% $80.00