Ginsberg, Allen

Reality Sandwiches

San Francisco, CA: City Lights Books, 1966. New Edition (First Edition Thus). Softcover. "A naked lunch is natural to us,/ we eat reality sandwiches./ But allegories are so much lettuce./ Don't hide the madness." ("On Burroughs' Work," final stanza, pg. 40) The fourth collection of poetry by Allen Ginsberg in the iconic Pocket Poets Series issued by Lawrence Ferlinghetti's City Lights Books. Originally published in 1963 & printed in the UK through its first four printings, this copy is the fifth printing, "New Edition printed in the United States of America" (copyright page) during October 1966 in an edition of 10,000 copies & with no reference to any of the many subsequent printings of this edition, & therefore a first edition thus. Cook, No. 40, pgs. 43-44; Dowden, Section A, pgs. 10-12; Morgan, A6a1.5, pgs. 12-14. Many now-classic Ginsberg poems originally written from 1953 through 1960 are contained in this collection, including the prescient tribute to his fellow Beat Generation Founding Father William S. Burroughs (quoted above) dated 1954. Smaller-format softcover in perfect binding, No. 18 in the PPS as noted on front cover. From the collection of Allen Tobias, Ginsberg's assistant beginning in the 1960s, curator, critical scholar & writer, & our good friend & colleague at the European Beat Studies Network (ebsn.eu). A collectible version of an essential volume in the Ginsberg canon, with distinguished & relevant provenance. In relatively near-fine condition with mild rubbing, browning & occasional spotting to front, back covers & spine (browning most pronounced at the latter); mild wear & some tiny bumps, creases at edges & corners of same; light rubbing, browning & occasional spotting to edges of text block. Interior very fine with only a hint of browning to blank inner covers & page leaves; tiny bumps at corners of some leaves. Near Fine. [Item #5370]

Price: $50.00 save 20% $40.00