Whalen, Philip

Self-Portrait, From Another Direction

San Francisco, CA: The Auerhahn Press, 1959. First Edition. Folded Broadside in Wrappers. “Self-Portrait, From Another Direction” is unique in several respects: first, it is so intensely evocative of the early Michael McClure that at points it is almost indistinguishable from work by “The Prince of San Francisco,” as McClure was later known. Your Devoted Managing Curator confesses to counting Whalen among his singular specialties: however, he’s been exposed to enough of Whalen’s work to know that this is not — was not — composed in “his voice.” The poet of Workaday Zen Wisdoms is here nowhere found; it is the ecstatic & rhapsodic voice of McClure that shines through. We at TMB wonder if this is what Whalen is referring to by title of the piece: “Self-Portrait in Another Direction” might well refer to another [tonal] direction — that frequented by his premier literary compatriots of this historical moment (namely, Philip Lamantia and the aforementioned McClure) — and this was an experiment endeavored upon on their [poetic] terms as opposed to his own. A sort of literary cross-dressing, if you will. At any rate, the poem is enormously interesting — a feast for scholastic inspection — and here (as with all of Whalen’s work) there is much to be mined. The most interesting factor is that it’s an Auerhahn Press production from the dawn of the San Francisco Renaissance. Take the titles advertised on verso as example: John Wieners’ “The Hotel Wentley Poems,”; Philip Lamantia’s “Ekstasis” & “Narcotica”; & McClure’s “Hymns to St. Geryon.” These are literally all “SFR Classics” — “SFR Classics” as much as Joni Mitchell’s “Both Sides Now” is a “Laurel Canyon Classic.” The suite of factors here assembled in concert attest to the verity and rarity of this SFR collectible, distinguish it among the mass of eligible purchases, and verify its allure. You can’t go wrong here! Folded Broadside in Wrappers: first and only printing of this Auerhahn Press collectible. In very fine condition with only minute-to-moderate shelf-wear, light bumping & tiny exhibits of horizontal & vertical creasing to fine-edges & corners of front, back covers & spine-edge, else pristine. Very Fine. [Item #6197]

Price: $85.00