Hirschman, Jack; Crowe, Thomas Rain

Kashtinah Segodnya: the Beatitude Press Archive of a Classic, 1975 Work by Jack Hirschman

San Francisco, CA: Beatitude Press, 1975. First Printing. Various (Stapled Wrappers; Single Sheets). Signed by Jack Hirschman. “Jack wrote this collection of poems during the mid-1970s during everything that was going on with Beatitude magazine and press and various excursions and events. It was dedicated to [the poet] Kristen Wetterhahn (b. 1949), whom he had lovingly given the Russian nickname of "Kashtinah Segodnya." I was acting editor for Beatitude Press books during this time and was the one who did the actual work for getting this book into print. Nothing extraordinary about the process that any editor/ publisher wouldn't know, here. The usual: author submits manuscript, editor reads it and makes comments, farms the actual printing out to a printer in Berkeley, proofs a proof copy with the author, orders copies, picks them up from the printer, sends them out to bookstores across the country and Canada, organizes public readings and book signings for the author. And yes, Jack knew exactly what he wanted to go in the book and the proper order, but there were no arguments about any of that. Everything went smoothly and without a hitch. Some people questioned the use of the Russian Cyrillic on the cover, but Jack was adamant about keeping it, as he was translating from the Russian at the time and feeling strongly his Russian Jewish heritage as being part of his work and who he was” (from p. 67-68 of Starting from San Francisco: Thomas Rain Crowe in Conversation with Third Mind Books [Item No. 3071]). As the quote above works to show, this work — Kashtinah Segodnya — is a testamentary representation of Thomas Rain Crowe’s (b. 1949) nuts-and-bolts efforts & communitarian leadership — both of which played an invaluable part in making the Second San Francisco Renaissance (as well as this individual book!) possible. As such, this lot (which contains the totality of work product for this work, as well as an original copy of the work) is of special significance to scholars of the Second San Francisco Renaissance — especially those wishing to know how Beatitude Press publications (in its second incarnation) made it to print. From the archive of Thomas Rain Crowe, the legendary American poet and co-authorial founder of the Second San Francisco Renaissance. For more information on the Thomas Rain Crowe archive (assembled & curated by Third Mind Books), see our book, Starting from San Francisco: Thomas Rain Crowe in Conversation with Third Mind Books (Item No. 3071) & the catalog for the Crowe archive (Item No. 1010), which contains several excerpts and quotations from the book as well as a full listing of the archive’s contents, which are now being offered for sale individually on the Third Mind Books site. Work Product (mostly single sheets: see pictures) & Pamphlet as originally published (in stapled wrappers): First Edition, First Printing, though not stated as such on copyright page. This item is additionally inscribed & signed by the way-leading Literary Leftist to his mentee-&-friend, Thomas Rain Crowe. Hirschman's inscription and signature, in medium-bold black pen ink (on half-title / FFEP) reads: “For Tom, / great / comrade / poet / Ever, / Jack / 75.” All materials in strong near fine condition with only minute-to-moderate shelf-wear, light bumping to fine-edges & corners of front, back covers & spine edges; some light rubbing & age-toning throughout; otherwise, clean. Near Fine. [Item #7749]

Price: $125.00