Ginsberg, Allen (Cupidi, Richard)

Wales - A Visitation

London, England, UK: Cape Goliard Press, 1968. First Limited Hors Commerce Edition. Sewn in Wraps with Over-Wraps. Inscribed, signed & dated by Allen Ginsberg to Richard Cupidi. "The fire burned low/ The night, still wet & moody black heaven/ starless/ upward in motion with wet wind." (final lines, unpaginated) A chapbook with the title poem by Allen Ginsberg (1926-1997), a Founding Father of the Beat Generation-&-Beyond. Mystical & evocative, this exemplary shorter poem recounts Ginsberg's visit- & vision- to Wales on July 29, 1967 (title page). This is the very first incarnation of this work, an Hors Commerce edition of 200 copies a year after the events & impressions it describes. With all points in Morgan, A13(a1), pg. 21. An exquisite letterpress production in blank sewn wrappers with delicate rice paper loose flapped over-wrap with title/author at front cover, publisher name & logo at back cover. The colophon (recto final leaf) states: "Designed Printed & Published by Cape/ Goliard Press London./ An Offering for a Peaceful Summer from/ Allen Ginsberg & Cape Goliard Press./ Not for Sale." Although the copies of this edition were not intended to be signed or numbered, at shorter title page (recto first leaf), Ginsberg has hand-written, signed & dated in cursive black ink: "for Richard Cupidi/ from (signed) Allen Ginsberg/ Brighton November 15, 1979/ with thanks for his hospitality to our books." From, of course, the collection of Richard Cupidi (b. 1945), our esteemed friend in the UK who managed the legendary Unicorn Bookshop in Brighton, England with Bill Butler (1934-1977, the famed American-expatriate bookseller & publisher). From the late 1960s until the early 1970s, Unicorn proffered & published many outstanding productions by William S. Burroughs, J.G. Ballard et al., some of which have become the scarcest, all-but-unobtainable Beat-&-Beyond collectibles (see for example our item No. 8217). After prevailing against censorious harassment efforts, Unicorn closed & Butler died in short order. Cupidi went on to found the Public House Bookshop in Brighton, which had a long & successful run but is also now closed, & he still resides there. We have been privileged to obtain what Cupidi has termed "The Last Hurrah," all the remaining treasures of Unicorn & Public House, some of which have become the stuff of Beat-&-Beyond myth (again see item No. 8217). Beginning with today's batch of New Arrivals exclusively dedicated to this collection, Third Mind Books will reverently curate & present incrementally the Butler-Cupidi-Unicorn-Public House Legacy that is in our custodial hands- until it passes to yours. This is one of many Ginsberg-related collectibles which he inscribed & signed to Cupidi on his & companion Peter Orlovsky's (the "our" referred to in the above-quoted inscription, see our item No. 8202) visit to Cupidi at Public House during November 15-16, 1979. Already a scarce & most-desirable collectible, Ginsberg's signature & inscription with its stellar association & provenance makes this copy one of the rarest & most significant in all his published oeuvre. See also our item No.s 8209, 8210. In very fine condition, appearing substantially mint inside & out. Very Fine. [Item #8211]

Price: $600.00 save 15% $510.00