Harwood, Lee

The Man With Blue Eyes

New York, NY, USA: Angel Hair Books, 1966. Limited First Edition. Stapled Wrappers. Inscribed, signed & dated by Lee Harwood to Richard Cupidi. "Lee Harwood writes about memories that refuse to fade and dreams that are never nearly clear enough. In responding to these phenomena as if they were identical and simultaneous forms of desire, he declares the sovereignty of the emotional matrix and his own virtual helplessness in its thrall. Yet this, much as that of the grain of sand in the oyster, is his simple strategy. His poetry records the vicissitudes of the unmotivated wish to be beautiful." (from Preface by Peter Schjeldahl) An early collection of poems by Lee Harwood (1939-2015), the acclaimed British poet whose compelling, evocative sui generis works were partly inspired by the Dadaists, the New York School poets & even William S. Burroughs (see our presentation, The Cut-Up Life of WSB, here on our carousel). Large chapbook in stapled wrappers, an exemplary production of Anne Waldman & Lewis Warsh's Angel Hair imprint- the quintessence of the later New York School- Lower East Side NYC Mimeograph Revolution at its zenith. With Preface (quoted above) by Peter Schjeldahl (1942-2022, who would go on to eminence as the chief art critic for The New Yorker & The New York Times). As if to provide the proverbial cherry-on-top or frosting-on-the-cake, the front cover graphics are by none other than Joe Brainard (1942-1994), the great New York School-&-Beyond poet, author, artist & tragic AIDS martyr. Per colophon: "Published in a first printing/ of 500 copies by Angel Hair./ October 1966." At title page, Harwood has hand-written, signed & dated in cursive pencil: "for Richard/ with affection,/ (signed) Lee Harwood/ 31 May '68." "Richard" is Richard Cupidi (b. 1945), our esteemed mate in the UK who managed the fabled Unicorn Bookstore in Brighton, England with its founder Bill Butler (1934-1977, the legendary American-expatriate poet, publisher & bookseller). From the late 1960s through the early 1970s, Unicorn proffered & published many outstanding productions by WSB, J.G. Ballard et al., some of which have become the scarcest, all-but-unobtainable Beat-&-Beyond collectibles (see for example our item No.s 8217, 8366). 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 which is now also closed, & he still resides there. We are privileged to have obtained what Cupidi has termed "The Last Hurrah," all the remaining treasures of Unicorn & public house, including this gem. Third Mind Books is proceeding to reverently curate & present the Butler-Cupidi-Unicorn-Public House Legacy which is in our custodial hands- until it passes to yours. A foundational Harwood collectible in its very scarce & singular contemporary form; inestimably enriched by Harwood's inscription to Cupidi dated close to time of original publication, with the utmost distinguished & relevant association & provenance. See also our item No.s 8494, 8496. In relatively quite fine-to-very-fine condition with only a touch of rubbing, faint scratching & age-toning to front, back covers & stapled spine; a bit of wear & some tiny bumps, creases at/from edges & corners of same (side-edge of front cover slightly rough-cut as issued); mild rubbing, age-toning to edges of text block. Interior fine-to-very-fine with only light age-toning to page leaves, chiefly at blank margins/edges; tiny bumps & small, faint creases at mostly upper corners of leaves. Fine-Very Fine. [Item #8498]

Price: $125.00