Rothenberg, Jerome

White Sun Black Sun

New York, NY, USA: Hawk's Well Press, 1960. First Edition. Softcover. "White Sun Black Sun is the effort of one poet to 'rediscover and invoke the real world through the dark power of image-forming words.' While the images of the book may initially seem 'Surreal' in tone, it is soon apparent that their purpose is not concealment but communication at a level that is only possible where feeling precedes and masters statement. The attempt, then, is 'always to speak directly, always to be understood, to create (even at the peril of great darkness) a country which is all our own.' " (from front flap) The first published collection of poems by Jerome Rothenberg (1931-2024), the great American poet, translator & anthologist who pioneered & was the foremost practitioner in the field of ethnopoetics. With cover illustration by Mildred Gendell (about whom we could find no information). A beautiful little production crafted in Ireland for the NYC publisher, softcover in sewn binding & wrappers with flaps, presumed first edition/ first printing though neither specified at copyright page. From the collection of Robin Eichele (b. 1941), a renowned local Mimeograph Revolutionary-era poet who co-founded the Detroit Artists' Workshop with the legendary John Sinclair (1941-2024) during 1964, & is our dear nearby friend & mentor. Eichele has hand-written his ownership signature in blue ink at blank upper right margin of recto first leaf, above smaller reproduction of front cover illustration. The foundational Rothenberg collectible in its rarest contemporary form; with distinguished, relevant association & provenance. See also esp. item No. 7725. In relatively quite near-fine-to-fine condition with mild rubbing, mostly faint scratching & age-toning to front, back covers, spine & flaps; a bit of wear & some tiny bumps, creases at/from edges & corners of same; mild rubbing, age-toning to edges of text block. Interior near-fine-to-fine with light age-toning to blank inner covers & page leaves; very small creases at esp. lower inner corners of some leaves; tiny bumps & small, faint creases at edges & outer corners of some leaves. Near Fine- Fine. [Item #8654]

Price: $50.00