Kerouac, Jack

The Scripture of the Golden Eternity

New York, NY, USA: Totem Press, 1960. First Edition, Third Printing. Stapled Wrappers. “The awakened Buddha to show the way, the / chosen Messiah to die in the degradation / of sentience, is the golden eternity. One that / is what is, the golden eternity, or, God, or, / Tathagata–the name. The Named One. / The human God. Sentient Godhood. / Animate Divine. The Deified One. / The Verified One. The Free One. / The Liberator. The Still One. / The Settled One. The Established One. / Golden Eternity. All is Well. / The Empty One. The Ready One. / The Quitter. The Sitter. / The Justified One. The Happy One.” (4th leaf, unpaginated) Offered today is the 1960 collection of zen-filled poetry, The Scripture of the Golden Eternity, by Jack Kerouac (1922-1969), Founding Father of the Beat Generation. Scripture of the Golden Eternity is Kerouac’s sutra on Buddhist philosophy, in which he describes a "Golden Eternity" that is paradoxically everything and nothing. The 66 prose poems or "meditations" deal mainly with the nature of consciousness and the impermanence of existence. The main influence is Buddhism, but the use of the word "scripture" in the title alludes to Kerouac's Catholic upbringing and influences, evident in this work and others. Ultimately, these classic Kerouac meditations, Zen koans and prose poems express the poet’s beatific quest for peace and joy through oneness with the universe. An increasingly rare Kerouac collectible! From the collection of Richard Cupidi (b. 1945), our esteemed mate in the UK who managed the legendary Unicorn Bookshop in Brighton, England with Bill Butler (1934-1977, the famed American-expatriate poet, publisher & bookseller). From the late 1960s through the early 1970s, Unicorn proffered & published 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.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 is also now closed, & he still resides there. We have been honored to obtain what Cupidi has termed "The Last Hurrah," all the remaining rarities of Unicorn & Public House such as this. Stapled Wrappers. First edition though not explicated at copyright page, third printing with white wrappers and black front cover illustration per Charters (A11, pgs. 19-20). In relatively very fine condition with minimal wear to fine edges, moderate scratching/staining/discoloration to front and back covers, and light rusting at staples. Very Fine. [Item #8844]

Price: $65.00