Lamantia, Philip

Touch of the Marvelous

ISBN: 0877040206
Bolinas, CA: Four Seasons Foundation, 1974. First Edition Thus. Softcover. “In restoring Touch of the Marvelous I have permitted myself to bring together only those poems inspired by my initial three-year adventure in "pure psychic automatism' productive in the exaltation of the poetic marvelous, delirious eroticism and the reign of unfettered imagination written towards total human emancipation at the heart of surrealism now as ever” (from Back Cover). A collection of poems from the great American surrealist poet, Philip Lamantia (1927-2005). Touch of the Marvelous was first published in 1946 (when Lamantia was 19) by Bern Porter (1911-2004), the American artist, writer, publisher, performer, and physicist affiliated with both Mail Art and Found Poetry. This edition, as Lamantia himself notes above, is a curated reissue of the original text sheared to include only those poems that the author felt were the purest representations of Surrealism as he had inherited it from the European tradition began by Salvador Dali (1904-1989), Andre Breton (1896-1966), and others. A classic Beat Surrealist collectible. From the collection of Albert Glover (1942-2026), the esteemed American poet, editor, publisher & academician who was the foremost remaining authority on Charles Olson (1910-1970). Glover was a student of & anointed by the Maximus Master himself at SUNY Buffalo during the 1960s, & had ever since served outstandingly to bear the Olsonian Torch as bibliographer, editor & publisher. We are deeply saddened by this passing of our friend & mentor. Trade-format softcover: First Edition Thus, First Printing; published as “Writing 32” by Don Allen’s [1912-2004] acclaimed Four Seasons Foundation in 1974. In strong near fine condition with mild-to-moderate shelf-wear, light rubbing, sunning, & similar age-toning related artifacts to fine-edges & corners of front, back covers & spine-edge; a few scattered, low-visibility nicks to same at select locales, otherwise delightfully clean. Near Fine. [Item #9006]

Price: $30.00