Ferrini, Vincent (Glover, Albert)

Book of One

Gloucester, MA: Heuretic Press, 1960. First Edition. Softcover. "The/ birth/ of/ death// the rites by death// for/ the/ burial/ of// death// &/ then-" ("Threshold," pg. 7) A collection of poems by Vincent Ferrini (1913-2007), an Italian-American poet & playwright who lived in Gloucester, Massachusetts- where he was a near-contemporary friend & mutual influence of its most profound resident, the Great Charles Olson (1910-1970), the Black Mountain-&-Beyond Poet's Poet who is our favorite Maximus Obscurantist. Indeed, Olson addressed-dedicated the earlier poems in his epic Maximus cycle to Ferrini, whom he introduced to Robert Creeley (1926-2005), Olson's Black Mountain School protege who was also among the Greatest American poets. Stark, evocative & always sensitive to the suffering lives of the working poor, this is an exemplary Ferrini collection. Trade-format softcover original, first edition, first printing, though neither specified at sparse copyright page- a handsomely ascetic production appropriate to its contents, published locally in Gloucester & printed in the UK. From the collection of the esteemed American poet & academician Albert Glover (1942-2026), our late dear friend who was the foremost remaining authority on Olson- he was a student of & anointed by the Maximus Master himself at SUNY Buffalo during the 1960s, & ever since was the premiere Olsonian Torch-Bearer as bibliographer, editor & publisher. Glover has hand-written his ownership signature in bold black ink at upper right margin of blank recto first leaf. An essential Ferrini collectible in its rarest contemporary form, with most-distinguished, relevant association & provenance. In relatively quite fine condition with light rubbing, faint scratching, slight age-toning & occasional spotting to front, back covers & spine; light wear & some tiny bumps, creases at edges & corners of same; mild rubbing, age-toning & spotting to edges of text block. Interior fine with light age-toning to page leaves, chiefly at blank margins/edges; tiny bumps at corners of a few leaves. We note that we have expertly repaired the wrappers by re-attaching them to binding which had come neatly loose. Fine. [Item #9012]

Price: $40.00