Padgett, Ron; Schneeman, George

Sweet Pea

London, England: Aloes Books London, 1971. Limited First Edition. Stapled Wrappers. A collection of poems by Ron Padgett (b. 1942), the noted poet, essayist, fiction writer & translator most frequently associated with the New York School. Padgett came up in the 1960s alongside poets like Ted Berrigan (1934-1983), Anne Waldman (b. 1945) & Joe Brainard (1942-1994), many of whom had collaborated with visual artists and were steeped in Marcel Duchamp (1887-1968), Guillaume Apollinaire (1880-1918), and the French avant-garde. This influence is at least partially on view here in this collection, titled Sweet Pea, which reminds this author of the reveries drifted into by Surrealists in their catalogic love poems. The item is further endowed by its illustrations, which were provided by the American artist, George Schneeman (1934-2009), who was a key part of the New York scene at that time and also known for his wide collaborations with artists including Berrigan, Waldman, et al. A charming & curious Padgett collectible. Oblong-format chapbook in stapled wrappers: “This edition is limited to 200 [unsigned, unnumbered] copies in paper wrappers. 25 signed & numbered copies by both the poet and illustrator. An issue of 50 copies was produced hors commerce,” per colophon. From the collection of Richard Cupidi (b. 1945), our esteemed mate in the UK who managed the fabled Unicorn Bookshop in Brighton, England with Bill Butler (1934-1977, the famed American-expatriate bookseller & publisher). From the late 1960s through the early 1970s, Unicorn proffered & published many 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 treasures of Unicorn & Public House, including this gem. In strong Near Fine condition with generally mild-to-moderate rubbing, shelf-wear, & some light bumping & attendant bump-creasing to fine-edges & corners of front, back covers & spine-edge; minute-to-mild exhibits of spotting, as well as related age-toning (of a similar type & gradation) variously present throughout; otherwise, quite clean, as the pictures suggest with interior unmarked. Near Fine. [Item #9044]

Price: $55.00 save 10% $49.50