Sorrentino, Gilbert

Black and White

New York, NY: Totem Press in Association with Corinth Books Inc., 1964. First Edition, First Printing. Stapled Wrappers. A collection of poems by Gilbert Sorrentino (1929-2006), the American poet, novelist, critic, professor, & editor. Sorrentino was born and grew up in the Bay Ridge neighborhood of Brooklyn, NY. His first major contribution to the landscape of mid-century American literature was the [initially mimeographed] literary journal, Neon, which began publication in 1956 and sometimes featured work by Sorrentino’s childhood friend, Hubert Selby Jr. (1928-2004). Writing in Contemporary Poetics, the critic Lois Gordon offered the following summation of Sorrentino’s verse: “Many of Sorrentino’s poems are photos, glossies on this blank world, and his language is hard and clear, often New York vernacular, his subjects the surfaces of New York.” This is especially evident in a collection like Black and White, which Sorrentino published in 1964 at the early apex of the Mimeograph Revolution. A fine Sorrentino collectible with distinguished provenance. 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. Softcover in stapled wrappers: First Edition, though not explicated as such on copyright page; First Printing, with no reference to other printings, thereon. In relatively Near Fine condition with only mild-to-moderate shelf-wear, some light bumping & select, low-visibility exhibits of bump-creasing to fine-edges & corners of front, back covers & spine-edge; minute-to-moderate rubbing & age-toning to same; some spotting, foxing, & artifacts related or similar to these present variously, throughout; & some rusting, bleeding to staples at interior & exterior; otherwise, generally clean with interior unmarked. Near Fine. [Item #9184]

Price: $35.00 save 10% $31.50