Various (Brautigan, Richard; Corso, Gregory; Ferlinghetti, Lawrence; Ginsberg, Allen; Kelly, John; Kerouac, Jack; Lamantia, Philip; Weiss, Ruth; Whalen, Philip et al.)

Beatitude Anthology

San Francisco, CA: City Lights Books, 1960. First Printing. Softcover. Signed by Allen Ginsberg at his contribution. “BEATITUDE ANTHOLOGY is a selection, not all on the Beat frequency, from the first 16 issues of this ‘weekly miscellany of poetry and other jazz designed to extol beauty and promote the beatific life among the various mendicants, neo-existentialists, christs, poets, painters, musicians and other inhabitants and observers of North Beach, San Francisco, California, United States of America” (from Introduction). (Dowden, Section C, pp. 44-45; Morgan B11, p. 103; Charters B12, p. 39). An early anthology of contributions to Beatitude Magazine, the great American literary magazine started in May 1959 by Bob Kaufman (1925-1986), Allen Ginsberg (1926-1997), John Kelly (1913-1966) & William J. Margolis (1927-1988). As the unattributed, untitled introduction makes clear, not all work in this issue is quite “on the Beat frequency,” and because of this, the contents of the anthology can be a little curious at points. There are many contributors, for example, who are not considered, today to have any legitimate literary-historical relation to the Beat literary project: and they are here grouped right alongside titans of the movement, e.g., Jack Kerouac (1922-1969); Gregory Corso (1930-2001); Philip Lamantia (1927-2005); Philip Whalen (1923-2002); and San Francisco Renaissance stalwarts including ruth weiss (1924-2025); Founder & Publisher of City Lights Booksellers and Publishers, Lawrence Ferlinghetti (1919-2021); and Richard Brautigan (1935-1984). An essential, if curious Beat Generation collectible. From the collection of Richard Cupidi (b. 1945), our esteemed mate in the UK who was the manager of the fabled Unicorn Bookshop in Brighton, England founded by Bill Butler (1934-1977, the famed American-expatriate poet, 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 which is also now closed, & he still resides there. We have been privileged to obtain what Cupidi has termed "The Last Hurrah," all the remaining gems of Unicorn & Public House, including this. Third Mind Books proceeds to reverently curate & incrementally present the Butler-Cupidi-Unicorn-Public House Legacy which is in our custodial hands- until it passes to yours. Trade-format softcover original: First Edition, though not explicated as such on copyright page; First Printing, with no reference to other printings, thereon. This copy is additionally signed by Allen Ginsberg at his contribution on p. 15. Ginsberg’s signature, in thin, black pen ink, reads: “Allen Ginsberg.” In strong Near Fine condition with only minute-to-moderate shelf-wear & some light bumping, creasing to fine-edges & corners of front, back covers & spine-edge; similarly minute-to-moderate age-toning, yellowing, & other use & age-based artifacts present variously, throughout; otherwise, clean with interior unmarked. Near Fine. [Item #9284]

Price: $625.00 save 10% $562.50