Various (Coleman, Victor (Editor); Bowering, George; Lansing, Gerrit; Nichol, BP; Ondaatje, Michael et al.)

IS. No. 1

Toronto, Ontario, Canada: n/p (Victor Coleman), c. 1967. First Printing. Stapled Wrappers. "Flif flif flif flif very fast/ is the noise the birds make/ running over us./ A poet would say 'fluttering',/ or/ 'see-sawing with sun on their wings'./ But all it is/ is flif flif flif flif very fast." (Michael Ondaatje, "Song to Alfred Hitchcock and Wilkinson:," unpaginated) The vintage first number of the literary & arts journal edited & with contribution by Victor Coleman (b. 1944), the acclaimed Canadian poet, story writer & editor who is most-recognized as being the major creative force behind the later 20th century boom in Canadian small press publishing. With contributions of poetry by George Bowering (b. 1935), the prolific Canadian poet, novelist, critic & biographer; editor Coleman; Gerrit Lansing (1928-2018), the venerable American poet & critic; Michael Ondaatje (b. 1943, quoted above presumably in homage to the great director's 1963 film The Birds), the Sri Lankan-Canadian poet & author of the classic novel The English Patient; & more. With various cover & interior illustrations, motifs incl. by BP Nichol (1944-1988); ads for contemporary productions by El Corno Emplumado & Oyez imprints following texts. Smaller Chapbook-format journal in stapled wrappers, presumed first-&-only printing, undated at irreverent copyright page (but, we think, from circa 1967-8). From the collection of Robin Eichele (b. 1941), the esteemed American poet who co-founded the Detroit Artists' Workshop with the legendary John Sinclair (1941-2024) during 1964, & is our good nearby friend. An exceedly scarce literary collectible in its singularly rarest original form, with distinguished & relevant provenance. See also our item No.s 9310, 9312, 9314. In relatively quite fine-to-very-fine condition with mild rubbing, faint scratching & light age-toning (the latter esp. at mostly blank margins/edges) to front, back covers & stapled spine; a touch of wear & a few tiny bumps, creases at edges & corners of same; staples beginning to rust with miniscule exterior & interior bleeding; light rubbing, age-toning to edges of text block. Interior fine-to-very-fine with mild age-toning to inner covers & page leaves (again chiefly at mostly blank margins/edges); tiny bumps at corners of a few leaves. Fine-Very Fine. [Item #9316]

Price: $75.00 save 10% $67.50