Olson, Charles

Broadside: "May 20, 1959"

Middletown, CT: Wesleyan University, 1970. First Edition. Single Sheet. "The moon must be in Perigee the sea/ is on the land so I think someone has cut/ and no it is the sea is new-mown// Talk to me I say to it from the snap/ of it behind me as I walk it/ talk to me as a gull did two days/ ago rattling off even making duck sounds" (first two stanzas) A broadside (appx. 9" x 11&1/2") with the title/dated poem by Charles Olson (1910-1970), the Great Black Mountain-&-Beyond Poet's Poet who is our favorite Maximus Obscurantist. Allusive, evocative, bursting with portent & emotion- an exemplary short Masterpiece, & relatively lucid & linear to Olsonian standards. Single sheet printed on recto only, first-&-only printing of unknown limitation. A beautiful letterpress production with decorative borders on handmade paper with irregular bottom & esp. recto right side edges, corners. Per colophon in its entirety: "This previously unpublished poem is presented on the occasion of the Charles Olson Memorial Program, held at the/ Honors College of Wesleyan University, 18 November 1970. Copyright (C) 1970 by The Estate of Charles Olson." From the collection of Albert Glover (1942-2026), the acclaimed American poet, bibliographer, editor, publisher & academician who until his recent passing was the foremost remaining authority on Olson. Glover was a student of & anointed by the Maximus Master himself at SUNY Buffalo during the 1960s, & held High the Olsonian Torch in the many decades since. We are bereft at the loss of our dear friend & mentor. We have no doubt that Glover attended, & probably was involved in the production of the memorial event in which this broadside was distributed, & likely the broadside itself. An extremely scarce (we have found no comparables) Olson collectible in its singularly rarest contemporary form; with the highest, most relevant association & provenance. In relatively quite fine condition with a hint of rubbing, occasional spotting, tiny markings at printed recto & blank verso; a touch of wear & a few tiny bumps, creases at/from edges & corners (as noted above, lower & esp. recto right edges,corners irregular as issued); several very faint horizontal creases at surfaces & esp. from left edge of recto; one faint vertical crease across length esp. at verso; tiny pinholes near corners (two near upper right corner recto, one at each other near-corner). Fine. [Item #9320]

Price: $150.00 save 10% $135.00