HOWL AND OTHER POEMS
Rare signed first edition of HOWL, inscribed in the year of publication, likely at one of Ginsberg's most infamous readings.
Very good plus.
Price: $25,000.00
HOWL AND OTHER POEMS
The most likely opportunities for Ginsberg to sign copies of HOWL in 1956 were few and far between. First, the book was published late in the year. While Ferlinghetti sent Ginsberg "a few advance copies" in August of that year (Morgan, I GREET YOU, 5), and a small number of copies inscribed in September are known (the Sept. 17th issue of PUBLISHER'S WEEKLY lists the official publication date as Sept. 1st), HOWL seems to have only really begun to be distributed in October. Again, according to PUBLISHERS WEEKLY, "[t]he first edition passed through U.S. Customs in October, 1956" (April 29th 1957). In addition, both Gary Snyder and Louis Ginsberg report receiving copies they had ordered at the start of that month, likely from the earliest copies received at City Lights. Morgan's bibliography, however, sets the date of publication as Nov. 5th, which coincides with the book's first notice, again in PUBLISHER'S WEEKLY ("[b]itterly impassioned"), but which further suggests HOWL's distribution wasn't really happening until well into October.
And it was during October that the poet gave his only two public readings before the end of the year. The first was Oct. 21st, when both he and Gregory Corso read at the Poetry Center at San Francisco State (Corso's first public reading). But curiously Ginsberg did not read from HOWL that evening despite a large and expectant crowd — more than 500 people — and "[i]mmediately following the reading," both poets "were anxious to get on the road" (Morgan, CELEBRATE, 224). The pair were hitchhiking south on their way to Mexico (where they would spend the month of November), but had an important stop in Los Angeles, where they had a reading scheduled for October 30th.
Sponsored by the literary magazine, COASTLINES, this small reading (held in a boarding house) would become one of Ginsberg's most famous, second only to the Six Gallery in terms of notoriety. The best account of the event is from Lawrence Lipton's 1959 memoir THE HOLY BARBARIANS. According to Lipton, Ginsberg was "reading from the book [HOWL], which had just come out," but was repeatedly interrupted by a drunk in the audience who jeered and heckled Ginsberg throughout. Ginsberg finished his portion of the event, but the matter came to a head when Corso got up to read. The drunk renewed his jeers and interruptions, eventually challenging Corso to a fight. At this point, Ginsberg stood up and countered that if the heckler wanted to do something truly brave, he would take off all his clothes. "The poet always stands naked before the world," Ginsberg explained and proceeded to disrobe until he was standing stark naked before the drunk, now stunned into silence. From there the drunk backed down and even reportedly asked Ginsberg after the reading where he could get a copy of HOWL for himself.
No matter where it was signed, however, copies signed in the year of publication are quite rare. We trace only a handful inscribed in 1956, with most of those being associations of one form or another. A significant copy from early in the life of this landmark poem that along with Kerouac's ON THE ROAD and Burroughs's NAKED LUNCH form the cornerstone of the Beat movement. It remains Ginsberg's most enduring work.
Read more: Bill Morgan, I Celebrate Myself; Lawrence Lipton, The Holy Barbarians, pages 195-199.
The Object
First edition. San Francisco: The City Lights Pocket Bookshop, (1956). Original stiff black stapled wrappers with pasted white printed wraparound label, as issued. One of a thousand copies. Signed and dated by Ginsberg on the title page: "Allen Ginsberg / Oct 1956." Spine toned, as common. Mild soil, rubbing, edgewear. In a custom, full black goat-skin, clamshell box.
The Fine Print
We work hard to meet our ethical responsibility to describe our material accurately. All items are guaranteed as described and may be returned for any reason within 30 days. Please notify us before mailing a return.
We guarantee the authenticity of our items. All materials are original (meaning not facsimiles or reproductions) unless otherwise noted. First editions (meaning first edition, first printing) are explicitly stated. TPM is a member of the Antiquarian Booksellers Association of America and upholds their Code of Ethics.
All photographs are of the actual item for sale. We're happy to provide additional images on request.
All domestic orders ship gratis. For orders under $250, free USPS media mail shipping is included; orders $250 and over ship USPS Priority. International orders over $500 also ship gratis. Expedited, overnight, as well as other carriers (UPS, Fed-Ex, etc.), may carry additional costs beyond quoted rates. All orders receive tracking information and a direct contact in case of any questions.
International buyers are responsible for any customs, taxes, and related import fees. Please note that we are unable to accomodate requests to misrepresent, misdeclare, or otherwise falsify customs documents when shipping internationally. We appreciate your understanding.
We accept all major credit cards, Paypal, Venmo, check, money order, and bank wire. We are happy to bill institutional buyers' needs. Sales tax will be added to applicable purchases. Items subject to prior sale.
If for any reason you are dissatisfied with your purchase, please contact us. We prioritize our long-term relationships far above any individual purchase, and we want you to love your item as much as we loved cataloguing it.
