An Early Martyr and Other Poems

New York: The Alcestis Press, 1935. A very good copy of this fragile book, the spine a bit browned, the covers with light toning and a few smudges; this copy lacks the glassine and slipcase. 8vo. 68, [3] pages. Original printed French-fold wrappers. First edition, number 95 of 135 copies on Strathmore Permanent All-Rag Paper signed by Williams on the colophon from an edition of 165. "[Ronald Lane] Latimer published for me An Early Martyr, superbly, lavishly printed on rag paper, dedicated to John Coffee, who had been arrested and sent to Matteawan Hospital for the criminally insane ... The poem 'An early martyr' tells about it, the factual details. The title poem is, in effect, a dedication" (WCW's Autobiography and I Wanted to Write a Poem, quoted in Wallace).

"Williams knew the incongruity of having his American poems published in such a format—he had lectured and written on the importance of getting poems out to as many people as cheaply as possible-but he also knew that there was really no choice. People like Latimer weren't knocking down his door with offers to publish him every day. It would have to be a limited edition, then, or none" (Paul Mariani, William Carlos Williams: A New World Naked, p. 369). Wallace A16.