Gallowsongs - Galgenlieder by

Los Angeles, California: Black Sparrow Press, 1970. First Edition. Hardcover. Very Good. 4to 11" - 13" tall. Christian Morgenstern. Printed August 1970 by Noel Young for the Black Sparrow Press. Design by Jess. This edition is limited to 600 copies in paper wrappers; 175 hardcover copies were ever printed, numbered and signed by the artist; & 26 presentation copies handbound in full leather by Earle Gray, lettered and signed by the artist, so said the publisher. This is No. 15 of 175 copies signed by Jess. Tall quarto, 126 pp. Profusely illustrated in black-and-white by Jess. Original four-page illustrated prospectus laid in. Pictorial boards with three metal bolts. Internally quite fine. Rear cover shows a very slight damp stain not affecting interior in any way. This copy is from the library of Jonathan Williams, bearing the following written presentation from Jess to Jonathan Williams on front free end paper: "to Jonathan a great Interim Spirit with love from an errant chick. Jess Oct 70." Jonathan Williams was the publisher of the Jargon Society Imprints, a great sponsor of the new in literature, publishing Robert Duncan and many other poets and writers in their infancy, so to speak. He himself studied with Charles Olson at Black Mountain College. Word had it that the Book Club of California will have an exhibition on Jonathan Williams and his Jargon Imprint Society. The Wikipedia entry about him is quite extensive. Jess is one of the great collage artists to appear after World War II in San Francisco. This is an association copy of unusual ability to link together two titans of American arts and letters.Member, I.O.B.A., C.B.A., and adherent to the highest ethical standards. Additional postage may be required for oversize or especially heavy volumes, and for sets.