Great Balls of Fire.

New York: Holt, Rinhart, and Winston,, 1969. First edition, first printing, inscribed by the author and cover designer at the book's launch event, an invitation for which (using Brainard's starry cover design) is loosely inserted. Padgett's inscription on the title page reads: "For Harvey [illegible] Doneg DONEGAN at the Gotham"; Brainard's inscription on the final leaf reads: "To Harvey, love Joe", with blue ink stars mimicking his cover design surrounding the inscription. The launch event for this collection was held at Manhattan's iconic Gotham Book Mart, which Padgett and Brainard frequented at this time. Padgett (b. 1942) and Brainard (1942-1994) met at high school, where they formed the White Dove Review, which published the writings of Allen Ginsberg and Robert Creeley. After completing a Fulbright scholarship in Paris, Padgett became a central figure in the second generation New York School Poets, a group that included Brainard, Ted Berrigan, Alice Notley, Bill Berkson, and others. Great Balls of Fire, one of the pair's numerous collaborations, was reissued in 1990 to critical acclaim. Octavo. Original blue paper wrappers with white star pattern, spine and front cover lettered in white. Cover design by Joe Brainard. Light rubbing to covers, offsetting from title to front cover verso, otherwise clean and bright; a near-fine copy. Ron Padgett, Poetry Foundation, available online.