Rare books from Jett W. Whitehead Rare Books (ABAA)

New York: William Sloane, 1948. 1st edition, full cloth, with dust jacket. Specially signed by Berryman. An advance publication presentation copy to Berryman's girl friend (Beryl Eeman) and inscribed: "B. imperishably John, Princeton, 27 Apr 1948 won't you send me one word?" in fountain pen ink on the FEP. Additionally with Eeman's signature and London address pencilled on the pastedown. The first poem in the collection is dedicated to her, as indicated on the author's "Note" page preceding the text. Berryman has placed a "+" next to her name. The inscription date is nearly two weeks prior to the publication date of May 10th. Very likely the first copy presented of the author's first major (pp. 103) solo collection published, with an unparalleled inscription. Only gentle wear to this fine and historically important copy. Housed in a deluxe custom archival box with leather spine and marbled paper boards. A most handsome presentation to what could easily be the cornerstone to any fine Berryman collection.

New York: Poet's Guild, 1925. 1st separate edition, broadside. Published in "The Unbound Anthology" series by The Poet's Guild in New York City. Also known as "The Christodora Broadsides." Exceptionally elusive and very scarce. This poem is among Dickinson's most popular pieces. Overall size: 7.5 inches high x 5 inches wide. A lovely copy showing only gentle aging tones, in fine condition.

New York: Poet's Guild, 1925. 1st separate edition, broadside. Published in "The Unbound Anthology" series by The Poet's Guild in New York City. Also known as "The Christodora Broadsides." Exceptionally elusive and very scarce. The title of this poem was later changed to "The Blue Bird," and is among Dickinson's most popular poems. Overall size: 7.5 inches high x 5 inches wide. A lovely copy showing only gentle aging tones, in fine condition.

Frankfort: Frankfort Arts Foundation, 1985. 1st edition, limited (1/310) numbered, original printed stiff sewn paperwraps (as issued). Specially signed by Hass, the former US poet laureate, on the title page. The first section of this handsome book publishes eight poems by Hass. The second section presents poems by Eric Trethewey and eight other poets. Designed and printed by Gray Zeitz at the Larkspur Press in Monterey, Kentucky. Japanese style binding. Fine condition.

New York: Harcourt Brace, 1942. 1st edition, full red cloth, with printed dust jacket. The celebrated author's monumental first book, specially signed by Jarrell in ink on the second FEP. Published in an edition of only 1700 copies (Wright A1), seldom are examples found in bright condition. Typically the inferior paper used for the dust jacket (due to the War years) is dry, brittle, and chipped. The present copy is uncommonly bright and fine, and unique with the author's scarce signature.

New York: New Directions, 1959. 1st edition, full black cloth, with printed dust jacket. Signed "JL File Copy" by the book's publisher, James Laughlin, on the FEP in pencil. Provenance: James Laughlin, Norfolk, Connecticut. A very bright copy, with mild sunning and light soiling to complete (not price clipped) jacket. A hard to match association copy, unique and fine.

New Haven: Yale University Press, 1976. 1st edition, full brown cloth, with illustrated dust jacket. A pristine copy of the author's celebrated first book. Selected as Volume 71 in the Yale Series of Younger Poets. A five page Foreword by Stanley Kunitz, who comments: "Her imagination, animated by a generous life-force, is at once passionate and tribal." A bright, fine copy in complete (not price clipped) jacket.

London: Faber, 1976. 1st edition, full turquoise boards, with illustrated dust jacket. Inscribed in year of publication to the Hungarian poet, Janos Csokits. Csokits, Hughes, and Sylvia Plath were close personal friends, and Csokits collaborated with Hughes on translations of poetry. The inscription reads: "To dear Janos / some half-olde English / bucolics / with much love / from / Carol & Ted / May 1976" in black ink on the FEP. Carol is the widow of Ted Hughes. The jacket illustration is by Leonard Baskin. A beautiful presentation of a fine association copy.

Norfolk CT: New Directions, 1943. 1st edition, original printed purple paperwraps (as issued). Specially inscribed and signed by Dylan Thomas on the half title page. The inscription reads: "for Elmer Borklund / from / Dylan Thomas. / Chicago 1950," in black fountain pen ink. Elmer Borklund was a Chicago based academic, literary critic, and author. Published by James Laughlin in The Poets of the Year series. Only minimal wear to this otherwise fine copy. Very scarce signed.

London: Faber and Faber, 1950. 1st English edition, full black cloth with gold lettering on spine, with printed dust jacket. (Gallup A61b.) A presentation copy, inscribed by T. S. Eliot upon publication, to Elisabeth Jungmann (Lady Beerbohm). Eliot was the editor of the present volume, as well as the publisher at Faber when this volume was issued. The inscription reads: "for / Elisabeth Jungmann / from T. S. Eliot / Sept. 1950" in blue fountain pen ink on the first FEP. At the time of publication, Elisabeth Jungmann was serving as Max Beerbohm's secretary and confidante, living in Genoa, and a neighbor of Ezra Pound. Soon after, Elisabeth Jungmann married Max Beerbohm. The relationship between Eliot and Pound is legendary, and both men enjoyed a mutual friendship as well with the Beerbohms. Far beyond just an interesting association copy, the present volume links two of the most influential early modern poets who edited and championed each other's work. Minimal wear to jacket not withstanding, a fine… Read More

London: Jonathan Cape, 1948. 1st edition, Uncorrected Proof, original gray green paperwraps (as issued). The present volume combines the complete text of Frost's A MASQUE OF REASON, A MASQUE OF MERCY, and STEEPLE BUSH representing the "First English Edition" of all three titles. There was no US equivalent. (Crane A34.) Uncorrected proof copies seldom appear for any of Frost's titles, scarce thus. Minimal aging to paper wrappers, and front cover tender at spine. Else a remarkably nice copy of a very scarce Frost "A" item.

Garden City: Doubleday, 1948. 1st edition (second printing), full black cloth, with illustrated dust jacket. Specially signed and inscribed by Roethke in his signature green fountain pen ink. The inscription is to William O'Connor, a distinguished literary critic and English professor who knew and admired Roethke. The inscription reads: "For the William Van O'Connor's / with best wishes, / Ted Roethke" on the FEP. Additionally, Roethke has corrected a typo on page 15 using the same green ink. In our experience, we have never seen another copy of this title with the corrected typo. In 1962 O'Connor attempted to lure Roethke from University of Washington to the University of California Davis, where O'Connor was chairman of the English Department. O'Connor's custom bookplate appears on the pastedown. The author's second book has become increasingly scarce in fine condition with an attractive dust jacket, and particularly so signed. In addition to the long title poem, the text includes "My Papa's Waltz"… Read More

New York: New American Library, 1968. Paperwraps. Fine. Paperwraps. 1st edition, long galley uncorrected proof, original wire staple bound, with custom archival box. The celebrated author's first book of poetry, presented here in the first issue uncorrected proof format. Laid in is a signed letter from Stanley Moss, on New American Review letterhead, requesting a review from fellow poet William Meredith. Gluck won the Nobel Prize for literature in 2020. The long galley uncorrected proof is housed in a bespoke archival box. Minimal wear to edges, else fine. Very scarce. Additional postage required.

1962. Classic black & white photograph of Frost by David Rhinelander, signed and inscribed "Robert Frost / to the Corbins / in friendship" in blue fountain pen ink. The image was used on the dust jacket of IN THE CLEARING (Holt, 1962) and for the pencil drawing for the 10 cent postage stamp issued in 1974. On the verso "Credit photograph to: / David H. Rinelander" and "Please return to / Robert Frost / 35 Brewster St / Cambridge Mass" also in blue fountain pen ink. Given that Frost died in January 1963, the present copy is a very early print of the photograph. When taking into account the "Please return to" statement, it is also likely that Frost sent this copy elsewhere (for publicity purposes?) prior to inscribing it as a gift. Fine condition.

New York: The Limited Editions Club, 1950. 1st edition, limited (1/1500) numbered and signed, full blue cloth, with leather labels on spines, in original publisher's marbled slipcase (as issued). This two volume set, beautifully printed by the master printer Bruce Rogers at The Marchbanks Press and illustrated with wood engravings by Thomas W. Nason, has been signed by all three artists (Frost, Rogers and Nason) and designated copy number "1349" on the colophon page. The text of over 600 pages includes the poems from Frost's first ten books, three additional poems, an essay by Frost, and a lengthy introduction by Louis Untermeyer. Housed in a complete, attractive yet fragile marbled slipcase, with small repair to paper spine label. Both volumes are beautiful and bright, with slight rubs to leather spine label on Volume I. Also included is the Limited Editions Club "Monthly Letter" and the printed prospectus for this work, along with a catalog listing of this copy on letterhead from Bauman Rare Books… Read More