Communications Equipment [4/4 hors commerce copy]

Providence, RI: Burning Deck. Very Good+. 1979. Limited/Numbered Hors Commerce Edition. Softcover. Tiny wear at corners, scratch and light, short crease to back.; Six of Kenward Elmslie's (1929-1922) innovative, eclectic, challenging poems: Night Thought (for Joe Brainard), Stance, Four Doors, Communications Equipment, Olden Scrapple Sonnet (for Bernadette Mayer), and Nytol. Elmslie was a multi-talented author, librettist, performer, and Editor and Publisher of Z Magazine and Z Press. Linked with the New York School of poetry, his poetry and prose were often incorporated into the works of visual artists and musicians. Not the saddle stapled, yellow-wrapper trade edition. This is this is an hors commerce copy 4 of 4 total, "H.C. 4/4" written in ink on the colophon, and sewn into gray, French-flapped, laid paper wrappers. Publisher's catalog inside on front flap. Not lettered or signed, it's otherwise identical to the Deluxe lettered, signed edition of 26 printed on Barcham Green Charter Oak pale green, mould made paper with their "1399 'Head'" watermark. Made by Barcham Green at Hayle Mill, Maidstone in Kent, England, this paper was used for the majority of lettered, signed editions from Burning Deck. Provenance: This was the author's copy. From the library and estate of Kenward Elmslie, prolific poet associated with the New York School of poetry, editor, performer, and founder of Z Magazine and Z press. Unpaginated, but [blank],18 pp. Fore and tail edges untrimmed. Designed and printed by Rosemarie Waldrop, co-founder/publisher of Burning Deck. Set linotype in 11 point Devinne by Mollohan Typesetting, West Warwick, RI. Burning Deck was a groundbreaking, important publisher of experimental poetry and prose, having issued 247 books and chapbooks before closing. It was a logical publisher for Kenward Elmslie's unique poetic style. From his library, this hors commerce copy is not in Bamberger. Clean, attractive, and conservatively Very Good+.; Large 8vo 9" - 10" tall; 19 pages .