Little Mysteries

West Branch, Iowa: Toothpaste Press. Fine. 1979. Limited Edition. Softcover. Seven, tiny poems, each creating a scenario for a mystery. Example: "You return to / your bedroom / visibly shaken / as you turn down / the covers a cobra / leaps for your throat / paralyzed you collapse // you are no longer suspect". Each is accompanied, on the facing page, by one of Ann Mikolowski's illustrations of board game pieces, objects, and textures. Signed and inscribed to Kenward Elmslie. "For Kenward - / these big enigmas / Ken Mikolowski / Grindstone City" Provenance: 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. Ken Mikolowski was a founder of "Alternative Press" in Detroit and a friend of Elmslie. Monochrome drawings and cover illustration by Ann Mikolowski. This is the letterpress edition limited to 800 copies. Designed, handset in Blado and Poliphilus, and printed by Allan Kornblum. Printed in black and burgundy on delicate, soft mulberry fiber paper. Saddle thread bound into black, mould made, cardstock covers wrapped with burgundy, mould made, stiff paper, French flaps laid down. Unpaginated, 20 pp. 6" x 4". Includes the often-missing publisher's black, mould made, cardstock bookmark, its graphic replicating the cover illustration. In clean and Fine condition.; Color Illustrations; 16mo 6" - 7" tall; 20 pages; Signed by Notable Personage, Unrelated .