Pictures of the Gone World

This is the real thing: the true first edition of Pictures of the Gone World by Lawrence Ferlinghetti. City Lights Pocket Poets #1.

Meets all first edition, first printing points according to "The City Lights Pocket Poets Series: A Descriptive Bibliography" by Ralph T. Cook: Saddle-stitched with two staples; stiff black paper wrapper printed in yellow, with a yellow hand-pasted wraparound paper label printed in black. This hand-pasted wraparound label is present only on the first printing.

Published in 1955, at 65 cents. Only 500 copies printed letterpress by David Ruff. No printing notice, meaning first printing.

Condition is a solid VG for this title. Only flaws are slightly soiled wrappers and somewhat rusted staples — but the pages are completely intact and not loose at all. (Even so, you'll want to be careful when turning pages of this historic book.) Wraparound is in excellent shape, firmly glued with no peeling or chipping. Kept in fresh plastic sleeve for archival storage.

Please review photos fully, and feel free to ask questions or request more photos. Along with Allen Ginsberg's "Howl," this is the keystone title in any Ferlinghetti or Pocket Poets collection.