THE LORDS AND THE NEW CREATURES: POEMS - LENGTHILY INSCRIBED FROM ONE MORRISON FAN TO ANOTHER
New York: Simon & Schuster, 1970. First Trade Edition. Item #7926
First Printing. Octavo (22cm); purple paper and cloth-covered boards, with titling and author's facsimile signature stamped in gilt and metallic pink on spine and front cover; purple topstain; dustjacket; [10],11-141,[3]pp. This copy has been lengthily inscribed on a preliminary leaf from one Morrison fan to another, and dated July, 1971 – just in the aftermath of Morrison's death: "Dick – The Lord of Night takes his own, and the naked child returned to the rain / We, The Lizard People, are in mourning: we have lost our king / Bruce Martin / July 1971." Topstain a bit dulled, gentle sunning to upper board edges, with a small tear and attendant crease to upper margin of one preliminary leaf; Near Fine. Dustjacket is unclipped (priced $3.95), lightly edgeworn, with a few small tears and attendant creases; Very Good+.
The first published book of poems by The Doors frontman, published the year before his tragic death in Paris at the age of 27. "He sees and speaks of contemporary America – the cities, the drug scene, the movies, the money hustle, the old hang-ups and new freedoms in love. But his verse, like his vocal style, is undeniably his own – that of a talented, committed artist whose description of ourselves and our time echoes across the generation gap with the disturbing ring of truth" (from front flap). While we can't conclusively attribute the authorship of the gift inscription, we did find an obituary for a Bruce Douglas Martin (1953-2008), a lead singer and bassist for various bands since his teenage years, who was well known for his stage antics and impersonations of both Jim Morrison and Mick Jagger. Regardless, a moving contemporary inscription from a fan in mourning.
Price: $550.00