THREE PLAYS - INSCRIBED TO MICHAEL MCCLURE
Calais, VT: Z Press, 1978. First Edition. Item #8497
First Printing, wrappered issue, one of 1,000 copies. Octavo (23cm); original pictorial card wrappers; [vi],[2],3-160,[2]pp. Inscribed by Ashbery on the title page in a contemporary hand to Michael McClure: "For Michael McClure / in New York / John Ashbery / May 10, 1978." Faint crease to lower left corner of rear wrapper, else a very Near Fine copy.
A volume gathering together for the first time Ashbery's most notable plays: The Heroes (1950), The Compromise (1955), and The Philosopher (1959). While Ashbery is best known as one of the principal figures of the New York School, and McClure most closely associated with the Bay Area and the Beats, the two traveled in overlapping social circles. Both men spent time teaching at Naropa, and were close with Allen Ginsberg and those close to him there. McClure confessed that while he and Ginsberg were watching Ashbery read at the San Francisco Museum of Art, that he was inspired to write a sestina. A nice inscription and a fitting gift to McClure, who published eight books of plays during his career.
Price: $450.00