WILLIAMS, William Carlos. Paterson. New Directions, Norfolk, CT, 1946.

Price: US$4000.00 + shipping

Description: 5 volumes, 8vo. A complete set of Williams' epic poem, each volume in original printed dust jacket. First editions, volume one boldly signed by Williams in an early hand. "I started to make trips to the area. I walked around the streets; I went on Sundays in summer when the people were using the park, and I listened to their conversation as much as I could. I saw whatever they did, and made it part of the poem." - Williams. Paterson is Williams' great long-form documentary work. It not only redefined subject matter, but prosody - Williams worked on it for years before finalizing the first volume, continually refining his use of the line outside of conventional meter. Its scale and its scope, and the fact that it was published in individual volumes over a long period of time (and not collected until 1963) complicated its reception, and its mosaic structure challenged readers perhaps more than Williams expected. Paterson was Cyril Connolly's final selection in his choice of the 100 key books of The Modern Movement: "The long poem has many moods and includes quotations from letters by Pound and Ginsberg, large Seurat-like canvases of the Park on Sunday, intimate Bonnard-like interiors, uproarious comedy . his poem is written with a deep aversion to all forms of pretentiousness, rhetoric or prepared effects; it runs eddying along, broken by old letters, bits of local history and limpid love lyrics." The volumes were printed in small editions: volume one comprised 1063 copies (952 bound at publication date and 111 bound in April, 1948); volume two of 1009 copies (similarly handled); volume 3 of 999 copies; volume 4 of 995 copies; and volume 5 ambitiously appeared in 3000 copies (1500 on its 17 September 1958 publication date and 1480 bound that December). Wallace A24, 25, 30, 34, 44. Some toning and occasional soiling to the jackets (and a few pale stains), a few small chips, overall a very good plus set, vol. 2 with unobtrusive ownership signature

Seller: Riverrun Books & Manuscripts, ABAA, Ardsley, NY, U.S.A.

WILLIAMS, William Carlos. PATERSON (Books 1-5). New Directions (1946-58), New York, 1946.

Price: US$5000.00 + shipping

Description: Five volumes, all First Editions in dustwrappers. The first four books limited to 1000 copies, the fifth to 3000. Williams's masterpiece, SIGNED by the poet in an early hand on the front free endpaper of the first volume and quite scarce thus. CONNOLLY 100, the one hundredth key book in Connolly's listing: "The long poem has many moods and includes quotations from letters by Pound and Ginsberg, large Seurat-like canvases of the Park on Sunday, intimate Bonnard-like interiors, uproarious comedy . his poem is written with a deep aversion to all forms of pretentiousness, rhetoric or prepared effects; it runs eddying along, broken by old letters, bits of local history and limpid love lyrics." Short tear to the front panel of the dustwrapper of the second volume, occasional internal tape reinforcement. Near Fine in Near Fine dustwrappers with only light wear and soiling

Seller: Charles Agvent, est. 1987, ABAA, ILAB, Fleetwood, PA, U.S.A.

WILLIAMS, WILLIAM CARLOS. [ROETHKE, THEODORE]. Paterson: Books I-V. New Directions, New York, 1946.

Price: US$17500.00 + shipping

Condition: Fine

Description: FIRST EDITIONS, AN OUTSTANDING ASSOCIATION COPY: Theodore Roethke's copies of Books III and V, with Book III inscribed in Roethke's hand "Ted Roethke's book, gift of W.C. Williams" and Book V inscribed by Williams "Ted from Bill". With first editions of the remaining volumes. William Carlos Williams was one of the most influential figures in Theodore Roethke's creative life. "At a time when Theodore Roethke was finding his poetic voice, he called William Carlos Williams 'my toughest mentor.'" From 1940-1948, as Roethke was developing his poetry, he submitted his latest work to Williams to critique. Williams repeatedly responded candidly and forcefully, issuing "a series of challenges to Roethke, and these challenges changed the direction and scope of Roethke's art" (Robert Kusch, "My Toughest Mentor": Theodore Roethke and William Carlos Williams). Roethke's own volumes of Paterson - Williams's masterpiece - must have held extraordinary significance for him and unite two of the towering figures in American poetry. Each first edition of Paterson had a very limited print run: Books I-IV, one of only 1000 copies, Book V, one of 3000 copies. New York: New Directions, 1946-1958. Tall octavo, original cloth, original dust jackets. A fine set with only the most trivial wear. Original cloth, original dust jacket

Seller: Manhattan Rare Book Company, ABAA, ILAB, New York, NY, U.S.A.