GOLDEN STATE

New York: Braziller, 1973. First Edition. Fine in a near fine jacket.. Inscribed first edition of Bidart's debut collection, containing arguably his most famous poem, the chilling "Herbert White" - a terrific association copy inscribed to the book's editor and designer. Ford was an almost unique figure in the American poetry community. Long-time poetry editor at both Knopf and Braziller (as well as Atheneum), he is singular in that he also designed many of the books he edited and thus helped define not only the taste but also the visual style of mainstream American poetry in the second half of the last century. These dual gifts made him much-beloved among poets, for whom he could help mold a volume into a seamless whole of form and content. Ford edited and designed collections for Elizabeth Bishop, Donald Justice, Philip Levine, W.S. Merwin, and (as here) Bidart. Hardcover. Octavo. Original gold (duh) cloth. Jacket has touches of rubbing and a bit of toning at edges. Unclipped. Clean and sharp overall. Inscribed by Bidart to GOLDEN STATE's editor and designer Harry Ford: "To Harry Ford, / grateful for his beautiful job on this book - / Frank Bidart / July 5, 1973."