POETS AND THE PAST

(New York): (Andre Emmerich Gallery), 1959. Very good.. 15-times signed limited first edition of this anthology of modern poetry written in response to Pre-Columbian sculpture, with leaves autographed by every contributing poet. For this project, Ashton selected and sent an individual photograph to each participant, soliciting a wide variety of poetic responses limited only by the title of the collection. The full list of contributors includes: Barbara Howes, James Wright, Louise Bogan, Theodore Roethke, John Malcolm Brinnin, I.A. Richards, William Carlos Williams, W.S. Merwin, Stanley Kunitz, C. Day Lewis, St.-John Perse, William Jay Smith, Richard Wilbur, Jean Garrigue, and Octavio Paz. Rare. 9.5'' x 6.5''. Original half green leather with marbled boards. Green topstain. Edition of 1500, of which 50 copies, containing autographs of contributing pets, have been especially bound and numbered; this copy no. 41. Black and white photographs by Boltin. [30], 63, [5] pages. First 15 leaves signed in pen, each by a different contributor. Moderate wear to boards, with some chipping to spine ends. Interior bright and unmarked.