NOTHING FOR TIGERS. [and] FOR YOU. [and] THE MYTHOLOGY OF DARK AND LIGHT. [and] LIGHTER THAN AIR CRAFT. [and] THE SELECTED POETRY OF HAYDEN CARRUTH. [and] SONNETS. [and] THREE NEW POEMS

1965-99. ALL FIRST EDITIONS. Seven separately published volumes..
All in original publisher's bindings, as issued (see below). Lighter than Air Craft with eight wood engravings by Barnard Taylor; "Sonnets" with seven wood engravings in the text by Barnard Taylor; "The Myth of Dark and Light" with six linoleum block prints, each in a different color, by Alice Wand. ALL SIGNED BY THE AUTHOR, SOME WITH ADDITIONAL PERSONAL INSCRIPTIONS (see below). Nothing for Tigers with light marginal dampstains; all other volumes internally pristine and with only the most trivial defects to the bindings (see below).

American poet Hayden Carruth (1921-2008) was the author of more than 30 works and the recipient of numerous awards, including the National Book Award, the National Book Critics Circle Award, and the Lannan Literary Award. As noted by the Poetry Foundation, Carruth's writing is "characterized by a calm, tightly controlled, and relatively 'plain' language that belies the intensity of feeling behind the words." The present seven works, offered as a group, represent more than 30 years of his long literary career. The poetry in these volumes is both gritty and playful, inspired by nature, country living, and jazz, as well as Carruth's own personal experiences and struggles with alcoholism, anxiety, and abandonment. As indicated by the inscriptions given below, these works all come from the collection of Laure-Anne Bosselaar (b. 1943) and her husband Kurt Brown (1944-2013). Bosselaar is a Belgian-American poet, translator, and editor who has published numerous works of poetry in multiple languages, including five collections of her own works. She has been given various prizes and recognitions (Pushcart, Isabella Gardner, Breadloaf) and was named Poet Laureate of Santa Barbara in 2019. Sometimes publishing jointly with Bosselaar, Brown was also a prolific poet and editor of anthologies, as well as the founder of the Aspen Writer's Conference, playing a pivotal role in shaping its early vision and establishing Aspen as a literary center. Hayden Carruth and his poet wife Joe-Anne McLaughlin Carruth were good friends of Bosselaar and Brown, and the couples would spend time together when visiting their respective cities. Joe-Anne and Bosselaar also gave readings together in the late 1990s and early 2000s.

1) NOTHING FOR TIGERS. (New York: The MacMillan Company, 1965) 215 x 140 mm. (8 1/2 x 5 1/2"). viii, 85, [1] pp. Publisher's blue buckram, spine lettered in gilt, top edge dyed red. In original dust jacket (clipped, but retaining price). INSCRIBED BY THE AUTHOR "To Laure-Anne & Kurt [Brown] / Good to see you / again. / Cambridge, 19 Mar. 00" on the front flyleaf. Jacket a bit worn with one closed tear to upper edge. Just a bit of shelf wear; dampstain to the upper margin of first and last 10 leaves, small stain to fore-edge of last eight leaves, still an excellent copy, very fresh and bright.

2) FOR YOU. (New York: New Directions, 1970) 208 x 133 mm. (8 1/4 x 5 1/4"). 4 p.l., 117, [1] pp. Publisher's teal quarter cloth over paper boards, spine lettered in gilt. In original dust jacket. SIGNED AND INSCRIBED BY THE AUTHOR on the front flyleaf: "To Laure-Anne & Kurt / with Thanks and admiration and/ all best wishes - / Hayden/ March 17, 2000." Jacket just a touch soiled, one closed tear to rear jacket panel, a bit of light shelf wear, but a fine copy, internally spotless.

3) THE MYTHOLOGY OF DARK AND LIGHT. (Syracuse, New York: Tamarack Editions, 1982) 235 x 164 mm. (9 1/4 x 6 3/8"). [14] leaves. No. 27 OF 50 NUMBERED COPIES (and 26 lettered copies). Original quarter cream cloth over marbled paper boards, smooth spine with black printed lettering. Title printed in dark blue and black. SIGNED BY THE AUTHOR AND ILLUSTRATOR on the limitation page. A little light foxing to cloth, hint of rubbing to bottom edge, otherwise fine.

4) LIGHTER THAN AIR CRAFT. (Lewisburg, Pennsylvania: The Press of Appletree Alley/Bucknell University, 1985) 255 x 160 mm. (10 x 6 1/4"). 53, [1] pp., [1] leaf (colophon). No. 101 OF 150 COPIES. Publisher's brown cloth, printed labels on upper cover and spine. SIGNED BY THE AUTHOR on colophon. A fine copy.

5) THE SELECTED POETRY OF HAYDEN CARRUTH. (New York: MacMillan Publishing Company, 1986) 242 x 150 mm. (9 1/2 x 6"). x, 165, [1] pp. Publisher's pale blue quarter cloth over slate blue paper boards, spine lettered in gilt. In original dust jacket. SIGNED AND INSCRIBED BY THE AUTHOR on the front flyleaf: "For John & Mary-Ann / With all good wishes and/ thanks for generosity. / from Hayden. / 4 April, 1987." Laid in flyer for a poetry reading by Carruth at Passaic County Community College on April 4, 1987. Jacket a bit toned, slight offset to front flyleaf from laid in flyer; otherwise pristine.

6) SONNETS. (Lewisburg, Pennsylvania: The Press of Appletree Alley, 1989) 268 x 155 mm. (10 1/2 x 6"). [24] leaves. No. 56 OF 125 COPIES. Publisher's black buckram covered with marbled paper panels, spine lettered in silver. SIGNED BY THE AUTHOR AND ILLUSTRATOR on the limitation page. Paper panels on binding a little unevenly sunned; internally pristine.

7) THREE NEW POEMS. (Omaha, Nebraska: Brady Press, 1999) 145 x 202 mm. (5 3/4 x 8"). [5] leaves. No. 101 OF 150 COPIES. Publisher's brown handmade paper wrappers, front with a paper label. SIGNED AND INSCRIBED "Signed gratefully for Kurt Brown, Hayden Carruth" on the limitation page. As new..