JIMMY'S BLUES : Selected Poems

London: Michael Joseph, 1983. Fine in fine jacket.. First edition of Baldwin's first published poetry collection. Though better known for his prose, Baldwin wrote poetry all his life. In her introduction to a later edition, Nikky Finney writes: "From the beginning of his life to the very end, I believe Baldwin saw himself more poet than anything else: The way he cared about language. The way he believed language should work." His poems document the "wonderings of a curious heart devoted to exposing tyranny, love, and the perpetual historical lies of the Republic" (Finney). 7.75'' x 5''. Original textured black paper boards, silver-lettered spine. In original unclipped (£5.95 net) glossy color photographic dust jacket with portrait of Baldwin by Jean Harvey. Grey endpapers. 64 pages. Slight smudge to top corner of front paper, else clean, tight.