THE DOUBLE DREAM OF SPRING

New York: E.P. Dutton & Co., Inc, 1970. First printing. Near fine in a near fine jacket.. Inscribed association copy of the first edition of this defining Ashbery book, one of the most important of his career - signed to the poetry editor of THE NEW YORKER, Howard Moss. DOUBLE DREAM marked Ashbery's first book published after his return from France and includes many poems originally written in French and translated by the author. It includes many of his best-known poems, including "Soonest Mended" and "Sunrise in Suburbia." This copy is inscribed a month before publication to long-time NEW YORKER poetry editor Howard Moss, who held that position from 1950 until his death in 1987; Ashbery would make the first of his many appearances in that magazine less than two years later. An interesting association, in many ways marking Ashbery's transition from cult avant-garde figure to major popular poetic voice. 8'' x 5.5''. Original quarter black cloth over green boards. In original unclipped ($4.95) pictorial jacket. 96 pages. Inscribed in year of publication by Ashbery on the front free endpaper: "For Howard Moss / John Ashbery / 1/7/1970." Some minor sunning to extremities. Touches of edgewear to jacket. Overall, sound and clean. Housed in a custom full green cloth archival clamshell box.