Projective Verse

(N. Y.: Totem, 1959). First edition of Olson's most important critical essay. Boughn A14. Butterick A13. Presentation copy to his Black Mountain College colleague M. C. Richards, author of the influential book on pottery Centering, inscribed in pencil on the inside front wrapper: "For MC (Richards) . . April 19th for the good she brought me Charles." Olson's most influential essay, which was originally published in "Poetry New York" in 1950. William Carlos Williams called it a "keystone" work, and reprinted it in his Autobiography. It also was the centerpiece of Donald Allen's seminal anthology New American Poetry published in 1960. In this essay, composition by field, form as an extension of content, and other tenets of postmodernist verse found their first and clearest expression. Wrappers lightly sunned along spine, otherwise a fine copy, with the errata slip.. 8vo, original decorated wrappers designed by Matsumi Kanemitsu. Wrappers lightly sunned along spine, otherwise a fine copy, with the errata slip.