Persecuted Poets Series Number One

rjs [Robert J. Sigmund]

Published by Ghost Press, Cleveland, 1967

About this Item

One of 150 copies of this artists book produced by rjs, shortly before his imprisonment in 1967. rjs was a concrete poet and publisher, who ran Ghost Press alongside d.a. levy and James Lowell. rjs and Lowell were both charged with publishing and distributing obscene work along with levy; while Lowell and levy s charges were dropped, rjs served four and a half months in prison. The book was made with ink stamps in a remarkably resourceful and rebellious effort at concrete poetry, as the police had seized levy s mimeograph machine. The main text features only one line, "my brain is bleeding like Niagara," broken into many pages. The final page, printed on a different, thin paper stock, reads: "RJS new address for the next six months: Workhouse Cooley Institutions 4051 Northfield Fd Warrensville, Ohio.". Stamped. Saddle-stapled in wraps, with printed paper slip laid down on inside front cover. [8] pp. 5 1/2 x 7 in. Very good, with front cover detached from lower staple.

Seller Inventory # 7401

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Persecuted Poets Series Number One
• Publisher: Ghost Press, Cleveland
• Publication Date: 1967
• Binding: Soft cover
• Seller catalogs:
  • Artists' Books
  • Poetry & Literature
  • Rare Books, Manuscripts & Periodicals
  • Beats