Howl by Ginsberg, First Edition, city lights (44 results)

Original Wraps. Condition: Near Fine. Dust Jacket Condition: No Jacket, as Issued. First Edition. The special 50th Anniversary edition of this famous work by Allen Ginsberg, published as a paperback original in 2006. City Lights originally published the book in 1956. Number Four in the Pocket Poets Series. With a two-page Introduction entitled "Howl for Carl Solomon" by William Carlos Williams. ***Near fine in the iconic black & white glossy card covers. ***Please note that the covers are in fine condition as they have been laminated by a previous owner. No creases or tears. Internally also near fine with no inscriptions or annotations. Pages clean. No creases or tears. The endpapers are dark red. Spine tight. ***158mm x 124mm. 57 pages plus a two-page complete list of published works by Allen Ginsberg at the back of the book. ***"I saw the best minds of my generation destroyed by madness, starving hysterical naked---" [The mesmerising first line of "Howl"] ***'Irwin Allen Ginsberg (June 3, 1926 - April 5, 1997) was an American poet and writer. As a student at Columbia University in the 1940s, he began friendships with William S. Burroughs and Jack Kerouac, forming the core of the Beat Generation. He vigorously opposed militarism, economic materialism, and sexual repression, and he embodied various aspects of this counterculture with his views on drugs, sex, multiculturalism, hostility to bureaucracy, and openness to Eastern religions. Ginsberg is best known for his poem "Howl", in which he denounced what he saw as the destructive forces of capitalism and conformity in the United States. San Francisco police and US Customs seized "Howl" in 1956, and it attracted widespread publicity in 1957 when it became the subject of an obscenity trial, as it described heterosexual and homosexual sex at a time when sodomy laws made (male) homosexual acts a crime in every state. The poem reflected Ginsberg's own sexuality and his relationships with a number of men, including Peter Orlovsky, his lifelong partner. Judge Clayton W. Horn ruled that "Howl" was not obscene, stating: "Would there be any freedom of press or speech if one must reduce his vocabulary to vapid innocuous euphemisms?" Ginsberg was a Buddhist who extensively studied Eastern religious disciplines. He lived modestly, buying his clothing in second-hand stores and residing in apartments in New York City's East Village. ***The lead poem "Kaddish" also known as "Kaddish for Naomi Ginsberg (1894-1956)", was written in two parts by Beat writer Allen Ginsberg, and was first published in Kaddish and Other Poems 1958-1960. The book was part of the Pocket Poet Series published by City Lights Books. In the table of contents, the poem is titled "Kaddish: Proem, narrative, hymmnn, lament, litany, & fugue". Along with Ginsberg's "Howl", Kaddish is said to be one of his greatest masterpieces. Ginsberg wrote the poem about his mother Naomi after her death in 1956, who struggled with mental problems throughout her life. Naomi suffered many psychotic episodes both before Allen was born and while he was growing up. She went in and out of mental hospitals and was treated with medication, insulin shock therapy, and electroshock therapy. She died in an asylum in 1956. ' [Wiki] ***A near fine copy (with laminated covers) of the 50th Anniversary edition of this iconic City Lights Pocket Poets 'Howl' by Allen Ginsberg, first published as a paperback original in 1956. One of the most important and influential poems of the 20th Century. A landmark book of poetry published by Lawrence Ferlinghetti of the iconic (and still running) City Lights Bookshop. ***For all our books, postage is charged at cost, allowing for packaging: any shipping rates indicated on ABE are an average only: we will reduce the P & P charge where appropriate - please contact us for postal rates for heavier books and sets etc.

Soft cover. Condition: Fine. 1st edition. Fine (as new). 8vo, 48pp, stapled wrappers. Stated 52nd printing, issued in February 1996. Unmarked copy, as new. Not Signed.

Paperback. Condition: Very good. Paperback Octavo. wraps, 44 pp Number Four, twenty-first printing, April 1969. browning at spine and front edge. Standard shipping (no tracking) / Priority (with tracking) / Custom quote for large or heavy orders.

Hardcover. Condition: Near Fine. No Jacket. 1st Edition. Stated 8th printing in September, 1959 of the First Edition of October,1956. Softcover book in near fine condition with very light shelf wear on the covers and light tanning along the spine. Otherwise, pages are clean smooth and unmarked. The binding is tight. Includes a magazine clipping by American journalist James Farrell, titled "The Guru Comes to Kansas" with a photograph of Ginsburg reading his poetry to a roomful of students at the University of Kansas. at the end pf the article " A new GInsberg Poem From Kansas" quotes from the concluding passage of the Anti-War poem -" Wichita Vortex Sutra". The magazine clipping has a five inch closed tear midline. Published by Louis Ferlinghetti's publishing house.

Paperback. Condition: Very Good. First Edition. Introduction by William Carlos Williams. An early printing in the original format and quality of this classic book, Ginsberg's most controversial, just after it was removed from the banned books list. Original format in The Pocket Poets Series (Number four). A clean, bright, unmarked copy.

Hardcover. Condition: As New. No Jacket. First Thus. Like new hardcover 1996 reprint.

Condition: Good. Eighth printing, September 1959. Moderate wear and handling to cover, minor soiling and age-toning. Small ink drawing on first page. Uncommon early printing of this iconic poem. Staple-bound sextodecimo, 44 pages.

Stapled. Condition: Fine. First Edition. Fine. Two sheets printed on rectos only and stapled in the left corner. Issued in Chicago at the American Booksellers Association. A promotional piece for the publication of "the commemorative facsimile of the original edition." Uncommon.

Soft cover. Condition: Very Good. No Jacket. 1st Edition. Eleventh printing from Sept. 1962. A very good copy.

Saddle-stitched. Eighth Printing. Small Octavo, 44 pages. In Good condition. Black and white covers with two staples in spine. Covers have light age toning, slight tearing to spine edges, creasing to top corners, brown staining to both covers, and rusting to staples. Textblock has creasing to top corners and staining to head edge. Shelved in Room G. 1374403. Special Collections.

Soft cover. Condition: Very Good. 1st Edition. An eighth printing from the end of 1959 in very good condition. Circular stain on cover and the usual yellowing, otherwise a nice early copy.

Spiral Bound. Condition: Very Good. First Edition. The rare publisher's bound galleys of a City Lights edition that was 'forthcoming' for April, 2006 - but never released. Instead an edition from HarperCollins was issued later that year. A yellow sticky note has been added by a City Lights rep next to the 'forthcoming note on the cover reading 'well, maybe not!' xiv, 194 pages, xerographic printing in black plastic comb binding (mior wear). B/w facsimiles throughout. It appears that the Ferlinghetti introduction was omitted from the HarperCollins edition as published. A scarce surviving example of what the book would have looked like.

Softcover. First Edition; Twenty-Fourth Printing. Very Good+ in wraps. Owner name on title page.

Soft cover. Condition: Very Good. No Jacket. 1st Edition. Sixth printing from September 1958 in almost very good condition. Staining and discoloration to the covers. Small tear to back cover and inked squiggle to final page. An early printing from two years after the first printing.

No Binding. Condition: Clamshell As New. No Jacket. 1st Edition Clamshell Collector's Case. 1st Edition Clamshell Collector's Case. No Binding. Custom Clamshell Case. Ginsberg, Allen. HOWL AND OTHER POEMS. Custom Clamshell Case [Not A Book] White title & rules stamped on a black cloth spine over black custom handmade black marbled paper sides, black velour interior. A superb case for the Modern Masterpiece in very fine condition.

Soft Cover. Condition: Near Fine. First Edition. Introduction by William Carlos Williams. First edition, twenty-fourth printing. Signed by Ginsberg on title-page and dated "10/24/92." Publisher's black and white paper wrappers, lettered in black and white. Near fine, with light toning to spine, light edgewear, and "AH" written inside the "O" in "Howl" on the title-page. Overall, an excellent copy. Published as the fourth installment of City Lights' Pocket Poets Series, Howl and Other Poems is Allen Ginsberg's first collection of poetry, which opens with the iconic line "I saw the best minds of my generation destroyed by madness." In many ways the mantra of the Beat Movement, "Howl" observes and addresses problems in American society. In addition to "Howl" this volume includes "A Supermarket in California," "Sunflower Sutra," "America," and "In Back of the Real," among others. Signed by Author.

Soft cover. Condition: Good. 1st Edition. City Lights Pocket Bookshop (CA) 1956 First Edition, Fourth Printing (stated on the rear cover), no additional printing information on copyright page. Original 75 cents on the upper left corner of the rear panel. Good in staple bound wraps. Small 16vo. Covers are lightly soiled and have a previous owner name stamp on the top of the front cover as well as a stamp on the top of the title page and the dedication page. The previous owner also underlined with pen three paragraphs of the introduction by William Carlos Williams. An original first edition fourth printing of Ginsbergs first book.

Stapled Wrappers. Condition: Near Fine. Dust Jacket Condition: `. First Edition. The Fourth Printing, undated. Issued as Number 4 in the publisher's Pocket Poets Series. Cook 3. About Fine in black and white stapled wrappers. Small smooth crease lower front corner. 44pp. with Introduction by William Carlos Williams. Q19756.

Soft cover. Condition: Very Good. No Jacket. 1st Edition. Fourth printing in very good condition.

Stapled wrappers. Condition: As New. Reprint. Originally published by City Lights Books as Number Four in the Pocket Poets Series in 1956, this is the Eighth printing of 1959, noted by Cook as the first printing to incorporate previously suppressed content. A Very Fine copy, bound with two staples in the familiar square black and white format. A noteworthy issue. Q17170.

Softcover. Condition: Very Good. Dust Jacket Condition: No Dust Jacket. First Edition. The scarce 2nd Printing of the Original Edition. Pocket Poets No. 4. Black wraps with white printed paste on cover label. Only the First two printings had the paste on label. States 'Second Edition' on the rear cover. 75 cent cover price. Lucien Carr deleted on the dedication page and a comma after 'Harlem' on the rear portion of the pasted down cover wrap. General wear and dustiness, but overall a solid example. Scarce!

Condition: Very good. Third printing (stated) and first produced in the U.S. of Ginsberg's landmark poem, number four in the Pocket Poets Series. While the first two printings of HOWL were produced in London by Villiers, when U.S. Customs seized more than 500 copies of the latter printing for alleged obscenity (leading to one of the most important censorship trials of the 20th century), publisher Lawrence Ferlinghetti printed this third domestically, bringing the book out from under the jurisdiction of Customs a fact conspicuously noted on the copyright page, which clearly states "Manufactured in the United States of America." A significant copy from early in the history of this landmark poem that along with Kerouac's ON THE ROAD and Burroughs's NAKED LUNCH form the cornerstones of the Beat movement. It remains Ginsberg's most enduring work. 6.25'' x 5''. Original stiff black stapled wrappers (75 cents). 44 pages. Introduction by William Carlos Williams. Covers rubbed and toned with a bit of spotting. Else sound and clean.

Soft cover. Condition: Very Good. No Jacket. 1st Edition. Third printing in very good condition. Wrapper is yellowed with wear to edges. Uncommon in this printing.

Stapled Wrappers. Condition: Good. First Edition. First Printing. Cook 4. Original black paper stapled wrappers with white wraparound pastedown, as issued. 75 cent price, first state with Lucien Carr on dedication page. A Good copy. Front cover with slight waviness. Wear to white wrapper at spine. Smoothed diagonal crease to title page. Text and endpapers clean and unmarked. 44pp. The title piece, a signature work of the Beat Movement. Q21546.

First edition, first printing, first issue, number 4 of The Pocket Poets Series, signed by the author & three others; small 4to; original black wrappers with cream cover label printed in black, small tear and creasing to back cover, spine with some browning, else very good. A remarkable copy of the most influential book of poetry published since the Second World War. Signed by the author on the title page, and additionally by William Burroughs, Lawrence Ferlinghetti (the publisher), and Carl Solomon (the poem's dedicatee). Whilst copies of later printings signed Ginsberg are far from rare, examples of the correct first issue with multiple signatures certainly are.

Paperback. Condition: Good. First Edition. Photos on request. First edition, first printing. Front cover has a two inch neatly closed tear to upper right corner and has brown tape stain over it, a couple of brown stains to right edge of front, smudges around spine to front and back, a few more brown stains to back, some overall modest toning, previous owner name on publisher's page, a few small spots of foxing to a couple of pages, a few pages with eraseable pencil marks. otherwise a somewhat presentable copy with a good binding. Detailed photos on request. This book does have a strange oddity on pages 20-21; on those two pages only half of the page printed correctly with someone typing in very carefully so the lines match up to the other half. Not sure if this is just a misprint that someone corrected (seems unlikely because it is very well done), or if this was some early review copy that failed to print correctly and was "fixed" by someone at City Lights.

Soft cover. Condition: Good. 1st Edition. First edition, first printing of the groundbreaking poem, for both the Beat movement, as well as freedom of speech and expression in the United States. Meets all points including "Lucien Carr" dedication and period after "Harlem" on rear cover as sentence continues. Book is about good or slightly better, showing a variety of different points of wear and toning. Book is complete aside from the front fore corner of wraps having lost 5mmx5mm triangular piece. Previous owner name neatly written in ink to front title. Small quarto in wraps, 44 pages. Satisfaction guaranteed. Additional photos always available on request. Shipped in a fitted, padded box.

Softcover. Condition: Very Good. First Edition. This is a very good copy of the true First State of the First Edition (with the name "Lucien Carr" ?later removed ?on the dedication page). There is some faint staining to the white front cover panel and to the title page, which is SIGNED and dated in ink: "Allen Ginsberg, ?74" beneath a drawing by Ginsberg of the sun and a large flower that utilizes the "O" in "Howl" as its corolla. Perhaps the most important volume of American poetry of the twentieth century, signed and uniquely decorated by the author. Signed.

Condition: Very good plus. First edition. Rare signed first edition of HOWL, inscribed in the year of publication, likely at one of Ginsberg's most infamous readings. The most likely opportunities for Ginsberg to sign copies of HOWL in 1956 were few and far between. First, the book was published late in the year. While Ferlinghetti sent Ginsberg "a few advance copies" in August of that year (Morgan, I GREET YOU, 5), and a small number of copies inscribed in September are known (the Sept. 17th issue of PUBLISHER'S WEEKLY lists the official publication date as Sept. 1st), HOWL seems to have only really begun to be distributed in October. Again, according to PUBLISHERS WEEKLY, "[t]he first edition passed through U.S. Customs in October, 1956" (April 29th 1957). In addition, both Gary Snyder and Louis Ginsberg report receiving copies they had ordered at the start of that month, likely from the earliest copies received at City Lights. Morgan's bibliography, however, sets the date of publication as Nov. 5th, which coincides with the book's first notice, again in PUBLISHER'S WEEKLY ("[b]itterly impassioned"), but which further suggests HOWL's distribution wasn't really happening until well into October. And it was during October that the poet gave his only two public readings before the end of the year. The first was Oct. 21st, when both he and Gregory Corso read at the Poetry Center at San Francisco State (Corso's first public reading). But curiously Ginsberg did not read from HOWL that evening despite a large and expectant crowd more than 500 people and "[i]mmediately following the reading," both poets "were anxious to get on the road" (Morgan, CELEBRATE, 224). The pair were hitchhiking south on their way to Mexico (where they would spend the month of November), but had an important stop in Los Angeles, where they had a reading scheduled for October 30th. Sponsored by the literary magazine, COASTLINES, this small reading (held in a boarding house) would become one of Ginsberg's most famous, second only to the Six Gallery in terms of notoriety. The best account of the event is from Lawrence Lipton's 1959 memoir THE HOLY BARBARIANS. According to Lipton, Ginsberg was "reading from the book [HOWL], which had just come out," but was repeatedly interrupted by a drunk in the audience who jeered and heckled Ginsberg throughout. Ginsberg finished his portion of the event, but the matter came to a head when Corso got up to read. The drunk renewed his jeers and interruptions, eventually challenging Corso to a fight. At this point, Ginsberg stood up and countered that if the heckler wanted to do something truly brave, he would take off all his clothes. "The poet always stands naked before the world," Ginsberg explained and proceeded to disrobe until he was standing stark naked before the drunk, now stunned into silence. From there the drunk backed down and even reportedly asked Ginsberg after the reading where he could get a copy of HOWL for himself. No matter where it was signed, however, copies signed in the year of publication are quite rare. We trace only a handful inscribed in 1956, with most of those being associations of one form or another. A significant copy from early in the life of this landmark poem that along with Kerouac's ON THE ROAD and Burroughs's NAKED LUNCH form the cornerstone of the Beat movement. It remains Ginsberg's most enduring work. Original stiff black stapled wrappers with pasted white printed wraparound label, as issued. One of a thousand copies. Signed and dated by Ginsberg on the title page: "Allen Ginsberg / Oct 1956." Spine toned, as common. Mild soil, rubbing, edgewear. In a custom, full black goat-skin, clamshell box.

Condition: Fine- / Fine-. First Edition. First Pressing of this 33 1/3 rpm (12-inch) LP phonograph record (numbered 7006 on sleeve and vinyl), on which the poet recites (screams, begs, urges) "Howl" and other poems. Transparent red vinyl (not the later, more common black vinyl) with burgundy labels, plain paper slip, and original card sleeve printed in green, orange, andblack. Stamped in red: "Promotional Copy / Not for Sale" on rear of sleeve, with ownership of poet John Ciardi faintly stamped on upper right corner of front and neat blue ball-point notes to rear, probably in Ciardi's hand, commenting on the readings (Ginsberg recites "Howl," "The Sunflower Sutra," "Footnote to Howl," "A Supermarket in California," "Transcription of Organ Music," "America," "In the Back of the Real," "Strange New Cottage in Berkeley," "Europe! Europe!," and "Kaddish."). Long printed introduction by Ginsberg on rear sleeve. Offered with Third Printing (so stated on rear cover and priced 75 cents) of the First City Lights Edition of Howl and Other Poems, dedicated to Jack Kerouac, William Burroughs, and Neal Cassady and introduced by William Carlos Williams. Foolscap 8vo (157 x 121mm): 44pp. Black and white stapled card covers, inside covers blank, without separate white paper wraparound label of first two printings (now incorporated into cover design). LP's paper slip wrinkled but intact without tears, card sleeve lightly toned else about Fine. Book about Fine, pages slightly toned but clean throughout. Cook 4. Morgan F2a and A3. In October, 1956, with publication of Howl and Other Poems in an edition of 1000 copies by Lawrence Ferlinghetti's City Lights Bookshop, came fame and notoriety. Ferlinghetti was charged with disseminating obscene literature and arrested, but Judge Clayton W. Horn ruled that "Howl" was not obscene, and the collection ultimately was translated into twenty-eight languages. "Howl" became as famous "as any American poem since Eliot's"The Waste Land"and is still an icon of the Beat generation as powerful as Kerouac'sOn The Road . . . It is meant to be recited, and in his recitations Ginsberg was filled with gusto; he gesticulated and screamed, begged, urged and took off his clothes. . . . He was a lyric genius who, along with William Carlos Williams, was one of the greatest influences on the American poetical voice since Walt Whitman." (Literary Encyclopedia) N. B. With few exceptions (always identified), we only stock books in exceptional condition, carefully preserved in archival, removable mylar sleeves. All orders are packaged with care and posted promptly. Satisfaction guaranteed. (Fine Editions Ltd is a member of the Independent Online Booksellers Association, and we subscribe to its codes of ethics.).