Tulips Chimneys by Cummings E E, Signed (3 results)

Inscribed by the author to his friend and New York Times critic Peter Monro Jack, on the front free endpaper, "On behalf of P. M. J., E. E. Cummings". Underneath is the ownership inscription of Jack as well as Cummings's French translator, David Jonathan Grossman: "now in possession of D. Jon Grossman". Cummings wrote the eulogistic poem "we miss you, jack", which appears as number 7 in Xaipe (1950): "a 3ringbrain you had and a circusheart, and we miss them more than any bright word may cry". Jack (c.1897-1944) introduced Grossman (1922-1990) to Cummings whilst the aspiring writer was attending Jack's course at Columbia night school in 1941-42. By 1960, Grossman had published his first Cummings translation, and in 1980 he was awarded the Prix Halperine-Kaminsky for his works. This copy is from the second printing, six months after the first. Octavo. Original green cloth, paper label to spine. Grossman's shelf label on front cover. Spine browned, label chipped and rubbed, wear to extremities, minor marks to cloth and contents, a little shaken. A very good copy.

The Archetype edition, presentation copy, inscribed by the author to his French translator on the front free endpaper, "inscribed by E. E. Cummings for D. Jon Grossman 10 May '51". Grossman has studiously annotated the contents in pencil, and two early typed drafts of Cummings's verse are loosely inserted. The draft of "Arthur Wilson," later titled "as usual I did not find him in cafes," includes several annotations and textual differences compared to the printed poem on page 104. Grossman has credited the poem's periodical debut to the margin in pencil: "Broom in July 1922". Similarly, the draft of "by god i want above fourteenth" is loosely inserted at page 167, showing altered line spacing but no textual differences. David Jonathan Grossman (1922-1990) first met Cummings whilst attending Peter Monro Jack's course at Columbia night school in 1941-42. After serving in the Second World War, Grossman attended Harvard in 1946 and began writing a thesis on Cummings, which he never finished. By 1960 he had published his first translation, and in 1980 he was awarded the Prix Halperine-Kaminsky for his Cummings translations. This copy is number 324 of 629; the first 148 copies were signed and issued in deluxe bindings. Tulips & Chimneys was first published in 1923 in an abbreviated form by Thomas Seltzer; this edition comprises the original 1922 manuscript and includes 84 poems not present in the first edition. Firmage A3b. Octavo. Title page printed in green and black. Original japon spine lettered in green, green board sides, pale green endpapers. Remnants of defective jacket loosely inserted. Grossman's shelf label on front cover. Trivial wear to spine, lower corners slightly worn. A very good copy.

Condition: Very Good. Archetype Edition. The Archetype edition. Number 461 of a limited 481 copies, signed by E. E. Cummings though not called for, on the second free end paper and inscribed, "wishes Paul Nordell goodluck." Bound in publisher's sage green paper-covered boards over vellum spine lettered in dark green. Very Good with heavy rubbing to spine lettering, soiling and wear to covers with spotting at spine. Scattered foxing throughout contents. Scarce, especially signed. Firmage, A3c.