How Could I Be Forgetting? Being a Compilation of Some of His Editorial Writings and Poems, Heretofore Published Principally in The Morning Oregonian

Illustrations by Howard L. Stroupe. 8vo. Quarter brown cloth with paper spine label and green pictorial paper over boards. (8pp), 196pp. Very good. Quite mild binding edgewear, with text block tight and fine; age toning to rear endpaper, presumably from long-ago newsprint contact. Tight and nice first edition of this early title from the Wisconsin-born poet laureate of Oregon (1951-54), a popular Portland poet, essayist, short story writer and newspaper editor for "The Oregonian" (1886-1954). On the front flyleaf, he inscribes and signs it boldly in black ink: "To Miss Faye Norve -- / Sincerely / Ben H Lampman" -- and he also signs at the bottom of his one-page preface. Interestingly, on an inner flyleaf a 35-year veteran of "The Oregonian" advertising staff named Will F. Powell (1871-1943) pens in green ink an inspirational Robert Browning quotation, adding below it, "Sincerely wishing the achievement of great Success in your Literary pursuits," signing and dating it 25 December 1926 -- a Christmas gift perhaps to the Faye of Lampman's inscription. The book proved popular and went through several printings, later reprinted in the 1950s by Binfords & Mort. Interesting and uncommon -- signed firsts are seldom seen.…