San Francisco : David Emerson Smith for the Poets and Artists, February 1979. Octavo, colour printed wrappers (light edge wear and toning), pp. [iii]; 29, stringbound, black and white illustrations. Presentation copy, signed and inscribed inside the upper wrapper 'To David, in homo-erotic boy love David Emerson Smith' and also inscribed 'Love & Eros, the universe is born & lives in ecstasy, Dennis Dunn' (one of the contributors). 'This collection of poems is in part a response to the homophobic murder of Harvey Milk and George Moscone (a passionate homophile). New York born Harvey Milk moved to San Francisco in 1972 where he opened a camera ship with his boyfriend in Castro Street. Disillusioned with the bureaucracy of the city and a history of police harassment of the gay community, Milk decided to run for the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, launching campaigns in 1973, 1975, and 1977, where, after intense campaigning over several years and a gradual growth of community support, he was successfully elected as Supervisor. Milk?s election was a historic event both in San Francisco and the nation, with Milk becoming the openly gay man in the United States to win an election for public office. Less than twelve months after his election win, Milk would be assassinated by Dan White, a former fellow member of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, an event which shocked the gay community and broader sense of civic order. While on trial for murder, White would be convicted on lesser charges, resulting in civil unrest and riots in San Francisco. Milk?s legacy as gay community advocate, City Supervisor and tragic victim of a political assassination would be vast and continuing, resulting to changes in the local political system and greater representation of the gay community and other community groups in local politics. A series of books and movies on the life of Harvey Milk has ensured the story of his life, death, and struggle for social justice remain of continuing influence, with Milk emerging as a legendary cultural figure both at home and internationally.

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Bibliographic Details

Title: I promise you this. A collection of poems for Harvey Milk (signed presentation copy)
Binding: Soft cover
Signed: Signed by Author(s)

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Douglas Stewart Fine Books is an antiquarian bookseller based in Melbourne, Australia. Our showroom is in High Street, Armadale, a precinct famous for its antique dealers, art galleries and bookshops. We buy and sell books both locally and around the world, working closely with clients to understand their collecting priorities and to source appropriate material. Our clients include libraries, galleries, museums, private collectors and fellow members of the trade. Douglas Stewart is a member of the major international trade associations, and his business is conducted according to their high ethical standards. For many years he has been a Board member of the Australian and New Zealand Association of Antiquarian Booksellers (ANZAAB) and is currently its President; he is also a Mentor for the International League of Antiquarian Booksellers. Douglas Stewart Fine Books sells rare books across all fields, but our strengths are in travel and exploration ? particularly of Australia and the Pacific ? and Australian art. In addition, we deal in all types of heritage material, including photographs, manuscripts, ephemera, maps and globes, and fine art. Each month we issue a new online catalogue of recent acquisitions; we recommend that you join our email list so you can be among the first to see what?s available. Please do not hesitate to contact us regarding any works you see online ? we are always happy to assist with your enquiries. We are also keen to buy rare and interesting books, photographs and ephemera, from important single items to entire libraries or collections. You are welcome to contact us if you have something to sell which you think may be of interest to us. We love meeting new people and welcoming visitors to our shop (open Monday to Saturday), but if you can't make it to Melbourne you can find probably find us at one of the major fairs in London, New York, Los Angeles, Amsterdam, Toronto, San Francisco, Boston, Hong Kong or Sydney - all places we have exhibited in since 2009. Douglas Stewart Fine Books

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Douglas Stewart Fine Books Pty. Ltd.
720 High Street, Armadale, VIC, 3143, Australia

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