 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
First hard cover Edition, limited to 350 copies. No. 327 of 350. (following the A.M. Robertson-published soft cover first edit. of 1919). Hard cover, 8vo, in quarter terracotta cloth over green and terracotta decorative paper-covered boards in a floral ditsy pattern. The initials "INA" are stamped in gilt to the lower right front board, likely initials of the original owner. [??Could this have perhaps belonged to Sterling's contemporary, Ina Coolbrith??] Top edge stained, others untrimmed, v, [78] pp.** CONDITION: Very Good Plus. Light wear to tips and edges. Remnants of adhesive to lower outer edges of wove endpapers at both front and rear. Joints and hinges in order. Endpapers lightly foxed. Overall clean, and firm with one internal crack noted, not, however, showing to the spine. **A very early number of the Book Club of California's well made offerings for the collector of these small press gems celebrating the literary history of that State, with their notable design and typography. Poet and Dramatist George Sterling (1869-1926) was a transplanted New Yorker who became a leading figure of the early twentieth century literary life of San Francisco and Carmel, California. He has been described as the area's most famous bohemian influencer, entertaining and encouraging fellow artists such as Ambrose Bierce, Jack London and Clark Ashton Smith. "Lilith" written between 1904 and 1918, was a labor of persistence which followed the writer through both divorce and writer's block, finally to become what H.L. Mencken called "the greatest thing he ever wrote," and found widespread critical acclaim. Described variously as an allegorical four-act fantasy drama, the text interweaves lyrical (song) elements with a moody, haunting medieval plot, wherein the character Lilith, a seductive sorceress, ensnares the hearts of several male characters. Colophon: Printers: Taylor & Taylor, Edward Dewitt & Henry H. Taylor, San Fransisco. REFS: Book Club of California Publication Number 12 in O. Lewis, "The First 75 Years of the Book Club of California, p. 43. J. Fisher, " George Sterling" Found SF. BAL 18791. Scarce title.
Ref: FINE 9301
$295.00