Le Bookiniste

[Poetry] 7 Poems

Ford, Charles Henri

Kathmandu, Nepal: Bardo Matrix, 1974. First Edition, First Printing.

Octavo (8 1/8 x 5 inches; 216 x 128 mm), [10 leaves], in stapled wrappers (soft cover).

A collection of seven poems printed on delicate rice paper, one of 500 copies issued by Bardo Matrix in Kathmandu. The cover features a fabulous photo of Ford by the Beat poet, photographer, and Bardo Matrix co-founder Ira Cohen (the photo is mounted to the cover). There are also several woodcuts, including a skeleton template designed by Ford. No. 3 in Bardo Matrix's Starstreams Poetry Series.

Ford (1908-2002) was a prolific author whose first poem appeared in The New Yorker while he was still a teenager. He co-wrote the book "The Young and Evil" (Paris: Obelisk Press, 1933) with Parker Tyler; some consider the book the first gay novel.

He was probably best known as the editor of two influential magazines: Blues: A Magazine of New Rhythms, and View, an important Surrealist art and literature magazine. (See Ford's obituary in The New York Times, Sept. 30, 2002, Section B, Page 10).

Copies of "7 Poems" are quite scarce in the market.

CONDITION: Slight creasing and soiling to the beige wrappers, couple of ink marks internally, small nick to top corner of front tissue guard. Overall, Very Good or better. Item #1733

Price: $200.00