Search Results

Amherst, Shanachie Press, 1980. A limited edition of a poem by Tate which first appeared in The New American Poetry Review. Of a total intended edition of 135 copies, this is Copy "F" of ten lettered copies reserved for the author and the artist, Stephen Riley, and signed by both of them. With etchings and engravings by Riley, each of these lettered and signed by the artist. Riley was a promising artist in the 1970s known for his fantasy illustrations, here accompanying Tate's surrealist poetry. Reportedly, most of the intended edition was never printed, and it's possible that only the 10 author's and artist's copies and 25 Roman-numeraled copies were actually produced. Loose sheets, 11-1/4" x 15", fine, laid into a near fine slipcase. An attractive fine press production, and one of the rarest pieces by the Pulitzer Prize- and National Book Award-winning poet. [#033654] $2,500

Boston, Houghton Mifflin, 1960. Kinnell's first book. Signed by the author. From the library of poet James Tate, and with Tate's signature as well. Page 24 appears to be a cancel; fine in a fine dust jacket, and uncommon thus, especially signed, and as an association copy. [#034429] $375

(various). A collection of the books that Tate had in the working area of his desk when he passed away in 2015. Seventeen books total: a thesaurus and a book of quotations (each with flagged pages); three types of dictionaries; a book of names; a companion to literature; four guide books (three on plants and one on dogs); two history books; a book on Beethoven; an atlas; a guide to the UMass campus; and a Bible. Also the 1978 calendar of Kansas history. A dozen hardcovers; varying editions; used book condition, on average very good. [#034369] $350

NY, Harper & Brothers, (1960). The first American edition, second state (page 5 unnumbered) of Hughes's second collection of poems. Signed by Hughes on the title page, and with the ownership signature of James Tate on the front flyleaf. A fine copy in a very good dust jacket with some internally tape-mended edge tears. [#034421] $300

1991. Malgorzata Leszczewska Wlodarska's cliche-verre print from Bruno Schulz's Book of Idolatry. Copy 287 of 300 copies, signed by the artist. Approximately 7" x 6". Matted and framed. Fine. Unmarked, but from the estate of James Tate. [#034372] $300

Pittsburg, Kansas State College of Pittsburg, 1963, 1965. Two issues of this college literary magazine -- Vol. iii, No. 2 (1963) and Vol. 6, No. 2 (1965) -- each with poetry by Tate (one poem in the first issue; five in the second, one of which won an award). The 1963 issue is item B-1 in the author bibliography published in 1972; the 1965 issue is B-4. From the author's library. Covers rubbed; each is near fine in stapled wrappers. [#034413] $150

London, Faber and Faber, (1984). The sixth book by the Nobel Prize-winning Irish author. This is the first issue, with no front free endpaper, and the half title being the first page inside the covers. From the library of poet James Tate, and with Tate's signature. Very faint edge foxing, else fine in a fine dust jacket. [#034418] $150

Cambridge, Temple Bar Bookshop, 1974. An early collection of poems, prose poems, and short stories. One of 1450 copies of the trade edition, of 1500 copies total. From the author's library, with a few markings in the story "St. Joe," including the instruction, "Scrap 1st 3 pages," and apparently giving the remaining pages of the story a new title: "As the Suburbs Age." Covers rubbed, thus very good in wrappers. [#034389] $125

(NY), Ecco Press, (1979). Two volumes from the author's library: both the hardcover and softcover issues. Laid into the softcover is a typed list of 27 (whittled to 25) poem titles from this volume, likely for a future collection. The softcover is near fine; the hardcover is fine in a spine-faded, very good dust jacket. [#034401] $125

(Hopewell), Ecco Press, (1994). Both the first edition and the first paperback edition of his National Book Award-winning collection; each from the author's library. The hardcover is fine in a fine dust jacket but for a crease to the front flap. The softcover is near fine, and has a Post-It laid in, with three poem titles from the collection written in Tate's hand. [#034409] $125

Lincoln, University of Nebraska Press, (2003). A biography of novelist Mildred Walker, written by her daughter, Ripley Hugo, who was both the wife of poet Richard Hugo and a neighbor to poet and novelist James Welch and his wife Lois. This copy is inscribed by Ripley Hugo to the poets Dara Wier and James Tate: "For Dara, for Jim - I wish you an odd read, but someday to hear what you think of it. Hugs and kisses/ Ripley." Laid in is a note to Dara and Jim from Lois Welch: "For Dara & Jim - separate roofs, one heart. I trust you'll like this, perhaps because of Ripley's odd dedication. Much love, Lois." Fine in a near fine dust jacket. A remarkable multiple literary association copy: Richard Hugo was a mentor to a generation of poets and other writers who came of age in the 1960s and 70s, including James Welch; the Welches were longtime friends with Tate and Wier. [#034424] $125

Washington, DC, National Geographic, (2003). One of Wideman's least common books, presumably because National Geographic publications do not generally get the same kind of exposure and promotion in the retail book trade as do those of commercial presses. Inscribed by Wideman to James Tate (as "Jim," but from the estate of James Tate). Fine in a fine dust jacket. [#034432] $125

Kansas City, Gate City Lodge, (n.d.). Decorative Mason's trowel, from the Gate City Lodge No. 522 in Kansas City, MO. Fine, in cardboard box, with instructions to "Please hang me in your living room for at least 30 days. This may give your friends an opportunity to appreciate me also." With tiny Mason's pin. From the estate of James Tate, a native of Kansas City. [#034380] $100

Amherst, University of Massachusetts Press, 1982. The revised edition of this collection that was originally published in 1971. This copy is from the author's library and has a consignment contract between Tate and AWP in St. Louis laid in. The contract is signed by Tate, twice, and dated April 7, 1983. The contract is folded in half; the book is fine in wrappers. [#034388] $100

(various). Four cards (three postcards, one notecard) each printing a poem by Tate. From the estate of the author. The postcards are "Dream of a Prose Poem" and "In a Motel on Lake Erie" (Some, no date) and "The Immortals" (Unicorn Press, 1970). The notecard prints "The Plaza" (Metacom Press, 1981, with a linoleum cut by Elaine Quick). Each is near fine or better. [#034375] $100

(n.p.), (Self-Published), (ca.1990s). Not to be confused with the 1999 collection of the same name, this is only the title piece, tapebound in printed cardstock covers. Unmarked, but from the author's library. Uncommon. Fine. [#034403] $100

(Berkeley), (Cloud Marauder), (1970). An early collection/collaboration. One of 700 copies printed, this copy being from the library of James Tate. Near fine in stapled wrappers. Uncommon now. [#034411] $85

(n.p.), Unicorn Press, 1971. An author's copy of this broadside poem issued as Unicorn Broadsheet Series II Number 4. One of 300 copies. Printed in green and black on heavy paper; 12" x 18". Near fine. From the author's estate. [#034374] $75

Pittsburg, Kansas State College of Pittsburgh, 1974. A 6-page story for children by Tate in this double-issue of the college literary magazine. Tate, who also gets a full photo on the inside front cover, graduated from KSCP in 1965. Fine in stapled wrappers. From the estate of the author. [#034376] $75

Boston, Houghton Mifflin, (2001). A highly praised memoir by the African-American author -- a Rhodes Scholar and MacArthur Fellow, among other awards and honors -- who is perhaps best known for the Homewood Trilogy. Inscribed by Wideman to James Tate. Front cover very slightly splayed; near fine in a fine dust jacket. [#034435] $75

Middletown, Wesleyan University Press, (1976). From the author's library: both the first and second editions. The first edition is a very good copy of the simultaneous issue in wrappers. The second edition (1981) is spine-faded and near fine in wrappers. [#034408] $65

Minneapolis, Rain Taxi, 1999. Unmarked, but from the author's library. One of 300 copies. Fine in stapled wrappers. [#034396] $60

NY, Pantheon, (1994). Inscribed by Wideman to James Tate and Dara Wier. Fine in a fine dust jacket. Laid in is an index card serving as a bookmark, with notes (in Tate's hand?): Russell Edson/ $1000/ and three dates. [#034433] $50

Boston, Houghton Mifflin, 1996. Inscribed by Wideman to James Tate. Fine in a fine dust jacket. [#034434] $50

[Pittsburg], Porter Library Bulletin, ca. 1972. A bibliography of Tate's published writings in the first 10 years of his career, beginning when he was 19 years old. 17 pages, from within an issue of the Porter Library Bulletin from the Kansas State College of Pittsburg. 8-1/2" x 11" stapled sheets. Lacking the front cover, thus only a good copy, but from the author's estate. A useful reference to some hard-to-find and small press publications. [#034377] $45

(Hopewell), Ecco Press, (1997). Unmarked, but from the author's library. Fine in a fine dust jacket. [#034406] $45

(Brockport), (SUNY Brockport), (1975). A program for two readings by two poets, on consecutive nights: James Tate with Gerard Malanga, and William Matthews with Susan Fromberg Schaeffer. Each poet has a photo, a bio, and a poem in the program. This copy is from the library of James Tate. Fine in stapled wrappers. [#034412] $45

London, Rupert Hart-Davis, 1967. The first British edition of this short novel by the poet. From the library of poet James Tate, and with Tate's ownership signature. Near fine in a very good dust jacket. [#034428] $45

Minneapolis, Rain Taxi, 1999. Unmarked, but from the author's library. One of 300 copies. Small spot to cover; very near fine in stapled wrappers. [#034397] $40

Dickinson, Dickinson State College, 1974. Tate served as poetry editor for this annual publication, and here contributes an insightful and amusing three-page introduction. The collection includes, among other things, Stratis Haviaras's first poems in English. Spine-sunned, near fine in wrappers, with the stamp of a previous owner inside the front cover. [#030830] $40