The Bridge. A Poem. With three photographs by Walker Evans.
Paris: The Black Sun Press, 1930. Evans, Walker. First edition. Quarto, original white printed wrappers. A fine copy in original white tissue like glassine, and in the publisher's gold paper-covered slipcase, which has minor wear to the extremities. One of eight special copies press-marked A to H this being copy B, “Special Copy for Hart Crane”, printed on Japanese Vellum. There were an additional 50 numbered copies signed by Crane, printed on Japanese Vellum, 200 copies on Holland van Gelder paper, and 25 hors commerce for review. Instead of Crane’s usual stylized bookplate, the first free end paper contains a Cutty Sark Scots Whisky Label signed by Crane and on which he has doodled two hearts with arrows and a small stick figure. Next to the label is an erasure, presumably done by Crane. Other than the obvious significance of the label to the section of the poem, the ship, and the fact that Cutty Sark was Crane’s favorite whisky, the insertion of the label and the doodling thereon must remain fodder for Crane scholars. Betty Crane Madden received this book and later transferred it to Vivian Pemberton, Emeritus Professor of English at Kent State University and a recognized authority on Hart Crane. She wrote: “Hart Crane had left it, along with his other most prized possessions, correspondence, and books with his father C.A. and stepmother Bess when he went to Mexico. Most who knew Crane, and many who didn't, believed his trunk containing THE BRIDGE along with his letters, contracts, etc. had been lost after his suicide. He simply did not have those things with him although his trunk containing his clothes and souvenirs was missing. His godmother Zell Hart Deming and Byron Madden, his Aunt Bessie's husband, met the Orizaba in New York to receive his personal effects. His really valuable things had been stored at Crane's Canary Cottage in Chagrin Falls, Ohio all the time. I'm sure the presence of the book on your list must have surprised many Crane people.”. Item #32555
Price: $85,000.00