First Poem After Silence Since Thanksgiving [with] Two Triangles Foursquared, or, Dark Tong [and with] Yod Beth Letter; Butterfly Broadsides Nos. 1, 2, and3

San Francisco: The Brownstone Press, 1971. No binding. Fine. A series of three broadsides, the "Butterfly Broadsides", printed by The Brownstone Press during the years 1970 to 1971. While we cannot be certain whether or not additional broadsides in the series were published, it appears likely that these three constitute the entirety. As of this writing, only two of these three broadsides are represented in the online marketplace (only one or two copies each) and our search of OCLC locates only these three titles.

All three of the poets were beat poets: John Wieners (1934-2002), born in Massachusetts, moved to California in 1957 and joined the artistic community in North Beach, actively participating in the San Francisco Poetry Renaissance. Jack Hirschman (1933-2021) was, before Vietnam, a teacher at UCLA; that ended when he encouraged his students to resist the draft; he moved to San Francisco and would spend the next quarter-century as "an active street poet and a peripatetic activist." David Meltzer (1937-2016) was described by Lawrence Ferlinghetti as "one of the greats of post-World-War-Two San Francisco poets and muscicians" (n.b., information and quotes from Wiki).

We are offering these broadsides as a set, as they are likely the only extant set.

___DESCRIPTION: Each broadside measures just under 18.5" high by 13" wide, two of the three broadsides with the watermark "Fabriano, Italy" (likely all three are), Broadside No. 1, "First Poem After Silence Since Thanksgiving" by John Wieners, of blue coloured paper, black type, ornaments and colophon in green, published in 1970; Broadside No. 2, "Two Triangles Foursquared, or, Dark Tong" by Jack Hirschman, of rust-coloured paper, black type, ornaments and colophon in red, also published in 1970; and Broadside No. 3, "Yod Beth Letter" by David Meltzer, of a mustard-yellow colour, black type, ornaments and colophon in sienna, published in 1971; note that the layout of the ornaments, all running vertically down the left-hand side of the broadsides, is different for each poem.

___CONDITION: Fine overall; each broadside is clean and free of any creases or wrinkles; No. 1 with a hint of sunning to the bottom margin and one very small (approx. a quarter-inch) closed tear at the bottom edge, else fine, and Nos. 2 and 3 each fine.

___POSTAGE: Please note that additional postage will apply as the standard is based upon a single book, not large broadsides; please inquire for postage estimates to your location.

___Swan's Fine Books is pleased to be a member of the ABAA, ILAB, and IOBA and we stand behind every book we sell. Please contact us with any questions you may have, we are here to help.