Igitur by Mallarme, Stephane; Jack Hirschman, trans - 1974

Los Angeles: Press of the Pegacycle Lady, 1974. 1st Edition . Hardcover. Very Good. First edition. Octavo; 20pp.; salmon boards with illustration by W. Berman tipped onto front board, lacking a jacket as issued. Rendered into English by Jack Hirschman. Number 67 of 100 copies hand-numbered and signed by Hirschman to a limitation page at rear (the print run also included 400 unsigned copies in wraps). A claustrophobic and dream-like prose tale prompted by Mallarmé's spiritual crisis of 1867; he described the work as "a rather long descent into Nothingness." The action, such as it were, concerns an eponymous hero who descends a circular stairwell to confronts his own tomb, shedding his identity in the process--a theme nicely captured by Berman's surreal cover illustration. This translation by the prolific San Francisco poet and political activist Hirschman is notable for being the first appearance of Igitur in the English language. Very good condition, with sun-fading to head of front board, spine, and spine-edge of rear board, which also shows a few spots of light soiling. Light wear to bottom corners; book board just peeking out at base of rear board. Some rubbing to front board illustration. Contents clean and unmarked. Uncommon, especially in hardcover format.