Wilbur, Richard; Calder, Alexander [Illustrations]; Ryan, Kay [Poem]

A BESTIARY [Inscribed by Richard Wilbur and Kay Ryan] [together with] TLS FROM RICHARD WILBUR [and] SIGNED PRINTED POEM "BESTIARY" FROM KAY RYAN

New York: Pantheon Books, 1993. Later Edition, First Printing. Quarto, [6], 74, [4] pages, plus TLS from Richard Wilbur and signed poem from Kay Ryan. In Very Good plus condition with a Very Good plus dust jacket. Jacket is semitransparent, with maroon and navy lettering on the front. Volume is in full blue cloth binding, with white illustration on front cover and white lettering to spine, visible through jacket. Jacket shows small areas of very light wrinkling at the fore corners and head of spine. Price uncut: "$25.00 U.S.A. / $32.50 Can.". Boards show mild rubbing along edges and at corners, with shallow crinkling at head of spine. Text block shows a small scuff on the fore edge. Front flyleaf shows light penciling in top fore corner and a blue ink inscription from Richard Wilbur: "Inscribed with pleasure / for [former owner] / Richard Wilbur / Cummington, 2009". Second front free endpaper is inscribed in blue ink by Kay Ryan: "I had nothing to do with this / book except loving it later / Kay Ryan / May 7, 2009".

TLS from Richard Wilber, addressed to former owner, is on the poet's personal letterhead, and reads: "Dear [former owner], / It will be a pleasure to sign your copies of my books. Send them along. / Sincerely, Richard Wilbur". In Very Good condition. The letter is folded across the center, and is lightly age toned. Housed in the original envelope with the former owner's reply.

Printed copy of Kay Ryan's poem Bestiary is laid-in, signed in blue ink by Kay Ryan under the title. In Fine condition. Former owner's name in black ink in the top margin.

All items housed in a new archival mylar sleeve. Shelved in Room F Oversize.

1410748

Special Collections - Upstairs

Price: $1,000

NOTES

This reprint of Richard Wilbur and Alexander Calder's 1955 illustrated collection of poetry and literary excerpts is signed by Wilbur - one of the most lauded poets of 20th century American verse, who was the second Poet Laureate of the United States and selected the poems and excerpts that comprise this book - and Kay Ryan, the U.S. Poet Laureate from 2008-2010. A signed, printed copy of Ryan's poem of the same name (but no relation to the book) is also included here; she nods at her lack of involvement in this work in her amusing inscription written within the book itself.