POEMS IN PROSE. With Illustrations by Frank Utpatel. Presentation Copy.
Sauk City: Arkham House, 1965. First Edition. Hardcover. Octavo, original black cloth titled in gilt on spine panel. 1,016 copies printed. 54 pp., with 12 full-page black & white plates by Frank Utpatel. INSCRIBED PRESENTATION COPY FROM THE EDITOR. Inscribed "For Ivor Guest / with the compliments / and good wishes of / Donald S. Fryer. June 1965 / Pacific Palisades, California. Sidney-Fryer has also changed the title page date from 1964 to 1965 in pen; made two corrections in ink on page ix and one to page xxii, he has signed his name at the end of his Foreword on page xxiv, and corrected a typo in the poem "A PHANTASY" on page 25. A fine copy in a fine dust jacket that is very faintly tanned on the spine panel and towards the edges, one small closed tear to rear panel. Fine in Dust Jacket. Item #313012
¶ Collects a substantial representation of Smith's prose poems, a form in which he excelled and in which he perhaps has no peer in all English and American literature. The book was anonymously edited and compiled by Donald Sidney-Fryer, who also contributed the Foreword, 'Clark Ashton Smith, Poet in Prose'. The dust jacket artwork is by Frank Utpatel. Despite the 1965 date on the title leaf, the book was actually issued in 1964; this has been corrected by hand by the editor. This copy is one of a handful of true presentation copies from the editor, in this case it was presented to Ivor Forbes Guest, a British historian and writer, best known for his study of ballet - Sidney Fryer also studied and wrote books on the history of ballet.
Price: $375.00