BEYOND HAMMONTON: SOUTH JERSEY POEMS AND WOOD ENGRAVINGS.

DUNN, STEPHEN.

(Port Republic, New Jersey: Port Press, 2002). 260 x 170 mm. (10 1/4 x 6 3/4"). 42 pp., [3] leaves. FIRST EDITION. No. 17 OF 100 COPIES.

Publisher's brown cloth, engraving mounted on front cover, framed by a gilt rule, spine lettered in gilt. With seven wood engravings by Michael McGarvey. Title page SPECIALLY SIGNED AND INSCRIBED BY THE AUTHOR "For Kurt & Laure-Ann / & to your wonderful / generosity & friendship / & the gift of your poems. / Love, / Stephen Dunn / 4/30/04"; SIGNED BY THE AUTHOR AND ILLUSTRATOR on the limitation page. Spine and upper section of rear board a little sunned, otherwise as new.

This lovely regional production combines art and poetry for a celebration of the quiet beauties of life in New Jersey. Stephen Dunn (1939-2021) was known as an everyman poet, described by fellow author David Wojahn as "level-headed, witty, conversational in his diction, and willing to see in domestic life his means of attaining and imparting wisdom." This attitude is evident in the present collection, which provides lyrical slices of everyday life. The accompanying wood-engravings by Michael McGarvey, who both printed and illustrated this work, perfectly suit the poems, executed with great technical skill and with composition reminiscent of beloved family photographs. Both the author and illustrator were professors at Richard Stockton College in New Jersey. As the kind inscription indicates, this copy is from the collection of Laure-Anne Bosselaar (b. 1943) and her husband Kurt Brown (1944-2013). Bosselaar is a Belgian-American poet, translator, and editor who has published numerous works of poetry in multiple languages, including five collections of her own works. She has received various prizes and recognitions (Pushcart, Isabella Gardner, Breadloaf) and was named Poet Laureate of Santa Barbara in 2019. Sometimes publishing jointly with Bosselaar, Brown was also a prolific poet and editor of anthologies, as well as the founder and first director of the Aspen Writer's Conference, playing a pivotal role in shaping its early vision and establishing Aspen as a literary center. (ST20338-015)

Price: $300.00