Douglas Casement, ed.; William Wantling, et al

The Spero, vol. 1, no. 2 [d.a. levy, John Sinclair]

[Chicago]: Fenian Head Centre Press, 1966. Offset. Saddle-stapled in illustrated wraps. 90 pp. 5 1/4 x 8 in. With the chapbook in pocket stapled to the rear wrapper. Very good; minor wear and toning to edges of wraps, pp. 42-45 disbound and loosely inserted, three plates originally tipped in loosely inserted. Item #6058

One of 900 hand-numbered copies, this being copy 23. The “drug issue” of Casement’s literary journal featuring writing by John Sinclair, d.a. levy, Ray and Bonnie Bremser, and many others, with the rare William Wantling chapbook, Heroin Haikus.

The poems in The Spero are illustrated with silkscreens and woodblock prints by John Randle, pasted onto versos. Also interspersed are photographs by Magdelene Sinclair and drawings by other artists. Wantling’s chapbook collects haikus in a strung-out narrative of scoring, getting busted, and detoxing in jail, illustrated with delightful drawings by Ben Tibbs. A scarce document of the drug-addled Midwestern Beat poetry and art scene.

Price: $200.00