A Presentation Copy of Ezra Pound's Ripostes

Ezra Pound. RIPOSTES OF EZRA POUND WHERETO ARE APPENDED THE COMPLETE POETICAL WORKS OF T. E. HULME WITH PREFATORY NOTE. London: Stephen Swift and Co., Ltd., 1912. First edition, first issue. Presentation copy; inscribed on the first free endpaper: "To Arnold Dolmetsch / Having seen the god Pan / I can but lay this / broken bassoon on his / altar. / Ezra Pound / 1914." With the note "mistranslation" written in Pound's pen on pg. 35. Hardcover in streaky gray cloth-covered boards stamped in gold on the front cover; in gray-blue dust jacket printed in dark blue. Small 8vo; 63, [1]pp. With half-title and dedication to William Carlos Williams. Gallup A8a.

7 3/4 x 5 3/8 in.

From the Collection of Dr. Jeremiah P. Starling

Gallup notes that the publisher's advertisements inserted at the end "have been cut out in some presentation copies, distributed after the failure of the publisher" (p. 15). This is true of this copy in which the ads have been removed, likely by Pound himself, before presenting it to his musician friend.

Arnold Dolmetsch (1858-1940) was a French musician who worked most of his life in London. While Pound is known primarily for his poetry, he was also a composer and music critic. As friends, the two men supported each other's work in the arts, and in the case of Pound, even wrote about it.

Boards with subtle browning to the edges, the spine very slightly cocked and with light thumbing to the ends; foxing and ghosting at endpapers, the remaining leaves with occasional foxing, one area of minor gutter wear, and rare spot of finger grime; jacket with browning, soiling and damp stains, scratches to back cover, flaps detached, a few chips and closed tears, and a fragile spine with tears, taped repairs, and reinforced at interior fold, now in a protective mylar cover. A very good copy in a fair jacket.