Journal of Return by Richard Shelton (1969)

 

Journal of Return

Richard Shelton

Kayak Press

(c) 1969

When I was in The Country Bookshop in Plainfield, VT I went directly to their poetry section and in particular, to their boxes of chapbooks. The was among the first to catch my eye. I was familiar with the name "Richard Shelton" and when I looked at the back cover, I KNEW I knew Kayak Press. 

It wasn't until I decided to begin writing about my Vermont findings that I realized that this was the first book of Shelton's to be published. It is something of a hybrid, a poetry book with numerous color prints by George Nama. (George Nama died in 2025). The collaboration makes for a beautiful book, At the time that this book came out Kayak Press was 5 years old. George Hitchcock had indeed wedding the talents of two individuals that simply is stunning to take in. Kayak printed 1,000 copies of this book. I am glad to have gotten just one. 

I visited the Country Bookshop in Plainfield, VT recently

 That was an adventure. Plainfield was an old mill town that happened to have a liberal arts college, Goddard College, open at the outskirts of the town (locals call it a village). In 2024 the college closed but is being reborn at a "creative campus". I wanted to check it out, see the town, take it all in. There had been damage to the village in 2023 and 204 due to flash flooding which did affect The County Bookshop, unfortunately. I happened to drop in shortly after the owner had decided to sell his home (which also is the book store) to the local Historical Society. 

I spent a few hours in the store which housed 70,000+ books and ephemera. I could have spent more time and money there but knowing one's limits is an important safeguard to have. As it was, I got 52 chapbooks from the Bookshop. Many from the area. Many I had never heard of or seen before. All of whom I will be mentioning here in due course. 

The Union Camp Papers by D. r. Wagner (1968)

The Union Camp Papers

D. r. Wagner

twowindowspress

San Francisco, CA

(c)1968

Handsome oddly sized chapbook. I was fortunate to have been curious enough about the posting of this booklet on Ebay to click on the description and when I saw the name of the poet - I immediately purchased it. There is no straight line online information about this imprint that I found as I prepared to post this; if that changes I will update this listing. 

I did note at the end of this book that it was printed by Don Gray. 420 copies were printed. 

Poses by Genine Lentine (2010)

 

Poses

Genine Lentine

Poetry Flash and g.e.collective & 

Books and Bookshelves

San Francisco, CA

(c)2010

#33 of 250 printed. 

Handsewn binding. Letter-pressed cover. Oddly sized chapbook. Handsome. Apparently this book was reprinted by a different publisher two years later. 

the 4 pillars of poetry chapbooks

 There are the poets, and there are publishers (and the book designers and cover artists here clumped together0 and there are those who write about them - like me - and then there is a 4th pillar, one that I really hadn't considered seriously until today. 

I received a 38 book lot from a seller who lives outside of San Francisco. Of course sellers and buyers are part of the vast exchange or as I sometimes call it, "the flow". But separate from the buyers and sellers who keep the flow moving are the collectors. Yes, the person who attends the poetry readings and books launches and gets copies signed, and interact with the poets. Without them, well there would be none of this without them. 

Which leads me back to this 38 book lot I just received from someone in California. As much as I have thanked the seller for having this lot of books that I could get, the seller scored this collection from the same individual or that person's family. Nearly every book that was in the lot was inscribed to 'Rudy Jon Tanner'. In on of the books Mr. Tanner self-identifies himself by writing his name and Berkeley, CA on the inside front cover. He felt the need to let some future person know that he existed and that at least that one book was one that he had gotten. But all 38 of these were books that he had gotten. 

Several of the books were by SF-based poets but some of them were by poets who have become known beyond the Golden Gate Bridge. Like Neeli Cherkovski, David Lerner, Howard Hart, and Ralph LaCharity. 

People who might not have even considered themselves to be "collectors" but poetry appreciators. Yet, they are the one who showed up. Bought the copies. Got the books signed. And most importantly SAVED them for pushing 50 years (in some cases) 

I see you, Rudy Jo Tanner. And I appreciate you. 

Seasons by Neil Baldwin (1976)

Seasons

Neil Baldwin 

salt-works press

Dennis, MA

(c)1976

Cover stock handmade from recycled paper. With hand-sewn binding. 

Baldwin's poems are laid out in non-traditional ways which attract me. (why have I never heard of this guy before?) The phrasing, the empty space, holding one's mental breath between lines; GLORIOUS!

I especially liked the final poem in this chapbook, "the white poet talks about his weekly visits to the Rehabilitation Center" and the slightly out of context line : 'Poetry

                             without rigor yet the form 

                             occurs', which to me feels like validation.

 

Samuel Sewell: Sails For Home by Robert Chute (1986)

 

Samuel Sewell: Sails for Home

Robert Chute

Coyote Love Press

Portland, ME

(c)1986

Winner of the 3rd annual Maine poetry chapbook competition. Illustrations were courtesy of the Massachusetts Historical Society. Handsome produced book. 

One, time, light and the stairs of flame unending by D. r. Wagner (1975)

One, time, light and the stairs of flame unending 

D. r. Wagner

Black Rabbit Press

Cleveland, OH

(c)1975

Tom Kryss was the publisher and likely cover artist. This is a Mimeo. I actually reached out to Wagner twice before his passing in reference to this one. I was remiss in the first exchange and contacted him again, asking him to sign my copy of this book. Which he did. 

D. r. Wagner had authored over 20 books of poetry and letters, and had produced over 50 magazines and chapbooks /mimeos. He was the founder and editor of Niagara Press and Runciple Spoons Press, and had worked with and published poets including d.a.levy, Jim Morrison, Kenneth Rexroth, and Allen Ginsberg. In addition to his literary career, Wagner was a singer-songwriter, musician and visual artist who won international awards and had pieces placed in museum collections. Wagner taught Design at UC Davis for twenty years. 

He died in 2023. 

Lately by Charles S. Cobean (2026)

 

Lately

Charles S. Cobean

Finishing Line Press

Georgetown, KY

(c)2026

It's a new book. I usually don't see chapbooks so new. 

Raven's Address (Notes from the Colorado Plateau) by Eric Walter (1993)

Raven's Address (Notes from the Colorado Plateau)

Eric Walter

Longhand Press

Golden, CO

(c)1993

Illustrated by Doug Goodwin.

Staple-bound chapbook. Longhand Press published local Colorado writers to bring out work dealing with the region. This one fit into their "range" (figuratively and literally). Two additional images here for context. Most chapbooks don't include anything like either so kudos for the press to have them, especially this one: 

which is located at the end of the book, right before this : 

                                          which I found to be cooler than cool. Great work, Longhand Press, wherever you are!