Wear and Tear by Tom Plante (1977)

 

Wear and Tear

Tom Plante

crosscut saw press

Berkeley, CA

(c)1977

I want to mention the press first. I never heard of them but they were definitely "a thing" in the 1970s & 1980s. By the time this book came out they have published two books my Andy Clauser, one collection by Jack Hirschman, and this second book by Tom Plante. 

Plante was known as the editor and publisher of Exit 13 magazine, as well as for his own writing and books.  

The smaller format of this book allowed for it to be a perfect bound book. Unpaginated. 

Amper-sand & Question-mark?: a finite poem by Ken Lawless (1970)

 

Amper-sand & Question-mark? : a finite poem

Ken Lawless

zeitgeist publications

(c)1970

At the time it was released in 1970, this book and its publisher were praised for innovative poetic presentation. While this may be factual, I can't find a non-AI produced "book review" of it. It was a virtually unknown publisher and an equally unknown author. However, at the time, Zeitgeist did produce a fair number of books during its day, including books by Ray DiPalma and Greg Kuzma, and others. 

What I find interesting is the size of the book and the tactile nature of the paper used for the text and cover. I need to learn more about this Press. 

blank missives by esther lee (2007)

blank missives

esther lee 

Trafficker Press

(c)2007

What Trafficker Press said about itself "An often inadvertently queer bi-coastal chapbook press founded in 2007 by Erin Morrill and Andrew Kenower, publishing works by emerging writers with interviews between the writers included in the back of most books..."

In the end the small press folded up and as my daughter would say "misappeared". Ugly Duckling Presse took over distribution of their final chapbooks. The last appeared in 2014. 

Oddly conceptual piece of writing and true to their description, there is an interview at the end of this staple bound book with Bhanu Kapil. Handsome book. Sorry to learn of this small press's demise. 

Contrecoeur's Copy of George Washington's Journal of 1754 (1989)

Contrecoeur's Copy of George Washington's Journal of 1754

edited by Donald H. Kent

Eastern National Park & Monument Association

(c)1989

When forced to surrender to the French in 1754 at Fort Necessity, this journal was left behind during the chaos of that moment. It is an extract with footnotes of Major Washington's journal which had made its way to Canada. I was not aware of this journal nor its significance prior to me finding this booklet. 

36 pages, staple bound. 

Saint Aidan's For Hymnal 1979

 

Saint Aidan's Folk Hymnal 1979

Saint Aidan's Episcopal Church

Alexandria, VA 

(c)1979

Created by Ellen Holiday, Cecelia Brevard, Jackie Waller, and Sharon Cunningham. It's a staple bound collection of religious folk hymnals printed on yellow paper (which is why I am mentioning it)

Grotto by Frances Cannon (2025)

 

Grotto

Frances Cannon

above/ground press

Ontario, Canada

(c)2025

Found this in an art gallery/working space (like a beehive for artists) in Burlington, VT when I was there in April 2026.  This is an oddly sized book in the sense that the cover is shorter than the pages of text. Like a person laying in a bed that is too short for their legs. I am sure it was on purpose. 

This is the second item I have from above/ground press. 

The author has been quite busy. 10 books + !!!

Fevers and Clocks by Kristan Marie Darling (2006)

 

Fevers and Clocks

Kristina Marie Darling

March Street Press

(c)2006

The books of poetry published by March Street Press during the mid-aughts were formulaic and while they managed (barely) to put text on the spines of their books. Like on this one, tiny print though it is. 21 pages. It's a chapbook by page standards, but text on the spine so it's....what?

Short fiction. Good writing. 

"in the neighborhood" by "friend of monument" (2025)

 Honestly I have no idea at all about this booklet. It's entirely wordless. It's an artist book without context or any identifiers. 

I picked this up at the same event in Burlington, VT as other items and this was also on the Monument table, and I seem to recall that the man who was at the table said that he and his brothers made these books, but 

Beyond that all I can say is that there are images throughout the staple bound booklet. I am acknowledging it as one would acknowledge a warm breeze on a spring night. 

Wondrous News by Robert Sargent (2002)

 

Wondrous News

Robert Sargent

The Argonne House Press

Washington, DC

(c)2002

Another in the series that this imprint put out in the early years of this century. The poet was well known in the DC area. He was the author of 8 collections of poetry. He was actively involved with the Washington Writers Publishing House and the Bunny and Crocodile Press. 

Staple bound. 46 pages. Author photo by Karren Alenier

"Universal Cop Avoidance" by Ryan Skrabalak (2025)

"Universal Cop Avoidance"

Ryan Skrabalak

Tree Jumps Rainbow #13

(c) 2025

'Made for the occasion of a poetry reading at the Poetry Project (Kingston, NY), November 2025, with Nazareth Hassan.' Straight from the note in the back of this tiny little something with text and images by author. I picked this up at the Vermont Book Arts exhibition in Burlington, VT in April 2026. The author/artist is an associate of Monument which is a small press located in Kingston, NY. Met Rich and Sally in Burlington. Nice folks. Dedicated. What more can one ask?

Necessary Shipwrecks by Tifani Greenwood (2002)

 Necessary Shipwrecks

Tifani Greenwood

Trimmvirate Press

(c)2002

The press does not exist as it had in 2002. It might have come into existence just to publish this book. The poet might also have made this book as a way to dovetail into the art world. In either case, it's a bit of an Art Book that I am happy to have found along the way. 

Driving With One Light Out by Ken Denberg (1993)

  Driving with One Light Out

  Ken Denberg

  University of South Carolina-Aiken

Aiken, South Carolina 

(c)1993

Winner of The Devil's Millhopper Press poetry chapbook contest of 1993. Cover art by Walter Boppert. Staple bound chapbook. Good poetry. 

1960s feminism and radical badasses by Soraya Hammer (2026)

 

1960s feminism an radical badasses

Soraya Hammer

self - produced

(c)2026

In April 2026 I ventured north to New England to take in the first ever Vermont Art Book Fair which took place in Burlington, Vermont on April 10 & 11. It was an amazing array of book artists and print makers and student made work (like this one). 

Collage small formatted staple bound effort. I made her sign this copy. I believe she's a student at the University of Vermont. I hope she continues to produce art.