Laurence McGilvery Archives - Rare Book Insider

Laurence McGilvery

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Sounds. SIGNED

Godard, Keith Artist's book. "Except for what you are reading on this page, this book has no words or printed images. It is as the title suggests a book of sounds. The pages in sequence make a quiet drama of subtle noises. "By turning, fumbling and rustling the pages, you will find all that is intended." [From the copyright page.] One leaf of lightweight tan paper bearing title and copyright pages; 4 leaves of what appears to be fine, lightweight, handmade white paper; 5 leaves of natural waxed paper; 3 leaves of unbleached tissue; 4 leaves of brownish yellow-orange tissue; 3 leaves of tan tissue; 4 leaves of lighweight parchment (the first with light foxing on the front); three leaves of silver foil paper, facing verso, the verso and recto to make a reflective opening); and concluding with two leaves of stiff paper fastened together in the middle with what undoubtedly was a sound-making device a half century ago but now is silent. 26 leaves total. Stiff, coated white covers. 21 cm square. Signed and dated "73" at the bottom inside cover. The neatly printed name of the previous owner, a filmmaker, written at the top of the inside cover. Signs of light handling. Near fine, except as noted. A poetic and ingenious concept, the book was created and produced while the artist was on the part-time faculty of the California Institute of the Arts (CalArts) between 1971 and 1973. The black border in the scan is background, not part of the cover design. **Free domestic shipping with direct order.
  • $200
book (2)

In a quiet grave: essays on Texas. INSCRIBED

Inscribed at time of publication: "For Dirk Peter with friendship Larry." Dirk Pieter van Nouhuys was the sophisticated Dutch father of Larry's and my mutual friend, the writer Dirk Holmsland van Nouhuys. Dirk the Elder sometimes confused the two of us because of our similar names. We both held him in high regard. Dirk the Younger met Larry in the writing program at Stanford and introduced we Larrys to each other some six decades ago, a gift for which I will forever be grateful. Tan cloth with unclipped dustjacket. xviii + 177 pp. 23 x 14.7 cm. In his introduction, McMurtry writes, "As a regionalist, and a regionalist from an unpopular region, I find the problem of how to get heard rather a fascinating one." He goes on to describe the surefire route to success for a Texas writer: "(1) explain the assassination and (2) make it possible for President Johnson to be impeached." He continues, "If he ever gets to New York he may even meet Susan Sontag. I don't understand the assassination and I doubt that i can do anything about the President. My chances of meeting Miss Sontag are accordingly pretty slim and I had as well forget about it and go on and write a book about the place where my characters live." As events turned out, he succeeded Susan Sontag as president of the American Center of the writers' group PEN in 1989, and they became good friends. I missed her by a week on my first visit to Larry's mansion in Archer City. First edition, second state, with "skyscrapers" corrected on p. 105, line 12. Fine in unclipped dustjacket with a little chipping at head and tail. The scan is lighter and more yellow than the actual tan of the jacket. **Free domestic shipping with direct order.