Berkson, Bill, et al.

Merry Christmas Joanne ["Pictures of Leon," "Portable Leon," "Deep Freeze," "Flesh Games," "The Guys"].

Various, [circa 1968–1970]. Item #3971

Manila envelope titled “Merry Christmas Joanne,” with tipped on clipping of a landscape, created by Bill Berkson for poet Joanne Kyger. Within are five objects, four of which are readily identifiable as publications Berkson was involved in and one of which is likely a painting by Berkson. Contents of the envelope include:

1) Pictures of Leon. Leon Press, 1968. Side-stapled. Inscribed to Kyger from “Leon,” though the hand is clearly Berkson’s. “Leon” was a pseudonym adopted for collaborative writing. As Berkson writes, “The Leon poems were written collaboratively from 1968 through 1970 in New York and Port Jefferson, Long Island…The participants included Larry Fagin [who also published], Ron Padgett, Michael Brownstein, Bill Berkson, and possibly Anne Waldman, Joan Inglis (Fagin), Jim Carroll, and others" (Berkson, Silence When). One poem in the volume is dedicated to “Leon Crabtree,” likely Lee Crabtree, who Fagin would publish posthumously through his imprint, Adventures in Poetry, in 1974. A scarce and interesting piece from an ephemeral collaboration. Fine.

2) [Joanne’s] Portable Leon. N.p., n.d. Jokingly described as published by Viking Press and costing “minus one cent.” The cover page has been amended to read “Joanne’s” in front of the title, and throughout, Berkson has amended the title of every poem to include Kyger’s first name. On the inside of the back cover, Berkson has tipped in a photograph of Kyger kneeling and drawn a speech bubble above the photograph that reads “DON’T GET CARRIED AWAY.” Below, Berkson titles the photograph “Joanne” and attributes it to Leon. Another scarce and interesting piece related to the playful existence of Leon. Near fine, with a crease along the spine from being read and a minor stain to the back cover.

3) Deep Freeze. N.p., [1968]. Corner-stapled. Four leaves: the first three are collaborative works by Berkson and Brainard, the last sheet is a Brainard flyer for a reading by the two at St. Mark’s Church. Inscribed on the flyer, "for Joanne, historically speaking, xxx Bill." Near fine with minor stain on verso of final leaf.

4) Flesh Game. N.p., 1969. Corner-stapled. Five leaves: one of three collaborative books by Joe Brainard and Bill Berkson. The final page is a flyer for a reading by Brainard and Berkson at The Poetry Project at St. Mark’s Church, New York City, May 21, 1969. Inscribed briefly to Kyger on the flyer. Near fine with minor stain on front cover.

5) The Guys. N.p., n.d. Undated and unsigned painting on cardstock, titled The Guys in what appears to be Berkson’s hand. Near fine with some minor staining or smudging to cardstock.

Price: $1,250.00