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City Lights Books (distributor), San Francisco; printed by Villiers Publications, London, Published 1964. Wraps, 106 pp.; 19 cm; First Edition (per trade convention: copyright 1964, $1.50 printed price, no later printing statement); illustrated with a printed facsimile of the manuscript of Ghost Tantra 17; black-and-white photographic cover by Wallace Berman.
In Good condition. Cream-colored black-and-white pictorial paper covers with the Wallace Berman cover photograph; overall toning with moderate shelf wear, several dark vertical scuff lines across the front cover where handling has marked the photographic surface, some color loss along the edges. Back cover toned with the $1.50 printed price intact and the author's statement on poetics. Spine creased but binding is still sound. Interior pages age-toned with light foxing at the upper outer corner of the copyright page, and some adhesive transfer or light staining visible along the inside front cover near the gutter; otherwise unmarked. Text complete with all 99 numbered Ghost Tantras.McClure's landmark collection of "beast language" poetry: 99 numbered Ghost Tantras blending English with chants, animal sounds, and invocations meant to be read aloud. With an introduction by the author and a printed facsimile of one of the original manuscript pages. Self-published by McClure (his Downey Street address printed on the copyright page) and distributed by City Lights; printed in England by Villiers Publications. Cover photograph by Wallace Berman.