Bidspirit auction | 1968. Patchen, Kenneth. But Even

1968. Patchen, Kenneth. But Even So. New Directions. First Edition (DJ) - A first edition hardcover copy of But Even So by Kenneth Patchen, published in 1968 by New Directions. This octavo-sized volume consists of 44 black and white picture-poems, a distinctive genre created by Patchen that integrates surrealist hand-drawn illustrations with handwritten text. The book is bound in the original bright yellow cloth-covered boards with the author, title, and publisher stamped in black on the spine. The work is accompanied by its original pictorial dust jacket, featuring black and white artwork by Patchen on both panels. The front panel displays the title and author's name, while the back panel depicts a stylized crowned figure and includes the printed statement, The book that needs no blurb. 44 all-new Picture-Poems by Kenneth Patchen. The interior includes a title page with a small ink illustration of a stylized figure and a dedication page reading FOR MIRIAM in printed capital letters. The copyright page bears the text Copyright 1968 by Kenneth Patchen and Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: 68-9474, identifying it as a New Directions book published for James Laughlin at 333 Sixth Avenue, New York. The front flap of the dust jacket retains the original printed price of $4.50. The dust jacket shows minor shelf wear and light toning to the edges, with small areas of foxing visible on the interior flaps (photo 4, 5). The yellow cloth boards are clean with sharp corners, and the spine remains square and firm (photo 3, 5). The interior pages are clean and bright, displaying high-contrast black and white illustrations with no signs of marking or significant aging (photos 6-13). A small amount of spotting or foxing is visible on the fore-edge of the text block and the title page margin (photo 6). The price on the front flap is unclipped (photo 8).