Borg Antiquarian

BALOON [with Autograph Manuscript Signed of Poem]; A Comedy in Four Acts

Colum, Padraic

New York: The Macmillan Company, 1929. Artzebasheff. First Edition. Cloth. INSCRIBED by the Author on the front free endpaper plus an AUTOGRAPH MANUSCRIPT SIGNED COPY of "THE LANDING" (2 sheets, 8 1/2" x 11" on Hotel Gotham stationery) SIGNED by the Poet and inscribed "For Harriet," [to whom the book was also presented]; 8vo (9" x 6"), colorful pictorial dust jacket with geometrical patterns by Boris Arzebasheff (publisher's tapered dj flaps with price of $2.00) , [viii] + 123 pages in a light red buckram slipcase. AMS Poem laid in. Fine / Near Fine. Item #4391

Padraic Colum (1881 – 1972) was an Irish poet, novelist, dramatist, biographer, playwright, children's author and collector of folklore. He was one of the leading figures of the Irish Literary Revival. Three of his books for children were awarded retrospective citations for the Newbery Honor and one earned a Caldecott medal.

"'Balloon' is the first play to based on modern philosophical ideas. The action takes place in a 'Spenglerian' world in which life has become externalized and where the idea of height and distance is dominant" (from front dust jacket flap).

Padraic Colum's poem "The Landing" is famous Irish inspirational verse, which--in the guise of ancient Greek verses about The Golden Fleece and Heroes Who Lived Before Achilles (1921)--conveys the poignant drama of Irish shipboard mass emigration.

Rough collation with printed versions of the poem reveals a few changes of names [in stanzas 7 & 9 {perhaps to suggest Harriet's children??} ] and occasional minor variants in punctuation.

Cloth is Fine: tight, clean, slightly age-toned. The remarkably fresh though slightly edge-rubbed dust jacket, which is echoed on the book's front cover, was designed by Boris Artzebasheff (1899 - 1965). He was a notable American illustrator of White Russian roots who was valued especially for his often surreal and geometrical designs executed for children's books, magazines (e.g., Time covers), and commercial art.

Bookplate of previous owner on front pastedown. Faint hint of paperclip impression on front endpaper (likely as a result of loosely fastening "The Landing" poetry on 2 leaves of Hotel Gotham stationary). Inscribed "To dear Harriet / from her affectionate / Padraic Colum". Poem also states "For Harriet" at the bottom of the third page opposite the poet's bold signature.

Price: $450.00