Begun in May 1963 by Ted Berrigan, with Lorenz Gude as publisher, the C Press and it’s mimeograph-printed magazine, provided an important early outlet for the writings of younger poets and their immediate predecessors.
1. Veitch, Tom. LITERARY DAYS
New York: Lorenz and Ellen Gude, 1964
First edition, side-stapled in illustrated cover, 8.5″ x 11″, 200 numbered and signed copies, mimeograph printed. Cover art and illustration by Joe Brainard. Edited by Ron Padgett and Ted Berrigan.
According to Granary Books catalog, Poets’ First Books, A Short List: This is Tom Veitch’s first book and is also the first book published by C Press.
2. Berrigan, Ted. THE SONNETS
New York: C Press, 1964
First edition, first printing, 8.5″ x 11″, 300 copies, mimeograph printed. Cover art by Joe Brainard. Edited by Ron Padgett who also typed the stencils. Published by Lorenz and Ellen Gude at C Press. Berrigan has dedicated the book to Joe Brainard.
According to Granary Books catalog, Poets’ First Books, A Short List: Considered one of Berrigan’s most influential works, this book is widely considered his first, in the first edition. However, its publication is technically preceded by A Lily for My Love, which Berrigan attempted to round up copies and destroy (and this thus incredibly scarce).
3. Padgett, Ron. IN ADVANCE OF THE BROKEN ARM
New York: C Press, 1965
Second edition, side-stapled in printed and illustrated wrappers, 8.5” x 11”, 200 numbered copies, mimeograph printed. Cover art and illustrations by Joe Brainard (all differ from the first edition published by Lorenz Gude in 1964).
4. Burroughs, William. TIME
a. First edition:
New York: C Press, 1965
Saddle-stapled in printed and illustrated wrappers, 8.5″ x 11″, 32 pages, 1000 copies (886 in a trade edition; 100 numbered and signed; 10 lettered A-J, hardbound, with original manuscript page by Burroughs and original drawing by Gysin, signed; and four hardcover numbered copies hors commerce). Cover art by Burroughs. Illustrated by Brion Gysin. Edited by Ted Berrigan, Ron Padgett, and Joe Brainard.
According to a Granary Books catalog entry for this item: Ron Padgett, editor for the edition, relates, “Burroughs’ original manuscript was so faintly typed that the printer (a very helpful gentleman named Mr. Dymm at Fleetwood Letter Service) said it would not be legible in an offset edition.” In order to solve the problem, the editor created a facsimile of Burroughs’ manuscript. He rented a typewriter (with the same font as Burroughs’) and then acquired “a fresh (used) copy of the issue of Time (‘Transatlantic Edition,’ it called itself) he had used as the basis for his manuscript.”
“It was a lot of work, and I became rather obsessed with creating a perfect replica, but I enjoyed doing it. Burroughs was pleased with the result, but, given his characteristic reserve, he didn’t gush. Throughout the project he was cordial, polite, somewhat old-fashioned in his formal good manners. Brion Gysin was equally polite but a bit warmer in his demeanor.”
5. Padgett, Ron. TWO STORIES FOR ANDY WARHOL
New York: C Press, 1965
Second edition, side-stapled with illustrated cover, 8.5” x 14”, 11 pages, mimeograph printed. Thermo-Fax cover by Andy Warhol. The found text was excerpted from an early twentieth-century novel and is repeated on each page of the mimeographed book, reflecting the poet’s interest in appropriation and repetition.
6. Ceravolo, Joseph FITS OF DAWN
New York: C Press, 1965
First edition, side-stapled in printed and illustrated cover, 8.5″ x 11″, mimeograph printed. Cover art by Rosemary Ceravolo. Edited by Ted Berrigan. The poet’s first book.
7. Gallup, Dick. HINGES
New York: C Press, 1965
First edition, side-stapled in printed and illustrated cover, 8.5″ x 11″, mimeograph printed. Cover illustration by Joe Brainard. Edited by Ted Berrigan. The author’s first book published while Gallup was still a student at Columbia.
According to Granary Books catalog, Poets’ First Books, A Short List: “Gallup moved to New York City in 1961 to join high school classmates from Tulsa, Ron Padgett and Joe Brainard. Also from Tulsa was Ted Berrigan, whose C Press published Gallup’s first book of poetry. Gallup had been writing since high school, often collaborating with Padgett or Berrigan on small handmade “bokes” or ephemeral publications.
8. Brownstein, Michael. BEHIND THE WHEEL
New York: C Press, 1967
First edition, side-stapled in printed and illustrated cover, 8.5″ x 11″, 200 copies, mimeograph printed. Edited by Ted Berrigan. Published as issue No. 14 of C magazine.
9. Elmslie, Kenward. POWER PLANT POEMS
New York: C Press, 1967
First edition, side-stapled in printed and illustrated wrappers, 8.5″ x 11″, mimeograph printed. Cover art and illustrations by Joe Brainard. Edited by Ted Berrigan.
10. Notley, Alice. 165 MEETING HOUSE LANE / TWENTY-FOUR SONNETS
New York: C Press Publications, 1971
First edition, side-stapled in printed and illustrated cover, 8.5″ x 11″, 250 copies, mimeograph printed. Edited by Ted Berrigan.
11. Carey, Steve. THE LILY OF ST. MARK’S
New York: C Press, 1978
First edition, side-stapled in printed and illustrated cover, 8.5″ x 11″, 250 copies, mimeograph printed. Cover art by George Schneeman. Edited by Ted Berrigan.
12. Schneeman, Elio. IN FEBRUARY I THINK
New York: C Press, 1978
First edition, side-stapled in printed and illustrated cover, 8.5″ x 11″, 250 copies, mimeograph printed. Cover art by George Schneeman.
Online Resources:
· From a Secret Location – C Press
· Reality Studio – C Press Archive
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