From 1957 to 1968, the White Rabbit Press published sixty-three books and ten broadsides. It was the primary publisher of the work of Jack Spicer, Robin Blaser, and Robert Duncan—the three central figures of the literary movement first known as the Berkeley Renaissance, and later as the San Francisco Renaissance. Founded by Joe Dunn in 1957 to print the poetry of the Jack Spicer Circle, the first ten books were printed surreptitiously on a multilith at the Greyhound Bus offices on 7th street in San Francisco. These early books were illustrated by Jess, Robert Duncan, and Kenn Davis.
After a four-year hiatus, the imprint was revived in 1962 by Graham Mackintosh with Spicer’s LAMENT FOR THE MAKERS, which was published in a small edition of less than 100 copies and illustrated by Mackintosh. The press, in this second series, continued to publish through the 1980s.
Section A:
Books and Chapbooks
A1. Jonas, Steve. LOVE, THE POEM, THE SEA AND OTHER PIECES EXAMINED
First edition:
San Francisco: White Rabbit Press, November 1957
Hand-sewn in illustrated wrappers, 6.5″ x 8.5″, 12 pages, 200 numbered copies, multilith printed by Joe Dunn. Cover illustration by Jess Collins. (Johnston A1)
A2. Spicer, Jack. AFTER LORCA
a. First edition, regular copies:
San Francisco: White Rabbit Press, November-December 1957
Saddle-stapled in illustrated wrappers, 6.5″ x 8.5″, 76 pages, 474 copies, multilith printed by Joe Dunn. Jack Spicer’s first book of poetry. Cover illustration by Jess Collins. Introduction by Federico Garcia Lorca. (Johnston A2)
b. First edition, lettered and signed copies:
San Francisco: White Rabbit Press, November-December 1957
Saddle-stapled in illustrated wrappers, 6.5″ x 8.5″, 76 pages, 26 copies lettered and signed with a drawing by the author, multilith printed by Joe Dunn. Jack Spicer’s first book of poetry. Cover illustration by Jess Collins. Introduction by Federico Garcia Lorca. (Johnston A2)
c. First edition, second issue:
San Francisco: White Rabbit Press, November-December 1957
Unbound with out wrappers issued in mailing envelope, 6.5″ x 8.5″, 76 pages, 20 copies, multilith printed by Joe Dunn. Jack Spicer’s first book of poetry. Cover illustration by Jess Collins. Introduction by Federico Garcia Lorca. (Johnston A2)
A3. Levertov, Denise. FIVE POEMS
First edition:
San Francisco: White Rabbit Press, January 1958
Hand-sewn and glued into illustrated wrappers, 6.5″ x 8.5″, 12 pages, (200 copies), multilith printed by Joe Dunn. Cover illustration by Jess Collins. (Johnston A3)
A4. Borregaard, Ebbe. THE WAPITIS
First edition:
San Francisco: White Rabbit Press, January 1958
Hand-sewn in illustrated wrappers, 6.5″ x 8.5″, 12 pages, (200 copies), multilith printed by Joe Dunn. Ebbe Borregaard’s first book. Cover illustration by Robert Duncan. (Johnston A4)
A5. Stanley, George. THE LOVE ROOT
First edition:
San Francisco: White Rabbit Press, January 1958
Hand-sewn in illustrated wrappers, 6.5″ x 8.5″, 12 pages, (200 copies), multilith printed by Joe Dunn. George Stanley’s first book. Cover illustration by Robert Duncan. (Johnston A5)
A6. Duncan, Robert. FAUST FOUTU ACT 1
First edition:
San Francisco: White Rabbit Press, March 1958
Hand-sewn in printed wrappers, 6.5″ x 8.5″, 20 pages, 300 copies, multilith printed by Joe Dunn. Illustrated by Robert Duncan. (Johnston A6, Bertholf A7b)
Note: This is part one of four parts of the dramatic reading originally presented at King Ubu Gallery.
A7. Dull, Harold. THE BIRD POEMS
First edition:
San Francisco: White Rabbit Press, May 1958
Hand-sewn in illustrated wrappers, 6.5″ x 8.5″, 16 pages, 200 copies, multilith printed by Joe Dunn. Harold Dull’s first book. Cover illustration by Nugent. (Johnston A7)
A8. Brautigan, Richard. THE GALILEE HITCH-HIKER
First edition:
San Francisco: White Rabbit Press, May 1958
Hand-sewn in printed and illustrated wrappers, 6.5″ x 8.5″, 6 pages, 200 copies, multilith printed by Joe Dunn. Cover illustration by Kenn Davis.
(Johnston A8)
A9. Adam, Helen. THE QUEEN O’CROW CASTLE
First edition:
San Francisco: White Rabbit Press, 1958
Hand-sewn in illustrated wrappers, 6.5″ x 8.5″, 20 pages, (200 copies), multilith printed by Joe Dunn. Cover illustration by Jess Collins. (Johnston A9)
A10. Olson, Charles. O’RYAN 2 4 6 8 10
First edition:
San Francisco: White Rabbit Press, September 1958
Hand-sewn in illustrated wrappers, 6.5″ x 8.5″, 16 pages, 300 copies, multilith printed by Joe Dunn. Cover illustration by Jess Collins. (Johnston A10)
A11. Spicer, Jack. LAMENT FOR THE MAKERS
First edition:
Oakland: White Rabbit Press, 1962
Hand-sewn and glued into illustrated wrappers, 5.5″ x 8″, 16 pages, 125 copies planned (“probably less than 100 completed”), lithograph printed by Graham Mackintosh. Cover illustration by Graham Mackintosh. (Johnston A11)
According to Johnston, “Back of title page has a fictitious acknowledgments list (by Graham Mackintosh) taken from Robert Duncan’s The Opening of the Field.”
A12. Andrews, Jr., Lyman. FUGUTIVE VISIONS
First edition:
Oakland: White Rabbit Press, 1962
Hand-sewn in printed wrappers, 5.5″ x 8″, 24 pages, lithograph printed by Graham Mackintosh. Illustrations by Graham Mackintosh.
(Johnston A12)
A13. Dull, Harold. THE WOOD CLIMB DOWN OUT OF
First edition:
San Francisco: White Rabbit Press, 1963
Saddle-stapled in printed and illustrated wrappers, 5.5″ x 8.25″, 12 pages, lithograph printed by Graham Mackintosh. Illustrations by Graham Mackintosh. (Johnston A13)
A14. Primack, Ronnie. FOR THE LATE MAJOR HORACE BELL OF THE LOS ANGELES RANGERS
First edition:
San Francisco: White Rabbit Press, 1963
Side-stapled sheets glued into printed and illustrated wrappers, 6″ x 9″, 32 pages, letterpress and offset printed by Graham Mackintosh. Illustrated by Graham Mackintosh. (Johnston A14)
A15. Stanley, George. TÊTE ROUGE / PONY EXPRESS RIDERS
First edition:
San Francisco: White Rabbit Press, 1963
Unbound sheets laid into illustrated wrappers, 6″ x 8.25″, 54 pages, lithograph printed by Graham Mackintosh. Cover design by Bill Brodecky, Illustrated by Paul Alexander.
(Johnston A15)
A16. Kearney, Lawrence. FIFTEEN POEMS
First edition:
San Francisco: White Rabbit Press, 1964
Saddle-stapled and glued into printed wrappers, 5.75″ x 9″, 20 pages, letterpress printed by Graham Mackintosh. Kearney’s first book. (Johnston A16)
A17. Thorman, Janet. THE TAROT SUITE
First edition:
San Francisco: White Rabbit Press, 1964
Saddle-stapled in printed wrappers, 5.5″ x 8.5″, 24 pages, letterpress printed by Graham Mackintosh. (Johnston A17)
Note: According to Johnston this books was offered for free as a supplement to OPEN SPACE magazine.
A18. Spicer, Jack and Lawrence Ferlinghetti. DEAR FERLINGHETTI
First edition:
San Francisco: White Rabbit Press, 1964
Single 8.5″ x 14″ sheet folded once, letterpress printed by Graham Mackintosh. (Johnston A18)
Note: According to Johnston this work arose out of a dispute between Spicer and Ferlinghetti’s City Lights Book Shop.
A19. Spicer, Jack. THE HOLY GRAIL
a. First edition, regular copies:
San Francisco: White Rabbit Press, 1964
Saddle-stapled and glued into illustrated wrappers, 6.25″ x 8.5″, 80 pages, lithograph printed by Graham Mackintosh. Illustrated by Graham Mackintosh. (Johnston A19)
b. First edition, hardcover copies:
San Francisco: White Rabbit Press, 1964
Hardcover, 6.25″ x 8.5″, 80 pages, 13 copies signed (4 were reportedly destroyed during signing), lithograph printed by Graham Mackintosh. Illustrated by Graham Mackintosh. (Johnston A19)
A20. Duncan, Robert. AS TESTIMONY
a. First edition:
San Francisco: White Rabbit Press, 1964
Saddle-stapled in printed wrappers, 6″ x 9.25″, 24 pages, 350 copies, letterpress printed by Graham Mackintosh. (Johnston A20, Bertholf A12a)
a. Second edition:
San Francisco: White Rabbit Press, 1965
Second edition, saddle-stapled printed wrappers, 6″ x 9″, 24 pages, letterpress and offset. (Johnston A31, Bertholf A12b)
A21. Blaser, Robin. THE MOTH POEM
a. First edition, regular copies:
San Francisco: Open Space, December 1964
Side-stapled and glued into printed wrappers, 5.5″ x 8.25″, 32 pages, 288 copies, letterpress printed by Graham Mackintosh. (Johnston A21)
b. First edition, hand-colored copies:
San Francisco: Open Space, December 1964
Side-stapled and glued into printed wrappers, 5.5″ x 8.25″, 32 pages, 12 copies with hand-colored end papers by the author, letterpress by Graham Mackintosh. (Johnston A21)
c. Second edition:
San Francisco: Open Space, December 1964
Side-stapled and glued into printed wrappers, 5.5″ x 8.25″, 32 pages, 288 copies, offset printed in letterpress wrappers by Graham Mackintosh. (Johnston A23)
A22. Dull, Harold. THE DOOR
First edition:
San Francisco: Open Space, 1964
Side-stapled and glued into collaged wrappers, 8.5″ x 11″, 58 pages, lithograph printed by Graham Mackintosh. (Johnston A22)
A23. Duerden, Richard. THE FORK
First edition:
San Francisco: Open Space, 1964
Saddle-stapled sheets glued into printed french-fold wrappers, 6.75″ x 8.5″, 92 pages, 500 copies, errata sheet tipped in, letterpress printed by Graham Mackintosh. (Johnston A24)
A24. Alexander, James. ETERNATURE
First edition:
San Francisco: Oannes-Open Space, April 1965
Side-stapled sheets glued into printed and illustrated french-fold wrappers, 7.25″ x 10.25″, 104 pages, 250 copies, lithograph printed by Graham Mackintosh. Illustrated by Paul Alexander. (Johnston A25)
A25. Olson, Charles. O’RYAN 1-10
a. First edition, regular copies:
San Francisco: White Rabbit Press, September 1965
Saddle stapled in illustrated wrappers, 6.25″ x 8.75″, 16 pages, 1000 copies, letterpress printed by Graham Mackintosh. Illustrated by Jess Collins. (Johnston A26)
b. First edition, hardcover copies:
San Francisco: White Rabbit Press, September 1965
Hardcover, 6.25″ x 8.75″, 16 pages, 26 lettered copies, letterpress printed by Graham Mackintosh. Illustrated by Jess Collins (Johnston A26)
A26. Blaser, Robin. LES CHIMERES
a. First edition, regular copies:
San Francisco: Open Space, September 1965
Saddle-stapled in printed dust jacket, 5.5″ x 8.25″, 32 pages, 500 copies, letterpress printed by Graham Mackintosh. (Johnston A27)
b. First edition, hardcover copies:
San Francisco: Open Space, September 1965
Hardcover in printed dust jacket, 5.5″ x 8.25″, 32 pages, 26 lettered copies, letterpress printed by Graham Mackintosh. (Johnston A27)
A27. Stanley, George. FLOWERS
a. First edition, regular copies:
San Francisco: White Rabbit Press, 1965
Saddle-stapled printed wrappers, 5.75″ x 8.75″, 32 pages, 500 copies, letterpress printed by Graham Mackintosh. (Johnston A28)
b. First edition, hardcover copies:
San Francisco: White Rabbit Press, 1965
Hardcover, 5.75″ x 8.75″, 32 pages, 26 lettered and signed copies, letterpress printed by Graham Mackintosh. (Johnston A28)
A28. Dull, Harold. THE NIGHT OF THE PERSEIDS
a. First edition:
San Francisco: White Rabbit Press, 1965
This title, after review by the author, was never issued.
(Johnston A29)
A29. Spicer, Jack. LANGUAGE
a. First edition:
San Francisco: White Rabbit Press, June 1965
Perfect-bound illustrated wrappers, 6.25″ x 10″, 72 pages, 950 copies, letterpress printed by Graham Mackintosh. (Johnston A30)
b. First edition, second printing:
San Francisco: White Rabbit Press, 1970
Perfect-bound illustrated wrappers, 6.25″ x 10″, 72 pages, 950 copies, offset printed from the first edition. Text added to the colophon: “Second printing 1970”. (Johnston A54)
A30. Duncan, Robert. THE SWEETNESS AND GREATNESS OF DANTE’S DIVINE COMEDY
a. First edition, first printing:
San Francisco: Open Space, December 1965
Side-stapled in illustrated wrappers, 6.75″ x 9.25″, 28 pages, 500 copies, lithograph printed by Graham Mackintosh. Illustrated by Robert Duncan. (Johnston A32, Bertholf A17a)
a. First edition, second printing:
San Francisco: Open Space, January 1967
Side-stapled in illustrated wrappers, 6.75″ x 9″, 28 pages, 500 copies, lithograph printed by Graham Mackintosh. Illustrated by Robert Duncan. This second printing has no colophon and the title page’s artwork is slightly altered. (Johnston A32, Bertholf A17b)
A31. Spicer, Jack. BOOK OF MAGAZINE VERSE
a. First edition:
San Francisco: White Rabbit Press, March 1966
Perfect-bound in printed and illustrated wrappers, 5.5″ x 7.75″, 56 pages, 1500 copies, letterpress printed by Graham Mackintosh. Prepared for publication from the original manuscript by Stan Persky. Illustrated by Graham Mackintosh. (Johnston A33)
Note: According to Johnston, “The cover is a parody of the cover of Poetry(Chicago). The poems are arranged in groups intended for various little magazines and newspapers, each section printed on a stock appropriate to that publication, so that for example, the poems for Tish are on blue mimeo paper, those for the St. Louis Sporting News on newsprint.”
b. First edition, second printing:
San Francisco: White Rabbit Press, 1970
Perfect-bound in printed and illustrated wrappers, 5.5″ x 7.75″, 56 pages, 1500 copies, letterpress printed by Graham Mackintosh. Prepared for publication from the original manuscript by Stan Persky. Illustrated by Graham Mackintosh. (Johnston A33)
A32. Ryan, John Allen. RUT
First edition:
(San Francisco): Graham Mackintosh, January 1966
Saddle-stapled in printed and blind-stamped wrappers, 5.5″ x 8.5″, 24 pages, 500 copies, letterpress printed by Graham Mackintosh. Illustrated by Knute Stiles. (Johnston A34)
A33. Alexander, James. THE JACK RABBIT POEM
a. First edition, regular copies:
San Francisco: White Rabbit-Open Space, March 1966
Saddle-stapled in printed wrappers, 5.5″ x 9″, 20 pages, 724 copies, letterpress printed by Graham Mackintosh. (Johnston A35)
b. First edition, hardcover copies:
San Francisco: White Rabbit-Open Space, March 1966
Hardcover, 5.5″ x 9″, 20 pages, 26 lettered and signed copies, letterpress printed by Graham Mackintosh. (Johnston A35)
A34. Perksy, Stan. LIVES OF THE FRENCH SYMBOLIST POETS
First edition:
San Francisco: White Rabbit Press, 1966
Saddle-stapled in printed wrappers, 5″ x 7.25″, 16 pages, letterpress printed by Graham Mackintosh. Dedication: “for / Jack Spicer”. (Johnston A36)
A35. Stowers, J. Anthony. THE ALIENS
First edition:
San Francisco: White Rabbit Press, 1967
Saddle-stapled in printed and photo-illustrated wrappers, 5″ x 7.25″, 32 pages, letterpress printed by Graham Mackintosh. (Johnston A37)
A36. Miles, Josephine. SAVING THE BAY
First edition:
San Francisco: Open Space, 1967
Saddle-stapled in printed and illustrated French-fold wrappers, 7″ x 10″, 12 pages, letterpress printed by Graham Mackintosh. (Johnston A38)
A37. Dull, Harold. THE STAR YEAR
First edition:
San Francisco: White Rabbit Press, October 1967
Saddle-stapled in printed and illustrated wrappers, 6″ x 9″, 48 pages, 500 copies, letterpress printed by Graham Mackintosh. Cover illustration by Fran Herndon. (Johnston A39)
A38. Duncan, Robert. THE CAT AND THE BLACKBIRD
First edition:
San Francisco: White Rabbit Press, 1967
Comb-bound in illustrated wrappers, 9.25″ x 12″, 52 pages, 500 copies, lithograph printed by Graham Mackintosh from author’s manuscript. Illustrated by Jess Collins. (Johnston A40)
A39. Dunn, Joe. BETTER DREAM HOUSE
First edition:
San Francisco: White Rabbit Press, April 1968
Saddle-stapled in printed and illustrated wrappers, 6.75″ x 9.25″, 32 pages, 1000 copies. Illustrated with paste-ups by Jess Collins. (Johnston A41)
A40. Stanley, George. BEYOND LOVE
First edition:
San Francisco: Open Space .·. Dariel Press, 1968
Saddle-stapled printed and illustrated wrappers, 5.75″ x 8.5″, 36 pages, letterpress printed by Graham Mackintosh. Dedication: “for Harold Dull”. (Johnston A42)
A41. Brautigan, Richard. PLEASE PLANT THIS BOOK
First edition:
San Francisco: Graham Mackintosh, 1968
Folder containing 8 printed seed packets, folder measures 6.25″ x 7″, 6000 copies, letterpress and offset printed by Graham Mackintosh. Photographs by Bill Brach. (Johnston A43)
A42. Thibeau, John. AN OPEN LETTER TO CHE GUEVARA
First edition:
San Francisco: White Rabbit Press, 1968
Printed envelope containing 3 printed sheets, sheets measure 8.5″ x 11″, lithograph printed by Graham Mackintosh. (Johnston A44)
A43. SAN FRANCISCO PUBLIC LIBRARY PRESENTS DURING AUGUST FIFTY YEARS OF GREAT PRINTING BY GRAHAM MACKINTOSH
First edition:
San Francisco: Graham Mackintosh, 1968
Folio sheet folded in quarters with 8-page booklet stapled inside, 6.5″ x 10″. Includes interview with Mackintosh by Robert Hawley (Oyez), the 8-page booklet lists books designed and printed by Mackintosh including titles from White Rabbit, Oyez, and Black Sparrow. Printed at Dick’s Quick Print Press. (Johnston A45)
A44. Chapson, James. JIM’S BOOK
a. First edition:
White Rabbit Press, 1969
(Johnston A46)
b. Second edition:
Nine Beasts Press, 1969
(Johnston A47)
A45. Spicer, Jack. A BOOK OF MUSIC
a. First edition, regular copies:
San Francisco: White Rabbit, 1969
Saddle-stapled illustrated wrappers, 6.25″ x 9.25″, 20 pages, 1800 copies designed and printed by Ron and Graham Mackintosh from a typescript made available by Peter Howard. The cover was one decided upon by the author. Illustrated by Graham Mackintosh. (Johnston A48)
b. First edition, variant copies:
Variant copies include additional printed text on the front leaf: “150 copies printed Christmas, 1969 / for friends of White Rabbit, Oyez, / and the author”. (Johnston A48a)
A46. Liddy, James. A LIFE OF STEPHEN DEDALUS
a. First edition, regular copies:
White Rabbit Press, December 1969
Saddle-stapled in illustrated wrappers, 6.5″ x 9″, 24 pages, 474 copies, letterpress printed by Graham Mackintosh. (Johnston A49)
b. First edition, signed copies:
White Rabbit Press, December 1969
Saddle-stapled in illustrated wrappers, 6.5″ x 9″, 24 pages, 26 lettered and signed copies, letterpress printed by Graham Mackintosh. (Johnston A49)
A47. Dusenbery, Walter. THE STORY OF THE BED
First edition:
Natoma Society, 1970
Perfect-bound in printed wrappers, 6″ x 6″, 32 pages, letterpress printed by Graham Mackintosh. (Johnston A50)
A48. Ryan, John Allen. UNION ONION
First edition:
San Francisco: White Rabbit Press, 1970
(Johnston A51)
A49. Siverley, Bill. DREAMS OF ORPHEUS
First edition:
White Rabbit Press, March 1970
(Johnston A52)
A50. Garcia, Luis. THE MECHANIC
First edition:
White Rabbit Press, 1970
Perfect-bound in printed wrappers, 6″ x 8.5″, 88 pages, 500 copies, letterpress printed by Graham Mackintosh. Illustrated by Walter Dusenberry. (Johnston A53)
A51. Felson, Larry. BODY SONG
a. First edition, regular copies:
San Francisco: Elephant Press, April 1970
Saddle-stapled in printed wrappers, 5.75″ x 8.5″, 16 pages, 187 copies, letterpress printed by Ronald Mackintosh. (Johnston A55)
b. First edition, signed copies:
San Francisco: Elephant Press, April 1970
Saddle-stapled in printed wrappers, 5.75″ x 8.5″, 16 pages, 13 signed and lettered copies, letterpress printed by Ronald Mackintosh. (Johnston A55)
Elephant Press was a “subsidiary” of White Rabbit Press.
A52. Scola, Eileen. TO MARY MAGDALENE
First edition:
San Francisco: Elephant Press, 1970
(Johnston A56)
A53. Dorbin, Sandy. THE RUBY WOODS
a. First edition, regular copies:
San Francisco: White Rabbit Press, 1971
Perfect-bound in printed wrappers, 5.75″ x 9″, 36 pages, 454 copies, letterpress printed by Graham Mackintosh. Illustrated by Chuck Miller. (Johnston A57)
b. First edition, hardcover copies:
San Francisco: White Rabbit Press, 1971
Hardcover, 5.75″ x 9″, 36 pages, 26 numbered and signed copies, letterpress printed by Graham Mackintosh. Illustrated by Chuck Miller. (Johnston A57)
A54. Liddy, James. A MUNSTER SONG OF LOVE & WAR
a. First edition, regular copies:
San Francisco: White Rabbit Press, 1971
Saddle-stapled in printed wrappers, 6″ x 8.25″, 24 pages, 450 copies, letterpress printed by Graham Mackintosh. (Johnston A58)
b. First edition, hardcover copies:
San Francisco: White Rabbit Press, 1971
Saddle-stapled in printed wrappers, 6″ x 8.25″, 24 pages, 50 copies, letterpress printed by Graham Mackintosh. (Johnston A58)
A55. Kearney, Lawrence. DEAD POEM
First edition;
San Francisco: White Rabbit Press, 1971
(Johnston A59)
A56. Thibeau, Jack. CONVERSATIONS WITH APOLLINAIRE
First edition:
San Francisco: White Rabbit Press, 1972
Saddle-stapled in printed and illustrated wrappers, 6.25″ x 10″, 16 pages, letterpress printed by Graham Mackintosh. (Johnston A60)
A57. Liddy, James. BAUDELAIRE’S BAR FLOWERS
First edition:
Santa Barbara: Capra Press, 1975
(Johnston A61)
A58. Farquhar, David. THE BIRTH OF ISRAEL
First edition:
White Rabbit Press, 1976
(Johnston A62)
A59. Spicer, Jack. COLLECTED POEMS, 1945-46
First edition:
Berkeley: Oyez/White Rabbit Press, 1981
Saddle-stapled printed wrappers, 7″ x 9″, 32 pages, lithographed from the author’s typescript. (Johnston A63)
References consulted:
Bertholf, Robert J. ROBERT DUNCAN: A DESCRIPTIVE BIBLIOGRAPHY
Santa Rosa: Black Sparrow Press, 1986
Johnston, Alastair. A BIBLIOGRAPHY OF THE WHITE RABBIT PRESS
Berkeley: Poltroon Press in association with Anacapa Books, 1985
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