The Penmaen Press Archive is now housed at the Thomas Dodd Center, University of Connecticut, Storrs
See our Allen Ginsberg / Lynd Ward "Moloch" project, below
Book artist Michael McCurdy printed and published Penmaen Press books from 1968 to 1985. Books of first-edition poetry, fiction, and translation were printed letterpress and included original art. Titles that are still available are listed here. You may order directly from Penmaen Press. The press is not accepting MSS. for publication.
Face to Face: Twelve Contemporary American Artists Interpret Themselves in a Limited Edition of Wood Engravings Original wood-engraved self-portraits by leading American wood engravers are presented in a handsomely produced collection. Engravings by Fred Becker, Jack Coughlin, John DePol, Fritz Eichenberg [d.1990], Raymond Gloeckler, James Grashow, Judith Jaidinger, Stefan Martin [d. 1994], Michael McCurdy, Barry Moser, Gillian Tyler, and Herbert Waters [d. 1996] are available now in a wrapper-bound set, with an introduction by Leonard Baskin [d. 2000] and a dedicatory print by Lynd Ward [d.1985]. Text and artists' commentaries are included as well as an additional suite of prints. The wood blocks were printed by Harold McGrath of Moser's Hampshire Typothetae. Michael McCurdy and Robert Hauser printed the textual portion at Penmaen Press. A prospectus is available upon request. Our last boxed edition has been sold (October, 1998). This is not a book but a collection of unbound original wood engravings. ONE wrapper-bound edition is now available for sale for $700 each plus $13 postage. More hand-made boxes are being created now by Jim Currier for those collectors who want the collection boxed. Click here to see the prospectus (Inquire)
Banquet by Rosellen Brown, Maxine Kumin, Joyce Carol Oates, Jean McGarry, and Lynne Sharon Schwartz This diverse collection of first-edition short stories by important American women writers, contains original wood engravings by Gillian Tyler. "These stories are uncommonly fine works." [The Boston Globe] Deluxe, letterpress signed edition, $150; hardcover, $15 (offset); paper, $8 (offset).
Charlie in the House of Rue by Robert Coover An original novella by one of America's most creative writers. "Coover's words create the texture of a silent movie." [Chicago Review] "Recommended reading." [San Francisco Review] An original wood engraving by the late Jerome Kaplan is printed on the title page and book jacket. Coover has now turned the novella into a play, performed in the spring of 1999 in Cambridge, MA. The book is now available in a signed, special edition, $50.
Crossing America by Leo Connellan (died February 2001) Few copies are left of this 1976 Penmaen publication, one of the poet's first and best collections. Richard Eberhart contributed an introduction, and Michael McCurdy cut the title page wood engraving. "Connellan's name should be on everybody's lips." [Maine Sunday Telegram] No more hardcover/signed editions are available. A handful of hardcover books remain, priced at $40. A paper edition is still available in limited quantities at $25.) Connellan was the poet laureate of Connecticut. Read more about Leo and see the art from Crossing America by clicking here.
Memory of Snow by Sándor Csoóri Written by one of Hungary's finest and most famous poets, and translated by Nicholas Kolumban, this is Csoóri's first book to appear in English in America. Michael McCurdy engraved the title page and jacket wood-engraved portrait of the poet for this letterpress edition. Deluxe, signed, $124; hardcover, $22.50; paper, $8.50
World Alone/Mundo a Solas by Vicente Aleixandre, translated by Lewis Hyde and David Unger The first English edition of this book by the late Spanish Nobel Prize-winning poet [1977], this bilingual edition is illustrated with original wood engravings by Michael McCurdy. Deluxe, signed (by Aleixandre, Hyde, Unger, and McCurdy) $150; hardcover, $22.50
Elizabeth by Brian Swann This first-edition novella in the Penmaen Fiction Series features a McCurdy wood engraving. The regular edition is sold out. Still available is the signed, special edition priced at $40.
Passion by Robert Steiner An unconventional novella, printed here for the first time, contains a wood engraving by Berta Golahny. "Passion is brilliant. It's a work of fierce agony." [John Hawkes] Special, signed $40; regular hardcover, $15.
These Rooms by Suzanne E. Berger An offset second printing of a remarkable book of poetry that sold out its letterpress edition in six months. "A treat for readers of contemporary American poetry" [The Boston Globe] "These are poems to open up again and again." [Ms.] Hardcover, $12; paper, $6
The First Ten: A Penmaen Bibliography, 1968-1978 Edited by Michael Peich This first-edition work includes a record of all Penmaen Press books, broadsides, and ephemera from 1968 to 1978. Sixteen pages of photographs (printed offset) are included, as well as an Afterword by Penmaen's Michael McCurdy. It is still available in hardcover at $22.50.
King Harald and the Icelanders Translated by Pardee Lowe Ancient Icelandic stories, translated especially for Penmaen (with two stories appearing in English for the first time) are illustrated with wood engravings by Michael McCurdy. This award-winning book is still available in the unsigned, regular edition only (without jackets). Hardcover, $35 Very few copies are left.
Poem Upon the Lisbon Earthquake by Voltaire Illustrated with wood engravings by the famous Lynd Ward, this beautiful bilingual edition has a specially commissioned translation by the Pulitzer Prize-winning poet Anthony Hecht and an introduction by National Book Award scholar, the late Arthur M. Wilson. Lynd Ward [d.1985] contributed six original wood engravings, all printed from the blocks. Special, signed edition, $75; regular, unsigned edition, $30 Few copies are left. (irregular special edition, $50)
Rosebud by Gerard Malanga This first-edition collection of poetry by the noted poet, photographer, and former Andy Warhol associate was published in 1975. Rosebud is Penmaen's earliest title still available in limited quantities. There is included a title page wood engraving by Michael McCurdy. Hardcover, signed, $25.
Add $2.00 postage for single book shipments and handling.
Penmaen Press Broadsides
Moloch by Allen Ginsberg and Lynd Ward Taken from the Beat poet's poem "Howl", the Moloch section was hand set and hand printed on Rives heavyweight in red and black and includes an original wood engraving by the famous late book artist and engraver Lynd Ward (whose early work directly inspired Ginsberg's "Moloch"). The signed edition of 150 copies is priced at $350 and the unsigned edition, printed on Mohawk Superfine, is priced at $150. Published in 1978. Dealers take 30% (18"x25")
[The photo above shows Ginsberg, McCurdy, and Ward after signing the "Moloch" broadside on March 11, 1978 at Lynd Ward's house in Cresskill, New Jersey. Ward had been an influence on Ginsberg's work. This was their second meeting. Penmaen had already published a book with Ginsberg: To Eberhart from Ginsberg in 1976, now O.P.] Click here to see the broadside's prospectus from 1978.
The Love Nut by Lawrence Ferlinghetti and Michael McCurdy This original poem and wood engraving was hand printed in 1979 in three colors on Mohawk Superfine. The signed, numbered edition of 150 is priced at $150 and the unsigned edition of 150 is priced at $60. McCurdy met Ferlinghetti in April, 1979 in Boston at a poetry reading at the Arlington Street Church. After the reading, Ferlinghetti and McCurdy drove around Boston together, accompanied by the poet Vincent Ferrini. This special project was born as a result of that meeting. (9"x25")
The Poet Observes the Absence of God from the St. Louis Zoo by Maxine Kumin This broadside was produced in 1980 as a keepsake for guests who attended Penmaen's Boston Athenaeum gala in October of that year. The 12"x19" broadside is an original poem by the Pulitzer Prize-winning poet, and is available in a signed edition of 250 copies. $35.
Add $10.00 for shipping MOLOCH broadside, and $5.00 for others.
Send checks to: Michael McCurdy, Lake Buel Road, Great Barrington, MA 01230-1450
