Sterling, George

[Double Signed] Ode on the Opening of the Panama-Pacific International Exposition San Francisco-February-1915

San Francisco: A.M. Robertson, 1915. [Double Signed] Ode on the Opening of the Panama-Pacific International Exposition San Francisco-February-1915, George Sterling, published by A.M. Robertson, San Francisco, California, 1915. Limited to 525 copies printed by Taylor & Taylor. First edition. 9 1/4 x 6 3/4 inches. [1-6] 16pp.

Original gray boards with unbleached linen spine. Fore edge and corners bumped, light soiling. Title page printed in red and black. Deckle edged interior leaves are toned on all edges otherwise clean. Good condition.

George Sterling (1869--1926) was a writer based mostly in the Bay Area and Carmel-by-the-Sea with brief stays in New York. Sterling was admired as a poet and playwright active during the first quarter of the twentieth century and promoted heavily by his mentor Ambrose Bierce. His time in Carmel was often spent in the company of Jack London, Mary Austin and Robinson Jeffers and became associated with the 'bohemian' movement, including membership in the famed San Francisco Bohemian Club.

This book is a presentation copy inscribed by George Sterling on the front free endpaper: "Dear Tom: [Gregory] A poem of a time very far in the future. Ever your Friend, George. San Francisco, Oct. 1st, 1922." Signed again on third endpaper "For Tom Gregory from George Sterling".

Shortly after Sterling's 1914 divorce, he left Carmel moving to New York where, while writing prolifically, found little success selling his poems to the eastern market. In January 1915 "the San Francisco Examiner commissioned Sterling to write an ode commemorating the opening of the exposition (Panama–Pacific International Exposition). Sterling's long poem was printed in the Examiner, read at the exposition's opening ceremony, excerpted by magazines and books, and in November, published by Alexander Robertson as a 525-copy hardcover limited edition on handmade paper." (Wikipedia). Item #2390

Price: $225.00