Collection Summary

Title
Middle Earth Books Records
Dates
1940-1979, bulk 1972-1979

Collection ID
SCRC 247

Creator
Middle Earth Books
           
Quantity
2.1 linear feet (7 boxes)

Repository
Special Collections Research Center, Temple University Libraries

Language
Materials in English

Detailed Collection Information

Historical Note

In 1969, Samuel and Sims Amico founded Middle Earth Books (MEB), which was originally located at 1701 Spruce St., Philadelphia before it moved to 1134 Pine St. Once settled on Pine, the bookstore began hosting poetry readings, putting out publications (Lip, Contact, et.al.) and really delving into the poetry scene. Describing its purpose, Sam Amico states,

"In a blind act of love, hoping to reconcile private and public life Middle Earth Books was born in a basement bookshop in 1969. Ideas surfaced; concepts equidistant from ‘Tolkien’ and ‘The Whole Earth Catalog.’ From an underground philosophical position, ‘guerrilla warfare’ could be waged on the dominant media culture. Somewhere behin the scenes was the motivation to bring visual and conceptual information together. Eclecticism/Juxtaposition/Pataphysics."

Several big name artists, who went on to make names for themselves, did readings or contributed to publications at Middle Earth. Patti Smith, one of the poets who participated in the bookstores’ ongoing poetry readings, was just beginning her career as a punk rock musician and went on to become a very influential singer/songwriter especially in the punk scene. Smith’s Kodak, published by MEB, along with a few photographs of Smith performing a poetry reading at the bookstore is included. Victor Bockris, who published Brain with Middle Earth Books in 1972, was a guest editor for the first issue of “Lip”, and did interviews and wrote poetry for Red Room Books’ publication “Contact,” was already a well known author and has since written many biographies, including Andy Warhol, Keith Richards, and William S. Burroughs. Bockris often collaborated with Andrew Wylie, now an internationally known literary agent, on “Contact.” The filmmaker/poet, Tom Pickard, published Dancing Under Fire with MEB in 1973 and also contributed to “Contact.”  MEB published Choices by Ernest Robson, an established poet and author, in 1973. The collection also includes additional Robson publications. Poets Marty Watt and William Talen also have published material with MEB. Additionally, a pirated edition of an unpublished collection of short stories by J.D. Salinger is included. Salinger was quite unhappy with this unauthorized publication and Middle Earth Books was one of the few bookstores in Philadelphia to carry it. A copy of Tarantula by Robert Zimmerman (later known as Bob Dylan), is also included in the collection.

Sam Amico also wrote a book “Six Tales Being of The Book of Lies & Wisdom” under the pen name Sarant Pansamurs. It was published for Middle Earth Books by Cowell Press in University of California, Santa Cruz and Moving Parts Press in 1982 and is located in the Contemporary Culture Collection.

Description of Collection

This collection materials relating to Middle Earth Books’ poetry readings and advertising of well-known poets. It includes correspondence, posters, paste-ups and broadsides of many famous poets during the seventies.

Organization and Arrangement

The collection is arranged into 10 series as follows:

Series 1: Authors, 1967-1977, undated
Series 2: Publications, 1972-1977, undated
Series 3: Publications: Broadsides, 1970-1973
Series 4: Paste-ups, 1972-1977
Series 5: History and documentation, 1969-1973, undated
Series 6: Publications: Magazines, 1972-1973, undated
Series 7: Publications: Books, 1972-1979
Series 8: Publications: Non MEB Books, 1940-1979, undated
Series 9: Recordings, 1971-1976, undated
Series 10: Miscellaneous and oversized material, 1972-1976, undated

Series 1 contains a collection of all the authors that were in some way related to the bookstore. It is primarily their correspondence with Sam and the bookstore along with some of their work. A copy of Patti Smith’s Kodak is found in this series.

Series 2 contains published poetry by several poets/authors such as Victor Bockris, Aaron Poller, Patti Smith, Tom Pickard, and William Talen. This includes Middle Earth’s Pam Series publications.

Series 3 contains Middle Earth’s broadsides, or advertisements meant for mass distribution.

Series 4 contains paste-ups, or as Amico defined them “artworks prepared for camera ready copy that were reproduced by Middle Earth Books, Philadelphia”.

Series 5 contains news releases, newspaper clippings, ephemera and photographs.

Series 6 contains “Contact,” a publication of Red Room Books and is missing Issue 5.

Series 7 contains a book that Sam Amico wrote under the name Sarant Pansamurs Di Amico.

Series 8 contains a few books that are in the collection that were not published by Middle Earth Books, but are by authors who have other publications by MEB. The pirated work of J.D. Salinger is in Folder 15 and Robert Zimmerman’s (a.k.a. Bob Dylan) Tarantula is in Folder 17.

Series 9 contains cassette tapes of MEB poetry readings and performances. In the flat box is a 16mm film.

Series 10 contains all oversized/miscellaneous material, including materials from series: Broadsides, Paste-ups, Posters/Programs/PR, and Recordings.

Patron Information

Catalog Record

A record for this collection is available in Temple University’s online library catalog: http://diamond.temple.edu/record=b3879266~S12

Research Access

Collection is open for research.

Collections Stored Off-Site

This collection may be housed off-site at the Library Depository, and require up to two business days to retrieve. Please review the finding aid and be prepared to identify specific materials to be retrieved. Contact the Special Collections Research Center in advance of your visit, so that materials may be relocated to the reading room for research.

Technical Access

Original audiovisual materials, as well as preservation and duplicating masters, may not be played. Researchers must consult use copies, or if none exist must pay for a use copy. Certain digital files may also be inaccessible. Please contact the Special Collections Research Center for more information.

Publication and Copyright Information

The Middle Earth Books Records are the physical property of the Special Collections Research Center, Temple University Libraries. Intellectual property rights, including copyright, belong to the authors or their legal heirs and assigns. Researchers are responsible for determining the identity of rights holders and obtaining their permission for publication and for other purposes where stated.

Preferred Citation

[Description and date of item], [Box/folder number], Middle Earth Books Records, SCRC 247, Special Collections Research Center, Temple University Libraries, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

 

Administrative Information

Acquisition Information

Donated by Samuel Amico in January 2009.

Processing Information

Collection processed and finding aid prepared in August 2010 by Holly Beth Wilson. Two additional paste-up sheets for Lip #1 were added to the collection in May 2011 (via SA). Finding aid revised according to contemporary archival standards in June 2017.

                  

Index Terms

The following headings have been used to index the description of this collection in Temple University’s electronic catalog:

Personal Names:
Di Amico, Sarant Pansamurs
Smith, Patti
Robson, Ernest M.
Bockris, Victor, 1949-
Pickard, Tom, 1946-
Talen, William

Corporate Names:
Middle Earth Books
Red Room Books

Subjects:
American poetry—20th century
Poets, American—20th century
Bookstores—Pennsylvania—Philadelphia  

Material Types:
16mm
Video recordings
Audiocassettes
Sound recordings
Correspondence
Manuscripts
Posters
Poems
Photographs 

Inventory

Series 1: Authors, 1967-1977, undated

Series 1 contains a collection of all the authors that were in some way related to the bookstore. It is primarily their correspondence with Sam and the bookstore along with some of their work. A copy of Patti Smith’s Kodak is found in this series.

1          1          Bluford, Ken: Fugitive Pieces. Typescript. Dedication poem: “To Sam.” 38 pages. Stapled          1972

1          2          Bluford, Ken: Stream. 5 typed pages from the author with note on the order of poems          Undated

1          3          Bockris, Victor: Correspondence: Sam Amico, from 110 E. 17th St., Apt. 2R NYC, NY, 10003: 3 typed letters, 1 typed letter, 1 holograph greeting card (November 14, 1974); Sam Amico, from N.Y.C.: 2 holograph, multi-page letters one of which with photo of Bockris-Wylie attached, 1 typed letter in reference to Dali book, 1 holograph letter on Museum of Modern Art note card (Undated); to Sam and Sims from Co. Durham, Northumberland, UK: 1 typed letter, 1 holograph letter (Undated)          1974, undated

1          4          Bockris, Victor/Wylie, Andrew: Assorted Newspaper clippings. “The Drummer”, Philadelphia. Interviews, reviews, etc. from the chroniclers of The Electric Generation          1972-1976

1          5          Brown, Otis (?): Gab Galloway, Typed ‘memoir’ probably by Otis Brown about the NYC Bockris-Wylie experience. 28 pages in manila folder          Undated

1          6          Brown, Otis: Clippings/Posters: Newspaper clippings from “The Drummer” by and about Otis Brown. With 2 copies of Brown poster          1973-1976

1          7          Bukowski, Charles: Correspondence: 1 typed letter with original drawing; with envelope from S. Oxford Ave., LA, CA 90004 (December 11, 1973); 1 typed letter (April 26, 1974)          1973, 1974

1          8          Codrescu, Andrei: Correspondence: 1 typed letter in relation to a possible reading: with envelope, from Monte Rio, CA 95462          December 1, 1973

1          9          Creeley, Robert: Correspondence: 1 holograph letter from 226 Linwood Ave., Buffalo, NY 14209 (February 5, 1973); 1 typed letter with typed copy of “The Plan is the Body” – poem for broadside published by Middle Earth Book, with note initialed by Creeley (February 12, 1973)          1973

1          10          Darrah, Dennis: Correspondence: 1 holograph letter in reference to manuscript          August 22

1          11          Darrah, Dennis: Eyes Only. Manuscript in paste-up form lent to Middle Earth Books for pamphlet project [unpublished] with accompanying letter dated May 1, 1975          1970-1971, 1975

1          12          Elmslie, Kenward: Correspondence: 1 typed letter in relation to Lip #1          Undated

1          13          Giorno, John: Correspondence: 1 typed letter in relation to a projected reading          April 6, 1974

1          14          Graves, Jesse: Correspondence: 2 holograph letters with poem (July 29, 1977 & November 2, 1977); 4 holograph poems/documents (undated)          1977, undated

1          15          Grossinger, Richard: Correspondence: 1 typed letter in relation to projected pamphlet for excerpt from “The Book of Being Born Again Into the World”          Undated

1          16          Grossinger, Richard: “The Windy Passage from Nostalgia” (unpublished mss. For Lip #2 (never published))          Undated

1          17          Jackson, Robert: Correspondence: 1 typed letter, 1 typed poem signed          Undated

1          18          Malanga, Gerald: Correspondence: 1 typed letter from Box 564 Gt. Barrington, Mass. 01230 (July 8, 1973); 1 typed letter from 301 Cambridge St. Apt. 3 Boston, Mass. 02114 (June 1, 1974)          1973, 1974

1          19          Martin, John: Correspondence: From Black Sparrows Press: 1 typed letter in regard to general book business          February 7, 1973

1          20          McClure, Michael: Correspondence: 1 typed letter related to potential readings and to Patti Smith (November 30, 1973); 1 holograph postcard (March 21, 1975)          1973, 1975

1          21          Pickard, Tom: Correspondence: 2 holograph letters from McKenna’s Bookshop, UK (May 13, 1973 & July 17, 1973); 1 typed letter from McKenna’s (September 25, 1973); 1 typed letter from McKenna’s (October 24, 1973); 1 typed letter from Eric Mottram in relation to Lip #1 and “Dancing Under Fire”, 1 typed letter from Dick McBride in relation to Lip #1 (Undated)          1973, undated

1          22          Pickard, Tom & Connie: Photographs          Undated

1          23          Robson, Ernest: Correspondence: 1 holograph letter accompanied with additional Robson papers, poems, articles          Undated

1          24          Robson, Ernest & Marion: Mss.: I Only Work Here. Typewritten compositions rendered into orthographic print with introduction, research, tables, and appendix bound into black folio. A lifework spanning five decades with typewritten introduction by Bliem Kern          February 1, 1974

1          25          Robson, Ernest: Mss.: Notes on Poetry as a Two Way Performance Art. 9 page paper with illustrative poems          Undated

1          26          Robson, Ernest: Text: “An Orthographic Way of Writing English Prosody.”  Typed paper with footnotes and bibliography. 25 pages. Unsigned          Undated

1          27          Robson, Ernest: Texts and Ephemera: “Poetic Potential in Information of Astronomy” (photocopy from International Union of Amateur Astronomers. Proceedings of the First General Assembly, Bologna) (April 19-22, 1969);  “An Orthographic Way of Writing English Prosody” offprint from: Visible Language IX, 4, MIT Press, pp. 356-372 (Autumn 1975)          1969, 1975

1          28          Smith, Patti: Correspondence: 2 typed letters in relation to Kodak [chapbook] and reading at Middle Earth; 1 holograph letter sometime after reading at Middle Earth; 1 typed letter with original drawing for “Skunk Dog” sometime after the release of Lip #1 (Middle Earth publication)          Undated

1          29          Smith, Patti: Mss.: Kodak. As designed by Patti Smith. 10 typed pages, each page signed by Patti Smith          1972

1          30          Smith, Patti: Kodak: Paste-ups (#3 of the 1st series of pamphlets)          Undated

1          31          Smith, Patti: Kodak: unbound from overrun sheets (incomplete and unfinished copy) unsigned and unsewn          Undated

1          32          Smith, Patti: Photographs (6”x9” and 8”x10”) of Patti Smith reading at MEB, photographer unknown          c. 1972

2          1          Talen, William (a.k.a. Rev. Billy): Correspondence: 8-9 assorted holograph letters, some with poems; 2 typed letters, one of which contains 9 typed poems; 4 assorted post cards; post card for S.F. Performance of Apple Pie with George and Jane, 3 letters of Sam Amico to Tale, to Andrew and Gary          Undated

2          2          Tate, Henry: Mss.: Typescripts/copies: Assorted typescripts and copies of poems. 17 pages. Holograph signature: Dublin          1967-1968

2          3          Tate, Henry: Photographs. 2 photographs of Tate at table          Undated

2          4          Voelcker, Hunce: Ephemera (Birth announcement for his nephew, untitled, signed, issued as “An Empty Elevator Shaft Broadside”)          1973

2          5          Watt, Marty: Mss.: Notebook. Holograph jottings, poems, autobiographical notes, and contacts bound in a composition journal. Red ink stain on lower corner of first 20 pages          Undated

2          6          Watt, Marty: Mss.: “The Kids Have Gone to Bed” photocopied holograph mss. With new additional pencil markings          Undated

2          7          Watt, Marty: Secondary: Miscellaneous: “The Drummer” articles on Watt, Bill, Talen, and et al          1972-1975, undated

2          8          Weatherly, Tom: Mss.: Climate. 5 typed pages from the author with cover sheet; holograph citations on coversheet and verso of last page          Undated

2          9          Wieners, John: Correspondence: 1 holograph note in relation to his reading in Philadelphia with holograph poem, signed, for broadside use in celebration of Lip #1; 1 typed letter from Alan Davies (from Box 1076, So. Lancaster, Mass. 01561) in relation to John Weiner’s reading in Philadelphia          Undated

2          10          Williams, Jonathon: Correspondence: 1 typed letter in relation to projected reading by Jim Broughton          November 19, 1976

2          11          Wright, Franz: Correspondence: 1 typed letter from Oberlin, Ohio. The initial contact letter for MEB’s pamphlet “Life of Mary” (April 28, 1976); 1 typed letter continued discussion on “Life of Mary” with enclosed original text: “Das Marien-Lieben” (May 14, 1976); 1 holograph postcard contact address in Oakland, CA (May 26, 1976); 1 typed letter minor corrections to “Life of Mary” (June 5, 1976); 1 envelope from Oberlin, letter missing (August 18, 1976); 1 typed postcard, progress inquiry on “Life of Mary” (December 6, 1976); typed note, dedication request (April 23, 1977); typed postcard, contact update  (June 18, 1977); 1 typed letter, response to MEB letter (March 20, 1979); 1 holograph letter from Stuart Friebert, editor of Field Journal to verify initial contact for “Life of Mary” (Undated)          1976-1979, undated

Series 2: Publications, 1972-1977, undated

Series 2 contains published poetry by several poets/authors such as Victor Bockris, Aaron Poller, Patti Smith, Tom Pickard, and William Talen. This includes Middle Earth’s Pam Series publications.

2          12          Bockris, Victor: Brain (Pam Series #1) No. 1 (Copy 1 of 100 – signed by author)          1972

2          13          Poller, Aaron & David Federman. Seeing Double (Pam Series #1) No. 2 (Copy 1 of 100 – signed by both authors)          1972

2          14          Smith, Patti. Kodak (Pam Series #1) No. 3 (No copy in this collection-but see “Author” section for Mss., trial sheets, etc. Temple has a separate copy of Kodak.)  Additional note: though all of MEB’s other publications were published under the name Middle Earth Books, Kodak is published under Middle Earth Bookshop          Undated

2          15          Weatherly, To & Ken Bluford: Climate/Strem (Pam Series #1) No. 4 (Copy 1 of 100 – signed by both authors)          1972

2          16          Pickard, Tom. Dancing Under Fire (Pam Series #1) No. 5 (Copy 67 of 150 – signed by author.) A series of four portrait photos by Bockris          1973

2          17          Pickard, Tom. Dancing Under Fire (Pam Series #1) No. 5 (Trial copy wrapper: 1/5 copies – rejected.) Unused demo 1st trial edition, produced to make a timeline deadline for the Creeley/Pickard poetry reading “High Noon” sponsored by MEB. Cover design rejected and later reprinted. This is 1 of 5 copies in existence.         1973

2          18          Talen, William & Robert Jackson. Roots & Cuttings (Pam Series #2) No. 1 (Copy 1 or 100 – signed by both authors) Photographs of authors tipped in          1974

2          19          Rilke,Rainer Maria: Life of Mary (Das Marien-Leben) (Pam Series #2) No. 2  Translation by Frank Wright. Bilingual with German and English translation on facing pages. Edition of 300, marbled paper cover, hand sewn. Illustration by Giacomo Munzu frontispiece tipped in. Unnumbered trade copy          1977

Series 3: Publications: Broadsides, 1970-1973

Series 3 contains Middle Earth’s broadsides, or advertisements meant for mass distribution.

3          1          Wieners, John: From a Reading in Celebration of Lip (Edition of 300 copies – “Broadside #1) Unsigned, mostly complete with typographic element missing          1973

3          2          Creeley, Robert: The Plan is the Body (Edition of 300) signed copy/inscribed, framed in glass          1973

3          3          Creeley, Robert: The Plan is the Body (Edition of 300) 2 copies – 1 signed “To Sam, with All Best, Bob”          1973

3          4          Snyder, Gary: Four Changes. Specific title: Changes Changes 4 Changes Change.” Oversize framed broadside has been physically removed from this collection and placed in framed broadside storage. This folder contains the letter from Sam Amico regarding this broadside. The broadside is signed by Snyder (or “Chofu”, his Zen name) in Chinese characters in the kitchen broadside printings. 5,000 copies printed by Noel Young in Santa Barbara for the Plowshare Bookstore and Whole Earth Truck Store          January 1970

Series 4: Paste-ups, 1972-1977

Series 4 contains paste-ups, or as Amico defined them “artworks prepared for camera ready copy that were reproduced by Middle Earth Books, Philadelphia”.

3          5          Bockris, Victor: Brain (#1 in 1st series of pamphlets), Accompanied by the author’s own typed manuscript for general design purposes          1972

3          6          Middle Earth Books Presents…:  Paste-up for ticket for “High Noon” Reading at the Manning Street Theater          February 25, 1973

3          7          Pickard, Tom: Dancing Under Fire (#5 in the 1st series of pamphlets) Accompanied by unscreened photos of Tom Pickard          1973

3          8          Poller, Aaron: Seeing Double (#2 in the 1st series of pamphlets)          1972

3          9          Lip#1. Original paste-ups for camera ready copy*          1972

3          10          Rilke, Raines Maria: Life of Mary (#2 in the 2nd series of pamphlets)          1977

3          11          Robson, Ernest. Includes partial paste-up of a poster for a reading at MEB entitled, “The Role of Information in Poetry”          Undated

3          12          Talen, William: Roots & Cuttings (#1 in the 2nd series of pamphlets)          1974

3          13          Vita d’Fumatica. Paste-ups for pipe tobacco labels for insert into blended pipe tobacco packages sold exclusively at Middle Earth Books          Undated

3          14          Weatherly, Tom & Ken Bluford: Climate/Stream (#4 in the 1st series of pamphlets)           1972

3          15          From a reading in Celebration of Lip          1973

Series 5: History and documentation, 1969-1973, undated

Series 5 contains news releases, newspaper clippings, ephemera and photographs.

3          16          Photography and Clippings          1969-1977, undated

3          17          Ephemera, news releases.  Includes: 1 poster for “A Reading In Celebration of Lip” Tom Weatherly and Ken Bluford. 2 posters for “High Noon. A Reading with Robert Creeley and Tom Pickard”          November 19, 1972 & February 25, 1973

Series 6: Publications: Magazines, 1972-1973, undated

Series 6 contains “Contact,” a publication of Red Room Books and is missing Issue 5.

4          1          “Contact”: Issue 1. Philadelphia, Red Room Books. Edited by Jeff Goldberg. Cover photo of Marty Watt. Contents include Victor Bockris, Andrew Wylie, Marty Watt, Jeff Goldberg and Ken Bluford. 300 copies. Stapled          Undated

4          2          “Contact”: Issue 2. Philadelphia, Red Room Books, Bockris-Wylie cover photo. Interview with Ken Bluford. Other contributors as in Contact #1          December 12, 1972

4          3          “Contact”: Issue 3. Philadelphia, Red Room Books. Edited by Jeff Goldberg. Interview with Jeff Goldberg by Victor Bockris; other contributors include Marty Watt, Andrew Wylie. 300 copies in edition          December 14, 1972

4          4          “Contact”: Issue 4. Philadelphia, Red Room Books. Edited by Jeff Goldberg. Larry Fagin Special Issue. Contributions by Michael Brownstein, Ted Berrigan, Ron Pagett, John Wieners, Ann Waldman, Tom Pickard and others; interview of Larry Fagin by Bockris-Wylie. 300 copies published          January 8, 1973

4          5          “Contact”: Issue 6. Philadelphia, Red Room Books. Edited by Jeff Goldberg. Tom Pickard Special Issue. Contributions by Robert Bly, Ronald Faux, Pete Mortimer, Otis Brown, John Wieners, Ann Waldman, Robert Creeley, Gerard Malanga and others. Interview of Tom Pickard by Bockris-Wylie. 300 copies published          February 24, 1973

4          6          “Contact”: Issue 7. Philadelphia, Red Room Books. Edited by Jeff Goldberg. John Wieners Special Issue. Contributions by Eric Mottram, Gerard Malanga, Tom Weatherly, Aram Saroyan, Tom Pickard, Otis Brown, and others. Interview of John Wieners by Bockris-Wylie. 300 copies published          April 18, 1973

Series 7: Publications: Books, 1972-1979

Series 7 contains a book that Sam Amico wrote under the name Sarant Pansamurs Di Amico.

4          7          Lip #1. Guest edited by Victor Bockris. Publisher’s personal copy, signed on illustration page 84, contributors include Gerard Malanga, Patti Smith, Tom Pickard, Aram Saroyan, Tom Clark, Andrew Wylie, Tom Raworth and others. Designed by Samuel Amico, perfect bound with foil cover          1972

4          8          Di Amico, Sarant Pansamurs[1] (a.k.a. Samuel Amico). Epoch-Elipse (Copy “S”). Edition of 300 copies, 25 signed and lettered, encased in a see-through coverlet with contributing photos by G.M. Cloud; fold-out collage tipped on back endpaper          1979

4          9          Talen, William. Here it is the One and Only Evening Sky (Dwarf Descending Series) (Copy 1 of 1000 – signed by author) 50 numbered and signed by author, perfect bound, color cover, painting by Frederick Hodler          1974

4          10          Watt, Marty. Slices “A Book of Stickers” (an edition of 200 unsigned)          1976

Series 8: Non MEB Publications: Books, 1940-1979, undated

Series 8 contains a few books that are in the collection that were not published by Middle Earth Books, but are by authors who have other publications by MEB. The pirated work of J.D. Salinger is in Folder 15 and Robert Zimmerman’s (a.k.a. Bob Dylan) Tarantula is in Folder 17.

4          11          Famulary, John: Making It Alive/Poems. Cambridge, Mass. Connections Press. First edition, signed with inscription: “To Sam – remember the future”          1979

4          12          Poller, Aaron: Ghost Notes. Published at 3705 Powelton St. Philadelphia in an edition of 25 copies. Staple bound with 1 cent stamp on cover          September 18, 1972

4          13          Poller, Aaron: Tamborine (sic) & Other Poems (Tambourine & Other Poems), 8 pages stapled, with red construction paper cover [No imprint/colophon information]          Undated

4          14          Robson, Ernest: Poetry as a Performance Art On and Off the Page With comments by N.Y. and Philadelphia poets, including Sam Amico, Bliem Kern, Richard Kostelanetz and others. Primary Press, disturbed by Dufour Editions. With a Christmas card enclosed from Ernie and Marion Robson          1976

4          15           Salinger, J.D.: Featuring the Complete Uncollected Short Stories: March 1940 Vol. 1  Pirated Edition. Photocopy of Philadelphia Evening Bulletin (November 11, 1974) enclosed, which tells the story of the book in relation to MEB          March 1940; November 11, 1974

4          16          Watt, Marty: Four You. Private Edition (Copy 8 of 10 – signed by the author) Stapled with Photos          Undated

4          17          Zimmerman, Robert (a.k.a. Bob Dylan): Tarantula. Including an interview with Bob Dylan by Jan Wenner from publication in Rolling Stone, 1969. Stapled, publisher unknown (probably bootleg), cover, rubber stamped          1969, undated

4          18          Miscellaneous: Sam Amico’s miscellaneous notes and a very detailed description of the collection          Undated

Series 9: Recordings, 1971-1976, undated

Series 9 contains cassette tapes of MEB poetry readings and performances. In the flat box is a 16mm film.

5          1          Cassette Tapes: Side 1: Aaron Poller reading at MEB          May 1972          Side 2: Hatten: “Voice Print” 60 minutes          Undated

5          2          Cassette Tapes: Robert Jackson at Drexel: Me – “ME/Remember”          Fall 1975

5          3          Cassette Tapes: Marty Watt reading “Take Time” series of poems probably at MEB sponsored event. Low volume          Undated

5          4          Cassette Tapes: Side 1: Ken Bluford: Reading at Middle Earth Books; Side 2: Tom Weatherly: Reading at Middle Earth Books, 60 minutes          November 1972

5          5          Cassette Tapes: Side A: Robert Jackson/Robert Younger: Reading “The List” WXPN; Side B: Dexter Yagor Rally Cont.         October 23, 1976 & July 24, 1971

5          6          Cassette Tapes: Robson, Ernest: Composition Performance. Spoken by Ernest and Marion Robson           Undated

6          1          Into Another Ones Skull. 16 mm silent film by Sam Amico and Hatten          1974

Series 10: Miscellaneous and oversized material, 1972-1976, undated                                                                 

This series contains all oversized/miscellaneous material, including materials from series: Broadsides, Paste-ups, Posters/Programs/PR, and Recordings.

7          1          Publications: Broadsides: Bockris, Victor: Lychee Nuts. An edition of 25 sets signed and sealed August 2, 1972. Manila envelope cover probably made by Victor Bockris. This is set #3, each broadside signed and numbered.         1972

7          2          Publications: Broadsides: Darrah, Dennis: Meet the Press & Face the Nation. An edition of 300m 25 of which are signed (2 copies, both signed by the author)          1975

7          3          Publications: Broadsides: Robson, Ernest: Choices (a promotional item for an edition of 200 sets of 9 broadsides, 100 sets numbers, signed and cased in a portfolio) This copy is not numbered, signed, or cased          1973

7          4          Publications: Broadsides: Robson, Ernest: Collection of 8 of the 9 broadsides in Choices unsigned          1973

7          5          Paste-ups: Darrah, Dennis: Meet the Press          1975

7          6          Pate-ups: Robson, Ernest: Choices. Informational planning sheet with mock up drawing by publisher; paste up labels of Choices portfolio, masked out negatives and offset metal plate for cover graphics of portfolio          1973

7          7          Paste-ups: Watt, Marty: Slices. Paste-up boards for book of stickers of poems          Undated

7          8          Paste-ups: Miscellaneous          1976

7          9          Posters/Programs/PR: Into Another One’s Skull, Includes: 2 copies of film poster [diptych] for Into Another One’s Skull; 2 copies of program for film event, one copy of statement by Hatten, Amico & X; 2 announcements for: Audio Into Art by Hatten & X, aired on WUHY 90.9 FM; signed manuscript of Voice Print [text]; #1 of 3 copies, Middle Earth Books          1974; Paste-up & Plates for poster for Into Another One’s Skull;          Announcement of Release of “Voice Print”

7          10          Posters/Programs/PR: Watt, Marty. Middle Earth Books Presents “Marty Watt and Otis Brown at the Mask & Wig” 2 copies. Also various posters and handbills that promote related readings in the local Philadelphia area, 1970’s          Sunday, February 9

7          11          Recordings: LP: Hatten, T.: “Voice Print”  LP recording with cover photographs by X in an edition of 300 copies. This copy still in shrink wrapping          1974

7          12          Publications: Broadsides: Robson, Ernest: Choices. A portfolio of 9 broadsides rendered into Prosodynic print by Ernest & Marion Robson; original poem/music by Ernest Robson; calligraphy by Marion Robson; printed on various colored papers with colored inks. Middle Earth Books, in an edition of 200 sets, 100 sets signed and numbered on each of the 9 different broadsides, all encased in boards with marbled paper wrappers          1973