FIRST ISSUE OF WEST-RUNNING BROOK, SIGNED BY FROST

FROST, Robert. West-Running Brook. New York: Henry Holt, [1928]. Octavo, original half green cloth, mounted cover label, marbled endpapers, uncut, original dust jacket. $4500.

First edition, first issue, of Frost’s fifth collection of verse, widely hailed as one of his greatest, boldly signed by the poet: “Robert Frost Wesleyan 1929.”

In addition to the title poem, this volume contains "Acquainted with the Night," "Spring Pools, "Tree at My Window" and "Once by the Pacific," among others. With four full-page woodcut illustrations by J.J. Lankes. "Welford D. Taylor, a prominent Lankes scholar, describes the appreciation that the poet and the printmaker had for each other's work: 'What had impressed each man was a recognition of the aesthetic and thematic values he shared with the other—a "coincidence of taste," as Frost put it. Both based much of their work on rural subjects, employed understatement and symbol and explored the question of human significance in the over-all scheme of nature" (Vanderbilt University). First issue, without "First Edition" printed on copyright page. Also published the same year in a signed limited edition of 1000 copies. Crane A10.

Book fine; scarce original dust just with shallow chipping to spine ends, a few short closed tears, mild toning to spine, two tiny holes to rear flap seam. A near-fine signed copy.