American Poetry Portfolio signed poetry broadsides

American Poetry Portfolio, published by Northouse & Northouse, Dallas Texas, 1988. Edition of 100 copies of which this is #27. With eight broadside poems, each specially designed and printed. Each individually signed by the author (Ginsberg's "Capitol Air" has an holograph word added; Nemerov's "Landscape with Self Portrait" is unsigned).

Eight folio broadsides ranging in size from 13" x 17" to 13" x 19". According to the publisher Cameron Northouse, small changes were made during the press runs so that each broadside shows variations within the 100 copies. Fine in a hard plastic case (13 3/4 x 19 1/4") with wood backing and with clear plexiglass (truncated) front. The publisher intended for the case to be hung on a wall with one broadside or another displayed under the plexiglass.


The broadsides: Scott Davison, "Soft Salvation," designed and printed by David Holman at the Wind River Press. Allen Ginsberg, "Capitol Air," designed and printed at Red Ozier Press. William Heyen, "Mother and Son," designed and printed by Leigh McLellan. Heather McHugh, "From 20,000 Feet," designed and printed by the Press of A. Colish. Howard Nemerov, "Landscape with Self-Portrait," designed and printed by W. Thomas Taylor. Linda Pastan, "Mother Eve," designed and printed by W. Thomas Taylor. William Stafford, "Geography Lesson," designed and printed at the Red Ozier Press. John Updike, "Two Sonnets," designed and printed by David Holman.

American Poetry Portfolio was published by Cameron and Donna M. Northouse in Dallas, Texas. The publisher's were quite active in the 1970s and 1980s publishing both academic works and literature: Sylvia Plath and Anne Sexton: A reference guide (1974). John Osborne: a reference guide (1974). The Texas arts journal. (1972-1977), with limited, signed editions including "Concept" an anthology of contemporary writing. First Printing of Texas Authors (1982).

A companion portfolio of short stories was in the works when one of the contributors passed away. The project was scrapped. The printers: Abraham Colish (1882-1963): (Heather McHugh). In the 1920s, Colish began working with the Limited Editions Club and, in 1930, printed an edition of Boccaccio's Decameron. The Press continued to print material for the Club through the 1980s, including a thirty-seven volume edition of Shakespeare's plays from 1929 to 1940.

In addition, the Press of A. Colish also produced work for, among others, the Grolier Club, the Typophiles, the Colophon, Harvard University, the Universities of Texas and Illinois, the Pforzheimer Library, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the National Gallery of Art, and others. William, David Holman. The Wind River Press: (Scott Davison, John Updike).

After decades of printing William and David Holman (father and son) still own and operate the Wind River Press. 2
Leigh McClellan: (William Heyen). San Francisco, author and printer. Studied at the Iowa Writer's Workshop. After graduation, she worked for University of Iowa Press, Windhover Press, and Black Oak Bindery. Steve Miller. Red Ozier Press: (Alen Ginsberg, William Stafford). The press was founded in 1976 in Madison, Wisconsin. In 1979 Miller moved to New York City, established Red Ozier press there and took on as co-proprietor Ken Botnick. W. Thomas Taylor: (Linda Pastan, Howard Nemerov) Taylor, from Houston, Texas, made his printing debut in 1981. He was also an antiquarian bookseller. He captured notice with such achievements as a new edition of Rupert N. Richardson's The Comanche Barrier to South Plains Settlement (1991) and, most strikingly, John Graves's Self-Portrait with Birds (1991) for the Chama Press of Dallas. (Lowman)

Ref: Handbook of Texas Online, Al Lowman, "PRINTING ARTS," accessed March 30, 2020, http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/ehp01. (Inventory #: 983809)