Iconographs (With Signed Note) Swenson, May (Signed) Association Copies,Laid-In Materials,Poetry

An association copy, inscribed on the title page: "For Mrs. Donald Straus / May Swenson, 5-20-72." An uncommon book in general. Also laid in is a note from Swenson on a National Institute of Arts and Letters card relaying that the book is a joint gift from her and a mutual friend, who was the poet Ann Stanford. The recipient,Elizabeth Allen Straus,was a member of New York high society (the Straus's were Macy's Department Store heirs) and later a resident of Mt. Desert Island in Maine. She was a philanthropist and champion of the New York Botanical and the Museum of Modern Art. Swenson is consider one the most important mid-century poets and was the recipient of a MacArthur Fellowship among many other honors. This book announced her noted "iconographic" style in which she made what are also called concrete poems: shapes of verse related to the content of the poem. Quarto, cloth boards in black, red, and cream. A very good or better copy with some sunning/toning to spine and light bumping to corners. No dust jacket probably as issued (in light of the very decorative cloth).Also laid in is biographical note about Swenson that was likely issued with the book; Swenson, likely, has crossed out "high" in the phrase "one of the high masters of the high baroque fashion of our time" that describes her.