[Rarebooks] FS: WAKE ISLAND, 1942, likely the first book of American Poetry about World War II

[Charles Agvent]

Wake Island, attacked on the same day as Pearl Harbor, was the site of 
the first Japanese defeat of the war, though Japan would take the island 
later that month.

1. RUKEYSER, Muriel. WAKE ISLAND. Garden City: Doubleday, Doran & Co.,
Inc.  1942.  First  Edition. Printed rose wraps, the second  and  much
more  common  binding.  This copy has laid into it a letter  from  the
publisher  dated  7  August 1942 announcing the  publication  of  this
volume  and  presenting it to the recipient. In part: "In WAKE  ISLAND
may  be found the hopes and aspirations of a militant youth who  fight
to  make men free." An early if not the first book of American  poetry
published whose primary subject matter is World War II. Fine   $150.00

2. RUKEYSER, Muriel. WAKE ISLAND. Garden City: Doubleday, Doran & Co.,
Inc.  1942.  First  Edition.  Pictorial  boards  depicting  ships  and
planes  around the island of the title. The first, suppressed  binding
and  very  scarce.  It  seems   Rukeyser  was  dissatisfied  with  the
illustration  on the cover, and most copies were destroyed. This  copy
is  INSCRIBED  and  SIGNED  by the poet on the  title  page  to  noted
collector  Eugene L. Delafield "a long time later" in 1952.  Delafield
has  noted  in pencil on the front pastedown a publication date of  21
August  1942  and on the copyright page: "circa 200 in this  binding."
An  early  if  not the first book of American poetry  published  whose
primary  subject matter is World War II. Minor wear to spine tips  and
darkening  to  the  top of the front cover affecting the  top  of  the
title lettering. Very Good or better and quite scarce.        $1000.00

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