[Rarebooks] FS: WAKE ISLAND: Two copies of possibly the first book of American poetry on WWII

[Charles Agvent]

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. 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. 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. 
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. 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. 		$1,000.00

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