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54 GINSBERG, Allen. Class of 1943 Yearbook. [Paterson, New Jersey:] 1943 “Hates dull teachers and republicans” An Eastside High School yearbook, inscribed with a rhyming couplet by Allen Ginsberg on his entry, “You’re smart and you do look well, I might have known: your name’s Estelle. Allen Ginsberg”. This yearbook, which also contains an early printed poem by Ginsberg, is very scarce. The subject of the rhyming couplet is Estelle Verner (1926– 2018), a classmate of Ginsberg, described in her entry as “Our own Eleanor Powell . . . good at all kinds of dancing, swimming, music, and math . . . dislikes conceited people . . . member of Footlights and Math Clubs . . . Big Sister”. The yearbook is filled with thoughtful ink inscriptions from her classmates. Ginsberg’s entry reads: “‘Professor’ is the philosopher and genius of the class . . . hopes to study law . . . Talent Club President, Criterion, Big Brother, Senior Mirror . . . fiend for Beethoven and Charlie Chaplin . . . indulges in music, politics, history, literature . . . Gold ‘P’ . . . hates dull teachers and Republicans”. Ginsberg, who was also the literary editor for this yearbook, contributed the “Class Poem”, a notably early appearance in print, reflecting on the ongoing World War: “For these are giant times, and history / Is fashioned as the minutes burn away. / Buildings of old beliefs are being bombed, / And rotted walls are crumbling down today. / Ready are we to meet the challenge hurled: / To battle,
conquer, and rebuild the world”. At his 25th high school reunion in 1968, Ginsberg read the poem to the class and commented: “Oh well, there it is. Doesn’t seem to be much change in the world after twenty-five years” (quoted in Wait Till I’m Dead ). This is an excellent snapshot of a young Ginsberg, and an endearing summary of his early personality, noting his political views and career aspirations. After a brief stint at Montclair State College, he entered Columbia University the following year to study law, where he became friends with William S. Burroughs and Jack Kerouac. Quarto. Original dark blue cloth, rear cover, spine, and part of front cover in low relief imitating tree bark, title and date embossed on front cover in pale blue and gilt on like ground, blue photographic endpapers. Spine ends a touch worn, tips rubbed, lower corners bumped, contents slightly foxed, a little fingermarking, gutter cracked to Vance’s page but binding firm. A very good copy. ¶ Morgan, The Works of Allen Ginsberg , 1995, C4; Morgan, The Response to Allen Ginsberg , 1996, J3. Bill Morgan, ed., Allen Ginsberg, Wait Till I’m Dead, Poems Uncollected , 2016. £6,750 [157482] 55 GINSBERG, Allen. “Magic Psalm”, draft typescript, with corrections, signed. [1960] “The message is: widen the area of consciousness” A rare example of an early signed typescript poem by Allen Ginsberg, with several corrections in his hand; the first page
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