Maggs Bros.

An important association copy of the rare first edition of this poetry anthology: “To Countee P. Cullen with kindest regards from Clarence F. Bryson April 28, 1928.”

This anthology is comprised of poems by students in the 1927-1928 Verse Writing class of Cleveland College, Western Reserve University. The introduction states that “[t]here were those members of the class who had never written a line of poetry before they entered the class; there were those who had written, but had no knowledge of forms; and there were a few who had written and written well …” Clarence F. Bryson contributed seven poems to the anthology and must’ve felt immense pride when inscribing this copy to Countee Cullen.

Countee Cullen (1903-1946) the poet noveslist and playwright was educated at NYU and Harvard. His first volume of poetry, Color, appeared during his senior year in 1925. Two years later, with the publication of Copper Sun, his weekly contributions and assistant editorship of Opportunity: A Journal of Negro Life, he was “generally recognized by critics and the public as the leading literary figure of the Harlem Renaissance” (ANB).

Bryson’s name is incorrectly spelled on the contents page (it lists his middle initial as “J.” but it is “F.” per his signature).

Scarce, OCLC locates seven copies.