Nero / An Early Poem (1964)

NERO / An Early Poem. Clark Ashton Smith. 14.5 x 24.1 cm. 14 pt. small Post Roman; Albertus title. 307 un-numbered copies on Warren's Olde Style (3 color or texture varieties, S.21A-1, -2, & -3), handsewn sheets glued into a Tweedweave Dusty Red or Andorra Tan wrapper; 74 copies on Chroma (3 color varieties, S.21B-1, -2, & -3) glued into a Chroma Gray wrapper. 50 numbered S.21B copies have tipped-in a portrait of Smith; "proof copy" is hand-written in the other 24. Total of 381 copies (colophon states "about 450"). September 6. (RAS #3)

What's with all the variations? This has long been one of the most common & inexpensive Squires titles you'll encounter. Don't know why that is. Quantity of copies & quality of a then-young poet's writing?

Overall this is a much better looking production than The Pedestrian. Squires' printing is crisp  and consistent. Still a light touch when it comes to impression, but the quality of his printing was assisted by a better choice of paper (the copy I have is a smooth finish; the other "texture varieties" may not have aided the printing) and a larger type. (The colophon was set in 12-pt Centaur, and it also is well printed, so the quality of the poem's printing wasn't just happenstance.)

One oddity, an unsuccessful attempt at typographic creativity: the first few words in each stanza of the poem are letterspaced, creating an effect analogous to someone with a stutter.

But overall, an attractive pamphlet and example of Squires' work.