Semina. No.2
Los Angeles: Wallace Berman, 1957. First edition. 8vo. 24 leaves, each with a mounted letterpress text and illustration, entirely printed by hand. Original wrappers with a photographic illustration by C. BRITTIN mounted on front cover, with "coverphoto: Chas. Brittin" written in red ballpoint on inner rear wrapper. Light handling wear and toning, generally a very good copy of this fugitive publication. Item #410606
Wallace Berman's legendary artist's magazine: "Although printed on a handpress in editions of only a few hundred, Wallace Berman's 'Semina', a journal of poems and artworks published in nine issued from 1955 to 1964, is one of the determining works of its time, staking out a new cultural perimeter for an underground eager for change" (Duncan & McKenna, p. 21). This issue with contributions by Hermann Hesse, Paul Eluard, Jack Anderson, Michael McClure, Eric Cashen, Charles Bukowski, Paul Valery, David Meltzer, John Altoon (signed print) etc.
Semina was published for nine issues, between 1955 to 1964. Exceedingly rare. Clay and Phillips, p.78f: "Its circulation never exceeded a few hundred copies. You could not buy Semina; it was sent to you. Consequently, some claim it as the precursor to 'mail art.'" See Michael Duncan and Kristine McKenna, Semina Culture: Wallace Berman & His Circle, pp. 52-54.
Price: $4,750.00