A Pop Art Classic by a Nun
Damn Everything But the Circus
Notes: A terrific example of 1970s pop art in the form of an alphabet book, reproducing Sister Mary Corita Kent's collage-inspired images, with literary excerpts on the back (verso). The title comes from an e e cummings line.
The book was issued with a separate suite of 29 images (the alphabet plus "Damn", "Everything", "But the" and "Circus", with the letters G and O on the same double-width sheet. Each image is printed in two or three colors, often with Day-Glo colors.
Perhaps because Sister Mary was a woman and a nun (the Brother Antoninus of art?) she has not received the attention showered on her contempories, but this is a remarkable, if underappreciated, book.
NB: OCLC describes Damn Everything incorrectly as having 30 plates when two of the alphabet letters are on one double-size sheet.
Edition + Condition: First edition (stated). A near fine hardcover in a very good, price-clipped dust jacket with a snag to the lower front cover and some wear along the top edge. The suite of plates is fine and the slipcase is very good, with some edgewear.
The book is signed by Corita on the front free endpaper.
Publication: New York: Holt, Rinehart and Winston, 1970.
Item No: #307149
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