Palaemon Press
Palaemon Press was a small press out of Winston-Salem, North Carolina, operating in the late 1970s through early 1980s. Editor and translator Stuart Wright (b. 1948), a North Carolina native, published book and pamphlet items as well as broadsides, most of them from Southern authors like James Dickey, Reynolds Price, Eudora Welty, and Robert Penn Warren. Bound items often have decorative covers, for example, using marbled paper. Some items include woodcut and other types of illustration. In many cases, the authors (and artists) have signed these limited edition copies.
Below is a brief list of our holdings, found in the A. S. Williams III Americana Collection. All items were published by Palaemon Press, except where noted (as Stuart Wright).
For more details about construction and publishing history, as well as a list that contains all items from Wright/Palaemon, see the excellent checklist by Duke University’s Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library, which holds Wright’s collection of press materials. The bulk of his personal papers are at East Carolina University.
Books
Ammons, A. R. “Changing Things.” 1981. 12 pages. Edition of 126 copies. Note: Only appearance.
—–. Six-Piece Suite. 1978. 16 pages. Edition of 230 copies. Note: First and only appearance.
Crews, Harry. “The Enthusiast.” 1981. 42 pages. Edition of 150 copies. Note: First appearance; first chapter of All We Need of Hell (1987).
Dickey, James. Head-Deep in Strange Sounds: Free-Flight Improvisations from the UnEnglish. 1979. 32 pages. Edition of 525 copies. Note: First appearance.
—–. Veteran Birth: The Gadfly Poems (1947-1949). 1978. 16 pages. Edition of 230 copies. Note: Only collected appearance; art by Robert Dance.
Eudora Welty: a Tribute, 13 April 1984. 1984. 42 pages. Edition of 75 copies. Includes
- Brooks, Cleanth. “Eudora Welty.”
- Malamud, Bernard. “On Being Acquainted with Eudora Welty.”
- Maxwell, William. “With Reference to an Incident at a Bridge.”
- Price, Reynolds. “From Reynolds Price.”
- Smith, William Jay. “The Listener: A Tribute (Largely in Her Own Words) to Eudora Welty on Her Seventy-Fifth Birthday, April 13, 1984.”
- Spencer, Elizabeth. “On Pinehurst Street.”
- Taylor, Peter. “Eudora Welty.”
- Tyler, Anne. “To Eudora Welty, for Showering Us with Gold.”
- Warren, Robert Penn. “From Robert Penn Warren.”
- Wilbur, Richard. “From Richard Wilbur.”
Foote, Shelby. “The Novelist’s View of History.” 1981 [1964]. 20 pages. Edition of 140 copies. Note: First separate appearance.
Garrett, George. “To Recollect a Cloud of Ghosts.” 1979. 64 pages. Edition of 250 copies. Note: First appearance; excerpt from The Succession: A Novel of Elizabeth and James (1983).
—–. Poison Pen, or, Live Now and Pay Later. Stuart Wright, 1986. 130 pages. Edition of 550 copies. Note: Art by Jonathan Burns.
—–. “Two by George Garrett.” 1981. 4 pages. Edition of 55 copies. Note: First separate appearance.
—–. Welcome to the Medicine Show: Postcards, Flashcards, Snapshots. 1978. 32 pages. Edition of 330 copies. Note: First appearance; art by Edward Richter.
Goyen, William. “Arthur Bond.” 1979. 16 pages. Edition of 230 copies. Note: First appearance.
Hannah, Barry. Power and Light: A Novella for the Screen from an Idea by Robert Altman. Stuart Wright, 1983. Edition of 575.
Jarrell, Randall. “About Popular Culture.” 1981. 20 pages. Edition of 175 copies. Note: First appearance; speech given at National Book Award ceremony in 1958.
Lytle, Andrew. Alchemy. 1979. 64 pages. Edition of 330 copies. Note: First separate appearance; special forward by the author.
Percy, Walker. “Bourbon.” 1979. 16 pages. Edition of 230 copies. Note: First separate appearance.
—–. “Bourbon.” Second edition. 1981. 16 pages. Edition of 176 copies.
Price, Reynolds. A Start (Early Work). 1981. 32 pages. Edition of 75 copies.
—–. Nine Mysteries (Four Joyful, Four Sorrowful, One Glorious). 1979. 29 pages. Edition of 309 copies.
—–. “Unbeaten Play.” 1987. 12 pages. Edition of 75 copies.
Seay, James. “Said There Was Somebody Talking to Him Through the Air Conditioner.” 1985. 14 pages. Edition of 100 copies.
Smith, Dave. Gray Soldiers. Stuart Wright, 1983. 64 pages. Edition of 575 copies. Note: First appearance for many titles; art by Barry Moser.
Styron, William. “Admiral Robert Penn Warren and the Snows of Winter.” 1981. 16 pages. Edition of 150 copies. Note: Speech given at tribute dinner in 1975.
—–. “Against Fear.” 1981. 16 pages. Edition of 300 copies. Note: First appearance; commencement address given at Duke University in 1981.
—–. “Mr. Jefferson and Our Times.” Stuart Wright, 1984. 12 pages. Edition of 75 copies.
Tate, Allen. “All Is Brillig (or ought to be).” 1979. 8 pages. Edition of 150 copies. Note: Preface by James Dickey.
Tate, Allen, and Ridley Wills. The Golden Mean and Other Poems. 1978. 32 pages. Edition of 200 copies. Note: Facsimile reprinted from copy owned by Merrill Moore and authorized by Tate.
Taylor, Eleanor Ross. New and Selected Poems. Stuart Wright, 1983. 120 pages. Edition of 800 copies. Note: First appearance for many titles.
Taylor, Peter. “The Early Guest: A Sort of Story, a Sort of Play, a Sort of Dream.” 1982. 32 pages. Edition of 140 copies. Note: First separate appearance.
Von Borcke, Heros. Colonel Heros von Borcke’s Journal, 26 April – 8 October 1862: A German Narrative of the First Four Parts of Memoirs of the Confederate War of Independence. Translated by Stuart Wright. 1981. 264 pages. Edition of 180 copies.
Von Borcke, Heros, and Justus Scheibert. The Great Cavalry Battle of Brandy Station, 9 June 1863. Translated by Stuart Wright and F. D. Bridgewater. 1976. 142 pages. Edition of 1000 copies.
Warren, Robert Penn. Chief Joseph of the Nez Perce. 1982. 72 pages. Edition of 12 copies. Note: First book appearance.
—–. Love: Four Versions. 1981. 20 pages. Edition of 200 copies.
—–. Two Poems. 1982. 16 pages. Edition of 230 copies. Note: First appearance.
Warren, Rosanna. Snow Day. 1981. 48 pages. Edition of 550 copies. Note: First book of poems.
Welty, Eudora. “Bye-Bye Brevoort: a Skit.” 1980. 28 pages. Edition of 476 copies. Note: First appearance.
—–. “Retreat.” 1981. 16 pages. Edition of 240 copies. Note: First book appearance.
—–. “Women!! Make Turban in Own Home!” 1979. 16 pages. Edition of 235 copies. Note: First separate appearance.
Wilbur, Ellen. Wind and Birds and Human Voices, and Other Stories. Stuart Wright, 1984.
Broadsides
Ammons, A. R. “Breaking Out.” Palaemon Broadside 5. 1978. 11.5 x 7 inches. Edition of 126 copies. Note: First and only appearance; art by the author.
Anders, Shirley. “Husband.” 1983. 43.14 x 8.5 inches. Edition of 126 copies.
Bullis, Jerald. “Homestead Act.” Palaemon Broadside 17. 1980. 15 x 7 inches. Edition of 126 copies. Note: First and only appearance.
Caldwell, Erskine. “In Defense of Myself.” Palaemon Broadside 33. 1982. 13 x 9 inches. Edition of 126 copies. Note: Facsimile.
Campana, Dina. “Autumn Garden (Florence).” Translated by Charles Wright. Palaemon Broadside 46. 1984. 10.5 x 8 inches. Edition of 126 copies.
Chappell, Fred. “The Gift” & “The Valley.” Palaemon Broadside 14. 1979. 19.75 x 10.75 inches. Edition of 126 copies. Note: Art by Mary Lucy Bivins.
Davie, Donald. “The University of the South.” 1982. 8.75 x 12 inches. Edition of 150 copies. Note: First appearance.
Dickey, James. “Buckdancer’s Choice.” 1979. Roughly 23 x 12 inches. Edition of 30 copies. Note: First separate appearance.
—–. “In the Child’s Night.” 1981. 14.625 x 7 inches. Edition of 20 copies. Note: First separate appearance; printed for James and Deborah Dickey on the occasion of their daughter’s birth.
—–. “The Shark at the Window (for My Brother’s Marriage).” Palaemon Broadside 6. 1977. 14.5 x 12.5 inches. Edition of 126 copies. Note: First separate appearance; art by Robert Dance.
Faulkner, William. “To the Voters of Oxford. [The Beer Broadside.]” Palaemon Broadside 7. 1980. 11.75 x 9 inches. Edition of 126 copies.
Fifty Years of American Poetry: A Tribute to Marie Bullock. 1984. Pieces (8/22) separated from folio. Edition of 50 sets.
- Eberhart, Richard. “Recapitulation of a Poem Taken by the New Yorker.” 12.5 x 9 inches.
- Fitzgerald, Robert. “History.” 12.5 x 9 inches.
- Hollander, John. “169.” 12.5 x 9 inches.
- Nemerov, Howard. “The Makers.” 12.5 x 9 inches.
- Nims, John F. “Tide Turning.” 12.5 x 9 inches.
- Van Duyn, Mona. “Moose in the Morning, Northern Maine.” 12.5 x 9 inches.
- Wagoner, David. “Driftwood.” 12.5 x 9 inches.
- Warren, Robert Penn. “Little Girl Wakes Early.” 12.5 x 9 inches.
For Aaron Copland on the Occasion of His Seventy-Eighth Birthday: 14 November 1978. 1978. Complete folio (3 pieces). Edition of 78 sets.
- Dickey, James. “Mexican Valley.” 13 x 9 inches.
- Price, Reynolds. “Pure Boys and Girls.” 13 x 10 inches. Note: First appearance.
- Warren, Robert Penn. “Why.” 14 x 9 inches.
For Robert Penn Warren: 24.IV.80. 1980. Complete folio (10 pieces). Edition of 75 sets.
- Ammons, A. R. “Dusk Water. 14 x 9 inches.” Note: First appearance.
- Chappell, Fred. “Afternoons with Allen.” 14 x 9 inches.
- Dickey, James. “The Ax-God: Sea-Pursuit.” 14 x 9 inches.
- Eberhart, Richard. “Of Truth.” 14 x 9 inches.
- Garrett, George. “Lessons of the Master.” 14 x 9 inches.
- Hollander, John. “Ontology is a Matter of Midnight.” 14 x 9 inches.
- Meredith, William. “Not Both.” 14 x 9 inches.
- Price, Reynolds. “Socrates and Alcibiates.” 14 x 9 inches.
- Warren, Rosanna. “Pastorale.” 14 x 9 inches.
- Wilbur, Richard. “Alatus.” 14 x 9 inches.
Galvin, Brendan. “Märchen.” 1983. 11.25 x 7.5 inches. Edition of 76 copies.
Garrett, George. “Little Movie Without a Middle.” Palaemon Broadside 8. 1978. 13 x 9 inches. Edition of 126 copies. Note: First appearance.
Gibbons, Reginald. “Those Who Are Gone: After Antonio Machado.” Palaemon Broadside 19. 1980. 8.25 x 11 inches. Edition of 100 copies.
Happy Birthday, George. 1979. 24 x 15 inches. Edition of 50 copies. Note: Printed as a tribute to George Garrett on his 50th birthday. Includes
- Atkins, Thomas. “George The Actor.”
- Bentley, Edmund Clerihew. “Sir Humphrey Davy.”
- Carr, John. “George Palmer Garrett.”
- Chappell, Fred. “A Toast.”
- Kelly, Cherry. “Dear George!”
- Core, George. “My Award To You, George.”
- Deutsch, Babette. “The Scales.” Note: Only appearance.
- Dillard, R. H. W. “Some Notes On A Bassoon.”
- Foote, Shelby. “For Me….”
- Goyen, William. “If George Garrett….”
- Hardison, O. B. “One Sonnet, One Rime, One Birthday, One Garrett.”
- Martialis, Marcus Valerius. “Hic Est Quem Legis Ille.”
- Masters, Hilary. “There Is Not A Cooling Card In George Garrett’s Deck.”
- Morris, Wright. “Nel Mezzo Del Cammin De Nostra Vita.” Note: Only appearance.
- Soibhan, Sean. “Words To The Wise.”
- Slavitt, David R. “Greetings To GPG From DRS.”
- Sullivan, Walter. “Happy Birthday, George.”
- Taylor, Henry. “George Garrett’s Saintlike Generosity Is Now Legendary.”
- Wier, Allen. “True Or False.”
- Wier, Dara. “About The Photograph Of Himself.”
- Wilbur, Richard. “For George P. Garrett.” Note: First appearance.
Jarrell, Randall. “Letters.” 1983. 12 x 9 inches. Edition of 5 copies. Note: Only appearance.
—–. “The Lost Children.” 1985. 19 x 8 inches. Edition of 40 copies. Note: First separate appearance.
Meek, Jay. “What Child This Night.” 1980. 13.75 x 8 inches. Edition of 100 copies. Note: First appearance.
Miller, Vassar. “Open Question.” Palaemon Broadside 28. 1982. 12.5 x 8 inches. Edition of 126 copies. Note: First appearance.
Morgan, Robert. “The Way Back.” Palaemon Broadside 25. 1981. 14 x 7 inches. Edition of 126 copies. Note: First appearance.
Noll, Bink. “The Inheritor.” 1983. 12 x 8 inches. Edition of 76 copies.
Northern Lights. 1983. Pieces (5/15) separated from folio. Edition of 75 sets.
- Ciardi, John. “Audit at Key West.” 14 x 9 inches. Note: First appearance.
- Davie, Donald. “Church of Ireland.” 14 x 9 inches.
- Moss, Howard. “To the Islands.” 14 x 9 inches. Note: First appearance.
- Nemerov, Howard. The Air Force Museum at Dayton. 14 x 9 inches. Note: First appearance.
- Simpson, Louis. The Unwritten Poem. 14 x 9 inches. Note: First appearance.
Price, Reynolds. “The Dream of a House.” Palaemon Broadside 2. 1977. 15.25 x 10.25 inches. Edition of 126 copies. Note: First appearance.
“Rebel Gunpowder.” n.d. 13 x 7 inches. Edition of 26 copies.
Settle, Mary Lee. “Acceptance Speech, National Book Award, 1978.” Palaemon Broadside 9. 1978. 13.75 x 10 inches. Edition of 126 copies. Note: First separate appearance.
Siobhan, Sean. “Talking to Trees.” Palaemon Broadside 13. 1979. 21 x 7 inches. Edition of 126 copies. Note: First appearance; art by Justine Linville.
Smith, Dave. “Photograph of a Confederate Soldier Standing on the Rocks in the James River at Richmond, Virginia.” Palaemon Broadside 38. 1983. 14 x 9 inches. Edition of 126 copies. Note: First appearance.
Smith, William Jay. “The Tall Poets.” Palaemon Broadside 10. 1979. 19 x 12.5 inches. Edition of 126 copies. Note: First appearance.
Spacks, Barry. “News From the Ice House.” 1984. 8.5 x 12 inches. Edition of 76 copies.
Still, James. “On Troublesome Creek.” Palaemon Broadside 42. 1983. 11 x 8 inches. Edition of 126 copies.
Stuart, Jesse. “Hold April.” Palaemon Broadside 15. 1979. 13 x 9 inches. Edition of 126 copies. Note: First separate appearance; art by Edward Richter.
Summers, Hollis. “Mantra.” Palaemon Broadside 48. 1984. 12 x 9 inches. Edition of 126 copies.
Tate, Allen. “All Is Brillig (or Ought to Be).” Palaemon Broadside 3. 1978. 11.25 x 8.5 inches. Edition of 126 copies. Note: First appearance; art by Martha Dunigan.
Taylor, Henry. “Artichoke.” Palaemon Broadside 12. 1979. 13 x 9.5 inches. Edition of 126 copies. Note: First appearance.
Warren, Robert Penn. “Old Flame.” Palaemon Broadside 4. 1978. 16 x 8.75 inches. Edition of 126 copies. Note: Art by Robert Dance.
—–. “Prophecy.” 1984. 12 x 8.5 inches. Edition of 45 copies. Note: First separate appearance.
Watson, Robert. “Who Are They?” Palaemon Broadside 34. 1982. 8.75 x 8 inches. Edition of 126 copies.
Williams, Miller. “Two Poems.” Palaemon Broadside 32. 1982. 12.75 x 9 inches. Edition of 126 copies. Note: First appearance.