Allen Ginsberg Signed 1943 Yearbook, Includes His 1st Published Poem

Allen Ginsberg (1926-1997). An Eastside High School "The Senior Mirror" yearbook, Patterson, New Jersey, June 1943, originally owned by Ginsberg's classmate, Estelle Verner. Signed below Ginsberg's yearbook photo and inscribed to Verner, "You're smart and you do look well, I might have known: your name's Estelle / Allen Ginsberg". Expected age wear to boards and bumping to corners. Light soiling and toning to pages. In overall near fine condition.

In 1943, Allen Ginsberg was a senior at Eastside High School, where he served as the literary editor of "The Senior Mirror" yearbook. The entry beside his photo reads: "'Professor' is the philosopher and genius of the class...hopes to study law...Talent Club President, Criterion, Big Brother, Senior Mirror...fiend for Beethoven and Charlie Chaplin...indulges in music, politics, history, literature...Gold 'P'...hates dull teachers and Republicans." Ginsberg's poem titled "Class Poem" takes up a full page of the yearbook, and this is the first time that Ginberg's poetry appeared in print. Although a few of his articles were published in the 1941 issue of "The Central High Spectator", this was his first published poem. The poem reads, in part: "For these are giant times, and history / Is fashioned as the minutes burn away. / Buildings of old beliefs are being bombed, / And rotted walls are crumbling down today. / Ready are we to meet the challenge hurled: / To battle, conquer, and rebuild the world". 

Ginsberg transferred from Central High to Eastside High for his junior and senior years. His English teacher, Frances Durbin, was the first person to introduce Ginsberg to Walt Whitman; Ginsberg later recalled this as being his most memorable school day. Durbin also suggested that he take a look at the poetry of Hart Crane. At his High School reunion in 1968, as quoted in Wait Till I'm Dead: Uncollected Poems, Ginsberg re-read "Class Poem" and commented, "Oh well, there it is. Doesn't seem to be much change in the world after twenty-five years".

This yearbook offers one a fascinating look at a young Ginsberg, providing a glimpse into his early personality, political views and career aspirations.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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