Includes: Vol. XI, Nos. 4-6, (January to March, 1905). Each with 20 pp. 9¾x7, saddle stitched gray-green wrappers decoratively stamped in black. * Vol. XI, No. 9, (June, 1905). 112 pp. 10x7, black paper wrappers, cover embossed in gilt. (Rear cover detached, tears to spine ends; front hinge a bit worn). Together, 4 magazines. Illustrated from drawings and photos. Ads at rear. First appearances.
A scarce collection of four Occidental College magazines from 1905, which was Jeffers’ graduating class. All are from Vol. XI. Issue No. 4 with the first appearance of his poem "Faunus" on p. 1 and the poem "El Dorado" appearing under the pseudonym Edwin Rush on p. 5; Jeffers listed as the Associate Editor under the literary department, Class of 1905 on p. 10; and mentioned as one of the "new men" in Athletics for long distance running on p. 15. * No. 5 is considered to be the rarest Jeffers periodical; includes many unidentified poems probably attributable to Jeffers, with the pseudonym Rob Yorke, Edwin Rush and others. This is the ninth periodical appearance of Jeffers, includes the poem "The Lake" on p. 8 along with catty references to Jeffers throughout; refers to Dan Hammack, who was Jeffers' elder classman and a mentor and was his first publisher; p. 10 lists Jeffers as the Associate Editor under the literary department; p. 12 lists Jeffers' father who was a teacher at Occidental and taught his son with his class "The History of the Reformation." * No. 6 with the first appearance of the poem "The Fox" on p. 1; lists Jeffers as the Associate Editor under the literary department, Class of 1905 on p. 10; under Athletics states: "Jeffers took second" in the two-mile race, in 12 minutes, 6 seconds on p. 15.* No. 9 is the scarce Occidental College graduation issue for 1905, which had only 18 students in the graduating class indicating that the number issued was very small. Contains several contributions by Robinson Jeffers with poems and his name mentioned throughout; includes: a photo of John Robinson Jeffers in cap and gown for class of 1905; lists Jeffers as the Associate Editor under the literary department; the poem "The Classes" on p. 18; photo of Jeffers as a member of Literary Society; "Track" section lists Jeffers in the two-mile run; poem "The Stream" on p. 71 with a photo; poem "An Acrostic" on p. 82 presumed to be by Jeffers; on p. 95 under the ad states: "Sept. 30 --Seniors receive Freshies. Jeff wears gown and spills himself"; plus other listings. This issue is not in the Alberts bibliography. For the others, see Alberts, pp. 95-96.
Condition:
Each with light soiling; first three issues with some creases to covers (mostly vertical) and pp. 9-12 detached, a few with minor fading; first issue with rusty staples, slight print offset on rear cover, and faint dampstaining throughout; stains to second issue page edges and to pp. 12-14; couple with occasional fingering; a very good set overall. An exceedingly rare collection of some of the earliest published writings of Robinson Jeffers.