The Auerhahn Press
An exhibit of The Auerhahn Press run by Dave Haselwood in San Francisco California between 1958-1965. The Auerhahn Press was at the forefront of publishing new writing which is often referred to as belonging to various schools of "The New American Poetry" as anthologized in Don Allen's landmark grouping published by Grove Press in 1960. Haselwood began the press out of his desire to get this explosive new writing into print immediately. Beginning in 1958 with "The Hotel Wentley Poems" by John Wieners, which was reprinted very soon after the first printing vanished from stores, Haselwood would go on to prints books of poets such as Philip Lamantia, Lew Welch, Philip Whalen, Charles Olson, Jack Spicer, Jonathan Williams, David Meltzer, and Michael McClure. Auerhahn titles were often simple yet striking editions very unlike other books being published by other small presses at that time. Along with the well known San Francisco printer Andrew Hoyem, Haselwood's press emphasized line setting and type face. The design element of The Auerhahn Press was a very specific aesthetic, matching quality of printing with new works by younger and sometimes more well known poets. The time period in which The Auerhahn Press put out these beautiful editions was on the cusp before the mimeograph revolution soon turned out quick, and very plain style side stapled books.
Although poets published by Haselwood were in dialogue with other writers all over the country, the emphasis was very strongly of San Francisco. Auerhahn was one of the best combinations in publishing at that time of San Francisco Renaissance, Beat era, and new writing. The bibliography of the press proves a unique and experimental list of titles at a time when people went to great measures for the sake of publishing a book of poems.
On display from April 12th-May 4th will be more than half of the published output of the press along with rare ephemera including broadsides, printing notices, and reading bills. Please join us for the opening on Saturday April 12th between 6-10 P.M.
