Status Rerum: A Manifesto, Upon The Present Condition Of Northwestern Literature

Here is the notorious original 1927 pamphlet that set the Pacific Northwest literary establishment on its ear. Status Rerum. A Manifesto, Upon The Present Condition Of Northwestern Literature, Containing Several Near-Libelous Utterances Upon Persons In The Public Eye. By James Stevens of Washington, H.L. Davis of Oregon. Privately Printed For The Craft. The Dalles, Ore. Small octavo. 8 pages with cover. Limited to 200 numbered copies privately printed in 1927. This is #73.

Only ten copies in libraries, according to WorldCat databases. When published, the pamphlet was sent to newspapers and magazines across the Pacific Northwest and probably a few select places in California and the East Coast; most were likely tossed into the proverbial round file. It has since taken its place in Pacific Northwest history, being reprinted in the six-volume Oregon Literature Series anthologies done by Oregon State University Press in the 1990s, and still considered controversial today. Most interested parties will already know this. For those who don't, an Internet search of "Status Rerum" and "H. L. Davis" will turn up all you want to know.

The venerable Wessel & Lieberman Booksellers of Seattle sold a copy in 2012 -- noting that it was the only one they had even heard about in 30 years, much less seen. It was priced at $4000 and sold within 24 hours. That was more than a decade ago, and we haven't heard of one since.

Condition of cover is Fair, but wholly intact. Interior is Very Good. Staples were removed at some point in the past, a trace of rust now showing on paper. Cover heavily toned. Spine is almost entirely split, barely held together near the bottom of the crease which has "softened" with age, and will probably split completely apart with the slightest tug. But no pieces are missing, so the split could be professionally repaired if you choose. Interior pages fully intact, page spine creases fragile but not split at all. Entire pamphlet creased down the center, possibly to fit in an envelope for mailing.

Please review photos carefully, and feel free to inquire further. This is likely a once-in-a-lifetime chance; probably should go to a research institution.