The Pierrepont Press was founded in 1968 in Brooklyn, New York by Harvey
and Linda Tucker, who planned to produce limited and signed editions of poetry
collections by a small group of American writers. Each book was to have a
run of only 300 copies. The Tuckers enlisted Larry Eigner, Michael McClure,
Diane Wakoski, Clayton Eshleman, Jerome Rothenberg, and Cid Corman to write
books for the press. Harvey Tucker's own poetry collection was to be published
as well.
The very specialized technical requirements for producing such fine editions
led to the eventual demise of the project. The Tuckers' original printer,
Villiers Press of London, took an inordinately long time to produce what turned
out to be substandard galleys. Another printer in New York was hired, but
the scenario repeated itself. The Tuckers and the printers each threatened
lawsuits and, partly to avoid litigation, the Pierrepont Press went out of
business in the summer of 1969. Contracts with the authors were voided, rights
and advance monies were returned, and the Pierrepont Press became history
after only one short year.
