[ORIGINAL ETCHINGS]. [MOSER, Barry (b. 1940), illustrator]. The Death of the Narcissus. Eleven Botanico-Erotic Etchings by Barry Moser. [Easthampton, MA: Castalia Press], 1970. Oblong folio. Loose folio sheets, comprising four text leaves and eleven etchings with tissue guards, as issued. Publisher's original brown cloth clamshell case, spine lettered in black. THE SCARCE FIRST EDITION OF MOSER'S FIRST ILLUSTRATED BOOK, ONE OF ONLY 35 COPIES (#20), WITH EACH ETCHING SIGNED BY MOSER; THIS COPY INSCRIBED BY MOSER ON THE LIMITATION PAGE TO DICK GREGORY: "For my very dear friend Dick Gregory September MCMLXX". 

Richard Gregory (1933-2023) was the head of the music department at Williston Academy, which is where he met Moser, the art teacher at the time. They collaborated on stage and choral performances, with Gregory arranging and directing the music, and Moser designing the sets and other visual elements. Gregory eventually founded their Fine Arts Department, and served as the chair for that department.

The text of this book is a translation of Onitsura's (1661-1738) "Flowers in the Stream" haiku.

Clamshell case rubbed, soiled; tissue-guards lightly creased, text and etchings clean and bright. Fine.