October booklist

It’s been a while since I did once of these, but maybe there’s something here to tempt you. Christmas is just around the corner… If you’re interested in anything please contact me at richiemccafferyAThotmailDOTcoDOTuk (I think you know what to do with the address, just trying to outmanoeuvre the spam bots!)

Amis, Kingsley Lucky Jim (Gollancz, 1953), first edition no dj, some fading to spine, major issue with this copy is front hinge is broken, visible from title-page but the book is still solid. Copies starting online at £220, this copy with all faults, £30. Has the ownership signature of what I think might be Tommy Cooper but I’ve not been able to verify this.

• The Green Man (Cape, 1969), first edition hb with dj, a good copy but someone has pasted a review onto the feps and there is a small coffee stain to the base of the book. Hence £2.

Annand, Louise J D Fergusson in Glasgow (Alex Parker, 2003), first edition softcover (all published), limited to 500 copies, very expensive to buy online now as out of print, this copy signed by Annand, slight dogear to upper front corner. £8

Barnett, Anthony The Resting Bell (Allardyce, Barnett 1987), first edition of the scarcer hb with dj, fine. Seems pricey online. This copy £2

Batchelor, Paul The Love Darg (Clutag, 2014), first edition paper-covers, good. £1

Batterham, David Among Booksellers (Stone Trough Books, 2011), fascinating little pb book about the book trade. This copy good but with slight crack to back cover at spine (1cm or so). £2

Beausoleil, Beau Lascaux (Trike, 1982), first edition pamphlet, a handsome thing. 350 copies printed. £2

Beckett, Samuel contributes ‘Dante and the Lobster’ and ‘Echo’s Bones’ to Evergreen Review 1 (1957), this is the elusive first issue of this major literary journal, one of John Calder’s UK copies, marked six and sixpence. Has been read and some wear to spine but a passable copy nonetheless. £4

Bishop, Elizabeth The Complete Poems (Chatto, 1971), a hardcover second impression with unclipped dj. A nice copy of an attractive, important book, copies online for second impression start at £40. This copy SOLD.

Bowles, Paul Hours After Noon (Heinemann, 1959), first ed hb with v striking dj of this collection of short stories. Dj in good order but some evidence of historical mildew damage to edges of boards of book. Looks great with dj on though. Hence £2

Brand, John The History and Antiquities of the Town and County of the Town of Newcastle Upon Tyne (B. White and Son, 1789), this is a first edition two volume set of this mammoth and profusely illustrated study of Newcastle from the 18^th century. It contains numerous spectacular engravings and plates, this is why most copies of the set appear with them missing, because the plates are more valuable framed up separately than the books themselves. This set, too, has some issues. On the positive side: original bindings, structurally sound. Both books have the contemporary bookplate of ‘Thomas Wright’ of ‘Whitley Park’ – Whitley Park being a grand house in North Shields, long since demolished. Lovely marbled endpapers. On the downside: the decorative applications to the spines have suffered losses (pictures available). Volume one has some ink staining to the very bottom of the pages (photo available) – this does not affect the text in any way. Vol 1 is complete, all plates. Vol 2 has its frontispiece engraving but at some point this as become detached. Vol 2 is missing one plate. In very good condition these sets are usually £500, price for these £50.

Brodsky, Joseph Less than One: Selected Essays (FSG, 1986), US first edition hardcover with unclipped jacket. Some slight foxing to edges of pages here and there, and some handling wear to dj at top of spine. Generally a pretty good copy, signed by Brodsky to fep ‘For my dear Jim, with tenderness and gratitude’ and dated May 9^th 1987, South Hadley (where Brodsky taught). Very rare to find signed copies in UK, none currently for sale and only one copy for sale in US at £350. This copy SOLD

Bukowski, Charles (contributes to) Iconolatre 18/19 (c1966), edited by Alex Hand and Alan Turner and with contributions by Chris Torrance, Jeff Nuttall, Bukowski and many others. Rare, I’ve never seen another one. £10

Bunting, Basil (interest) Silent, accurate lips’: Precision in Bunting’s Poetry by Peter Makin (Basil Bunting Poetry Centre, 2000), good copy, £3

• Basil Bunting: Poet of the North by Peter Quartermain (Basil Bunting Poetry Archive, 1990), limited edition pamphlet, no 10 of 500. £3
• The Spoils (Migrant Press, 1965), first edition pamphlet, ok copy but foxing to front cover £2
• Poetry Information 19: Basil Bunting Special Issue (Autumn, 1978), softcover, in good shape, with original flyer. £4
• Basil Bunting 1900-1985: A Life in Images (a keepsake pamphlet from an exhibition at Durham University Library in 1987) £2

Burroughs, Williamcontributes an interview to Beatscene No 25 c. 1990s, a nice copy. £2

Caddel, Richard Writing in the Dark (West House Books, 2003), first edition softcover, very good £1

• Magpie Words (West House Books, 2002), first edition softcover, very good £1

Carson, Ciaran The New Estate (Blackstaff Press, 1976), a softcover first edition of poet’s first full collection. Glued pages have cracked in one place but book is still intact. Book has also belonged to a smoker, so some discolouration. Hence £3

Cave, Nick Faith, Hope and Carnage (Canongate, 2022), hardcover first edition with dj, as new unread copy, signed to official publisher’s stickers by Cave and interviewer Sean O’Hagan. SOLD

Chesney, Lawrence Sixteen Poems (Students’ Union, Newcastle Training College, 1964), a pretty illustrated (by Birtley Aris) pamphlet of poems, signed by the poet. Foreword by T A Walker. Scarce, only two copies on COPAC. £3

Clarke, Austin The Viscount of Blarney and Other Plays (The Bridge Press, 1945), second impression in French flaps with dj, some bumping and dogearing to corners and some tanning to pages. Rare in first or second impression, this copy with the youthful ownership inscription of Irish poet Richard Kell. £5

Claus, Hugo The Sign of the Hamster (Leuvense Schrijveraktie, 1986), first edition softcover of this English translation of Claus’s long poem. No copies for sale in UK currently. £3

Cook, Stanley Woods Beyond a Cornfield (Smith Doorstop, 1995), first edition softcover, very good, book now out of print and quite scarce. £3

Crozier, Andrew and Tim Longville (eds.) A Various Art (Carcanet, 1987), hb first ed with dj, some age toning to cream dj and fading to spine. Anthology of British Poetry Revival – Prynne et al. £2

Davidson, JohnA Full and True Account of the Wonderful Mission of Earl Lavender, which Lasted One Night and One Day (Ward and Downey, c. 1895), the ‘new edition’ with the impish Beardsley frontispiece, a sound copy, some wear to spine though all solid, faint foxing, ownership sticker, small tear to one of the prelim pages and the buckram coming undone to top rear board, nothing too untoward (cheapest copy online at £70). £10

Deakin, John Photographs (Schirmer / Mosel, 1996), first edition hardcover with dj, coffee-table sized book, perhaps the most generous selection of Deakin’s work so far. This book good, only snag is slight staining to corner of fep and very light marking to the edges of some pages. SOLD

Dodge, Jim FUP (City Miner Books, 1983), a second printing from the year of the first edition, genuinely scarce in UK in this format, a cult book. £3

Dorn, Edward High West Rendezvous: An Edward Dorn Sampler (Etruscan, 1996), first ed softcover. Quite scarce. Very good. £2

Dunsany, Lord My Talks with Dean Spanley (Heinemann, 1936), first edition hb with remains of dj (front and rear and both flaps but most of spine missing), indentations to fep where a letter had been clipped, letter present, a playful missive from Sir William Hamilton Fyfe (dated 1952) to a ‘H E Hammu Rabbi, DG, FOM’. A curiosity. £5

Egerton, George (Mary Chavelita Dunne Bright) Keynotes (John Lane, 1893), Egerton’s first book and the book that started John Lane’s ‘Keynote’ series. Cover and titlepage designed by Aubrey Beardsley. The graphics of the cover have worn but still legible and the book is in good order, slight wear to one corner of the front cover. Genuinely hard to find in true first edition and a very important work. £40

Eliot, T S The Three Voices of Poetry (National Book League, 1953), first edition pamphlet, slight age-toning, else good. SOLD

Enslin, Theodore The Mornings (Shaman Drum, 1974), first edition, one of 500 copies, hard to find in UK, this copy with slight historical water damage, hence £1

‘Evolutionary Anarchism’ (interest) six separate back issues of Total Liberty, a British magazine of ‘evolutionary anarchism’ – these six numbers run from Volume 4 – 2004 to Volume 6 – 2008. Fairly niche thing, I imagine! £3 the lot.

Falck, Colin, Backwards into the Smoke (Carcanet, 1973), Falck’s rare first collection, showing his debt to the Ian Hamilton New Review School. This copy in good dj and signed by Falck to fellow poet Anne Stevenson and with the revealing parenthesis: (I think if these as five finger exercises now)’. SOLD

Fanthorpe, U A Standing To (Peterloo Poets, 1982), first edition softcover of this early collection. A pretty good copy. £1

Felton, Tom Beyond the Wand (Ebury Spotlight, 2022), first edition hb in dj, new and unread, special signed edition. Small indentation to the rear (about 2-3cm) else book is fine. Copies online at £60-75, this copy SOLD

Ferlinghetti, Lawrence Writing Across the Landscape: Travel Journals 1960-2010 (Liverlight, 2015), first edition hb with dj, very good, slight tear to rear cover (1cm). £3

Forsyth, Jimmy Out of One Eye (Tyne Bridge Publishing, 2002), a collection of Forsyth’s acclaimed photos of ordinary Tyneside folk and life. Good copy, owner’s pencil inscription. £2

Fulton, Graham Humouring the Iron Bar Man (Polygon, 1990), first edition with french flaps, good and signed on back page by the poet. Fulton’s first collection. £2

Gallienne, Richard leTravels in England (Grant Richards, 1900), this is a first edition hardcover in rather battered condition, salvaged by the fact that it has the gift inscription: ‘with kindest regards and best wishes from their old friend Mrs Gallienne (the author’s mother) July 11^th 1901). £3

Gezelle, GuidoThat Limpid Singer: A Bilingual Anthology of the Poems (ALCS, 1999), a rare paperback edition (no copies for sale online at present) of the collected poems of Gezelle translated into English by Paul Vincent, £1

Gibbon, Lewis Grassic Clay (Grassic Gibbon Centre, 1993), a nice little keepsake pamphlet, a short story by Gibbon illustrated by Ishbel Shand. Good. £1

Goytisolo, Juan The Garden of Secrets (Serpent’s Tail, 2000), first edition hb with dj, good and signed by Goytisolo to fep, scarce signature in the UK. This copy came from Edinburgh and was no doubt signed when Goytisolo appeared at the festival there in 2000. SOLD

Gray, Alasdair Something Leather (Cape, 1990), a rather uncommon uncorrected proof copy, £4

Green, Henry Concluding (Hogarth, 1948), first edition hb minus dj. A pretty bog-standard copy with some dogearing to pages. What elevates this copy is the pencil ownership inscription of Dorothy Morland. £5

Guinness, Bryan Personal Patchwork 1939-1945 (Cygnet Press, 1986), a handsome book, marbled soft covers, Guinness’s diaries from the war years, no copies available online at present, this copy signed by Guinness. SOLD

Gunn, Neil M. The Green Isle of the Great Deep (Faber, 1944), hb second impression with rather chipped dj. Has ownership initials of Scottish poet Sydney Goodsir Smith, interesting association. £2

Gunn, Thom Boss Cupid (FSG, 2000), first US edition hb in dj. Very good. £2

Gysin, Brion The Last Museum (Faber, 1986), first edition softcover (all published). A good copy, spine unbroken, cheap paper has since browned a little. Someone has scratched off price on rear cover. Surprisingly sought after. £3

Hall, Donald Essays After Eighty (HMH, 2014), US hardcover with dj, first edition second impression, signed by Hall. Dj has repaired tear to front cover (not very noticeable). £8

Hawkins, Connie FOUL! The Connie Hawkins Story (Holt, 1972), first US hardcover edition with unclipped dj. Dj has some wear to extremities and a one inch tear to back cover. Some wear to edges of boards. Book itself is scarce in this original format, even in the US, this copy additionally signed by Hawkins and the author David Wolf. Unsurprisingly no copies available in the UK, signed copies up for sale on eBay at the £1500 mark, though this is ludicrously high. Fascinating account not just of Hawkins life in sport but also growing up through the Civil Rights in US. SOLD

Henderson, Hamish Elegies for the Dead in Cyrenaica (John Lehmann, 1948), this is one of the unusual softcover editions which were bound from the original 1948 sheets by Lehmann in the early 1950s, this copy in good order with dj, faint small patch on inner flap where price label has been removed. This copy signed by Henderson ‘To Catherine with best wishes’. One of the most important WW2 poems. £25

Holmes, John Clellon The Horn (Crest, 1959), first mass-market paperback edition of this significant Beatnik novel with suitably lurid period cover. A good copy, none for sale in UK presently, between £20-40 in US. SOLD

Horovitz, FrancesSnow Light, Water Light (Bloodaxe, 1983), first edition pamphlet £1

• Poems (Aylesford Review, c. late 60s), poet’s first collection, this a good copy but with some markings to cover £1
• The High Tower (New Departures, 1970), first edition pamphlet good but with bookplate (mine!) £1
•  (interest) A Celebration of and for Frances Horovitz (New Departures 16, second ‘definitive’ edition), c 1984. £1
• (interest) Frances Horovitz, Poet: A Symposium edited by Brocard Sewell (Aylesford Press, 1987), a nice softcover first edition, price clipped. £1
• Collected Poems (Bloodaxe, 1985), first edition softcover, very good. £1
• Rowlstone Haiku (Five Seasons Press, 1982), pretty limited edition pamphlet (141 of 220 copies). £1

Howe, Fanny (contributes) Sundial (Issues 1 and 2, all published, July-November 2014), issue 2 a special issue dedicated to Howe. An American journal, scarce in UK, both issues in very good condition. £6 for both.

Howells, John Mead The Architectural Heritage of the Piscataqua: Houses and Gardens of the Portsmouth District of Maine and New Hampshire (Whalesback Books, 1988), first edition in this format (originally printed in 1937). A magnificent, profusely illustrated coffee table book, hardcover with good dj. A really handsome book, only UK copy of this definitive edition is priced at £36. This copy £3

Jackson, Tony Just Like: Being Without Arms (Blacksuede Boot Press, 1970), a rare early collection of poems by this Tyneside poet, often associated with Tom Pickard and Barry MacSweeney. This copy signed by Jackson. £6

• Pier Five Box Tick (Laundering Room Press, 1976), limited ed of 150 copies, this being no 34. Another collection of poems from the poet above. £4

Johnson, Nicholas (ed.) Foil: Defining Poetry 1965-2000 (Etruscan, 2000), an anthology of British Poetry Revival work, this being the harder to find hb first ed with dj. Very good. £2

Joyce, James Stephen Hero (Cape, 1950), hardcover no dj of the fourth impression, some foxing to feps. However, nice association copy, with the ownership inscription of Irish writer Kate O’Brien. £3

• A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man (Cape, 1924), a new edition, reset, hardcover no dj. This is perhaps your only chance to buy an affordable copy of Joyce’s important bildungsroman from the period. This copy beginning to wear and split to spine, but book still intact. Ownership inscription of Paul McQuail. Copies in UK starting at £100, this copy with faults £10

Kavanagh, Patrick Come Dance with Kitty Stobling and other poems (Longmans, 1960), magnificent late collection from Kavanagh, first edition hardcover with original glassine dj, though this has split to the front, book itself very good. SOLD

Kelly, Terry Mocking the Afflicted (Here Now, 1993), first edition pamphlets from the author’s own stock, the only collection published by well-respected Tyneside critic Terry Kelly. £2 each (2 copies available).

Kelman, James A Chancer (Polygon, 1985), a very nice first edition hb with dj. Uncommon. £5

• Some Recent Attacks: Essays Cultural and Political (AK Press, 1992), softcover first ed, good. SOLD
• The Freedom to Think Kurdistan (Thi Wurd, 2019), first edition softcover, as new, signed by Kelman to titlepage. SOLD

Kesey, Ken (interest) a copy of Life (March 25, 1966), special issue devoted to ‘the exploding threat of the mind drug that got out of control: LSD’. This copy signed to the front cover by Ken Kesey (also decorated by him in metallic pen) and also signed by his fellow Merry Prankster Ken Babbs. I’m unsure if this was a one-off or if others were signed, but I’ve never seen another. SOLD

Konttinen, Sirkka-Liisa Byker Revisited (Northumbria Press, 2009), first edition hardcover with tatty dj, repaired in many places with tape, book itself very good. Fascinating pictures of life in the Byker Wall. SOLD

Kopland, Rutger The Prospect and the River (Jackson’s Arm, 1987), first edition pamphlet of poems translated from the Dutch by James Brockway. Hard to find in UK, one of the Netherland’s most loved poets. £2

Levine, Philip – a handwritten letter (in fountain pen, of course) to Irene MacDonald discussing a recent trip made by Levine to the UK – ‘the tumult of our English visit’, dated 28^th July but no year given. 17 lines, discussing the trip, poetry, travel and presenting a book (no longer present). Levine letters understandably uncommon in UK. SOLD

Litherland, S J The Absolute Bonus of Rain (Flambard, 2010), first edition softcover, collection of poems signed by poet and dedicated to Terry Kelly, inserted Kelly’s handwritten notes from a reading by Litherland at Lit and Phil in Newcastle. £5

Lynch, Brendan Parsons Bookshop: At the heart of Bohemian Dublin 1949-1989 (Liffey Press, 2006), a surprisingly scarce book, softcover first edition, a read copy with ownership inscription and a repaired tear to front cover. Copies only available in US and priced £20-30 (not including postage), this copy £3

Marquez, Garcia Gabriel One hundred years of solitude (Cape, 1970), first UK hardcover edition with price-clipped dj. A nice bright dj, no fading to spine, though some minor tears to top of front and rear, one about 2cm and neatly reinforced from behind. Book itself clean, faintest evidence of age toning to fep and small, neat ownership signature. £75

Martin, George R R Dreamsongs: GRRM A Retrospective (Gollancz, 2006), first edition, hb in dj, all fine. V. heavy book. SOLD

McFadden, Roy Swords and Ploughshares (Routledge, 1943), first edition softcover in dust-wrapper, good condition considering this series is notoriously fragile, spine shoes some wear but is largely unfaded. £1

McIlvanney, William Longships in Harbour (Eyre and Spottiswood, 1970), first edition hb with dj (worn with loss to extremities) book itself sound, ownership inscription of Ann Drayton. £2

• Remedy is None (Eyre and Spottiswood, 1966), first edition hb with dj. A nice copy, one tear to rear cover (2-3cms), author’s first book. £8
• The Papers of Tony Veitch (Hodder and Stoughton, 1983), first edition hb with clipped dj. A nice copy, getting harder to find now, sought after as early Tartan Noir. £5
• Dreaming Scotland (Saltire Society, 2014), first edition pamphlet with cover design by Alasdair Gray. McIlvanney’s last and perhaps most uncommon publication, outlining his hopes for an independent Scotland. £3

Montgomery, Catriona (Catriona Nicgumaraid) Re Na H-Oidhche: The Length of the Night (Canongate, 1994), a surprisingly rare collection of poems in Gaelic and English, foreword by Sorley MacLean and cover design by Alasdair Gray, very good copy. SOLD

Morgan, J O Assurances (Cape, 2018), first edition softcover, signed by poet in pencil (as is his wont) ‘for Lizzie / I hope this provides a little distraction from the hectivities of life… replacing them with yet a different sort of hecticness’. SOLD

Mure-Mackenzie, Agnes – handwritten letter by Mure Mackenzie to ‘My Dear Mrs David’ – two pages dated 17^th August 1949 and discussing a recent trip to Edinburgh. A nice item by an important Scottish writer and historian £5

• Mackenzie, Agnes Mure Scottish Pageant (Oliver and Boyd, 1946-1950) a complete four volume set in hardcover first edition with djs of this ambitious study of Scottish history. Each volume signed by Mackenzie to ‘Joan Templeton’. Only set I’ve seen signed. Dustwrappers generally good, though two vols have some dj damage. SOLD

O’Driscoll, Dennis Long Story Short (Anvil, 1993), first edition softcover, very good. SOLD

• Exemplary Damages (Anvil, 2002), first edition softcover, very good, signed by poet to titlepage. SOLD
• Hidden Extras (Anvil, 1987), a first edition softcover, very good. SOLD

O’Neill, Michael Wheel (Arc, 2008), first edition softcover, good, signed by poet for Terry Kelly, £2

Orage, A R Nietzsche: In Outline and Aphorism (Foulis, 1907), first edition hb, slight wear to spine but all intact and presentable. Has very rare signature of Orage to prelim title-page. SOLD

Ormsby, Frank Fireflies (Carcanet, 2009), first edition softcover, very good. £2

Orwell, George Nineteen Eighty-four (Secker, 1950), hardcover of second edition (i.e first reprint). Book contents sound but 2/3s of spine has at some point become detached and then stuck bac together. Book looks ok, apart from the tear in spine where a section came away. An excellent candidate for rebinding but I prefer to conserve books as found. Copies of the 2^nd ed minus dj seem to being online at an absurd £300. This copy with all faults £25

Oxley, William (ed.) Littack VI (August 1974), a nice if slightly foxed copy of this issue of Oxley’s controversial literary magazine, covers designed by Ian Hamilton Finlay. £2

Pickard, Tom (ed.) The Lesser Known Shagg (Ultima Thule Bookshop, c. late 1960s), first and only issue of this rare Tyneside literary journal with contributions by Ed Dorn, Tony Harrison, Tom Raworth and others. A primitive mimeograph production, this copy pretty good. £10

• Hoyoot: Collect Poems and Songs (Carcanet, 2014), first edition softcover, good. £2

Plath, Sylvia The Letter of Sylvia Plath: Volume II 1956-1963 (Faber, 2018), first ed hb with dj. Heavy book. Rrp £35. This copy £3

Radclyffe-Hall, Marguerite The Forgotten Island (Chapman and Hall, 1915), first edition hb, no dj of this rare collection of poems. This copy stamped ‘presentation copy’ and with the ownership inscription of Henry Henderson ‘Bard o’ Reay’. Unusual association. Contents of book good but cover worn and a little bubbled. Only copy online is £120, this one SOLD

Rankin, Ian A Question of Blood (Orion, 2003), first ed hb with fine dj, signed by Rankin to titlepage. £2

Raven, Simon The Judas Boy (Blond, 1968), first edition hardcover in the rarer illustrated Elmes jacket. Fifth in the Alms for Oblivion series. Very nice copy, bookplate to inner front board, hidden by dj flap. £10

• Come like Shadows (Blond and Briggs, 1972), first edition hb with clipped dj, book generally very good, slight scuffing to cover. Eighth in the Alms for Oblivion series/ £4
• Bring forth the Body (Blond and Briggs, 1974), first edition in dj, very good, faintest signs of foxing. Ninth in the Alms for Oblivion series. £8
• The Survivors (Blond and Briggs, 1976), first edition with dj, near fine. Tenth and final novel of in the Alms for Oblivion series. £4

Reading, Peter 5x5x5x5x5 (Ceolfrith Press, 1983), first edition softcover with artwork by David Butler, front cover grubby and stained. Hence £1

Riley, Denise Stair Spirit (Equipage, 1992), a rare little pamphlet by Riley, this copy very good, faint fading to edges of cover. Copies online starting at £30. This copy £5

Robertson, James I Dream of Alfred Hitchcock (Kettillonia, 1999), a rather rare pamphlet of poems by this important Scottish writer, this copy signed to title page and dedicated to ‘Rob, Susan and Rhona’. £3

Russell, Peter (ed.) Nine: A Magazine of Literature and the Arts (1949-1956), this is a complete run of 11 issues of this significant journal, noted for supporting Pound at a difficult time in his life. Contributors also include Basil Bunting, Eliot, Cummings and many others. Copies generally good, issue one with slight 2cm tear to top of spine, issue 5 slight scuffing to top and base of spine, issue seven rather poor with loss of about 1 inch from spine, issue nine cover has come unglued and has some wear. £40 for the set.

Ryan, Kay The Best of It: New and Selected Poems (Grove Press, 2010), first US edition, hardcover with good dj. This copy signed by Ryan to title page. No signed copies for sale in UK at present. Those in US are well over £100. This copy £30.

St Dominic’s Press (interest) The Affectionate Parent’s Gift: A Collection of Prose and Verse by Margaret Honor Swinstead (St Dominic’s Press, 1928), a beautiful book with handcut pages and David Jones woodcut to titlepage. Copies online starting at £50, this copy SOLD

The Savoy: An Illustrated Quarterly (Leonard Smithers, 1896), the first two issues of this major fin de siècle journal. Both issues professionally rebacked in fine leather with gilt tooling. Retaining original covers, though as if the case with this publication, there is clear wear, especially to edges and corners. Very poor individual issues begin online at £120 mark. The first two issues together being worth a premium. £80 for both issues.

Scott-Moncrieff, George Fotheringhay: A Play in Three Acts (The Mercat Press, 1953), a softcover first edition of this play about Mary Queen of Scots in the lead-up to her execution. Poet Douglas Young’s copy with his signature and press cuttings, printing error to one page – still legible but creased. £3

Sorescu, Marin Let’s Talk about the Weather and other poems (Forest Books, 1985), a good paperback first edition copy. This example a presentation copy from Sorescu to Martin Mooij, the then director of Poetry International and the Rotterdam Poetry Festival. £3

Spark, Muriel(interest) Muriel Spark: The Biography by Martin Stannard, hardcover with unclipped dj of the third impression of the first edition. This book would normally be nearly worthless but it happens to have been Spark’s son’s own copy with the pen ownership inscription of ‘S Robin Spark’. A superb association copy, considering the immense acrimony between mother and son. £25

Stratford, Kevin Songs of the Adept: Selected Writings (Carcanet, 1991), first edition softcover, decent copy. £1

Sutherland, Keston The Rictus Flag (Object Permanence, 2002), first edition pamphlet, pretty scarce, though this copy has some discolouration to the page (does not in any way affect legibility). £2

Symons, Arthur Aubrey Beardsley (At the Sign of the Unicorn, 1898), first edition hardcover, this with the youthful pencil ownership inscription of Scottish poet Sydney Goodsir Smith. Some scuffing and wear to corners, slight foxing to feps and historical soiling to spine from handling. £15

Sweeney, Matthew A Round House (Allison and Busby, 1983), first edition softcover of Sweeney’s second collection of poems, very good. £30+ online, this copy £5

Taylor, Rachel Annand Poems (John Lane, 1904), first edition hardcover, a nice copy but some foxing to prelims. Copies online starting at £50, this copy £20

• Rose and Vine (Elkin Mathews, 1909), first edition hardcover of poet’s 2^nd collection, very good. £10 (copies online starting at £30).
• The End of Fiammetta (Grant Richards, 1923), first edition hardcover no dj, in very good order. One of Annand Taylor’s more elusive titles, no copies currently for sale. £20

Thacker, Eric and Earnshaw, Anthony Musrum (Cape, 1968), the first hardcover trade edition with original glassine wrapper, some small losses and cracks to wrapper. £3

Thomas, R S Poetry for Supper (Hart Davis, 1958), nice first edition hb with dj and also with rare ‘recommended by the Poetry Book Society’ wrap-around band. Ownership inscription of Scottish poet James Aitchison. £5

Thomson, Veronica Forrest On the Periphery (Street Editions, 1976), a first edition posthumous collection, generally good though with slight dogear to top edge of book. £10

Urquhart, Fred Camp-Follower (Blackwood’s Magazine, 1977), a very rare (only one copy on COPAC) offprint from Blackwood’s Magazine. Some creasing here and there but a decent copy. £4

• The Year of the Short Corn and other Stories (Methuen, 1949), a first edition with dj which has wear to spine, and chipping to edges and some losses here and there. One of Urquhart’s rarer books, this one with an interesting history. Signed first by Urquhart for Scottish poet Alex Reid and his wife Genevieve, it was latterly dedicated to Jim Ratter, the botanist, ‘this book that has come back to me since Genevieve died last year / with love from Fred / 10th March 1993’. Nice provenance and with the original pencil annotation of Elizabeth Strong at McNaughtan’s Books. SOLD

Vysotsky, Vladimir Hamlet with a Guitar (Progress Publishers, 1990), a rare softcover first edition of the only book to collect the writings of this important troubadouric Russian folk singer. A presentable copy, with some slight wear. £5

Watson, William Poems (MacMillan, 1892), first edition hardcover in good order, though slight ring mark to front cover. What makes this copy special is that it has a warm inscription from the author to fellow author Coulson Kernahan, with Kernahan’s pencilled notes to the back pages. Also with the bookplate of noted 1890s collector, Giles Gordon. £20

Wheatley, David Lament for Ali Farka Toure (Rack Press, 2008), very good pamphlet, one of 150 copies. £2

Woodcock, George The Centre cannot hold (Routledge, 1943), first edition softcover in dust-wrapper, good condition considering this series is notoriously fragile, spine shoes some wear but is largely unfaded. £1

Woods, Eddie Sale or Return (New Amsterdam Poetry, 1981), first edition softcover of these poems by New York born but Amsterdam based poet Eddie Woods, this copy signed by poet. £3

• Tennessee Williams in Bangkok (Inkblot, 2013), first edition softcover, signed by Woods, a hugely indiscreet and entertaining reminiscence of Williams’s sexual misadventures in later years. £3

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