About this Item
First impression of the true first edition. The author's scarce second published volume of wartime poetry, dedicated to Bevil Quiller-Couch, her fiancé, who survived the war, but who died in 1919 in the Spanish Influenza epidemic. ***Please note that this is an ex-library copy, with stamps and inserts (as ddocumented below). ***Very good in navy paper-covered cream buckram boards. The boards show signs of wear and handling commensurate with a book that is now over a hundred years old. Whilst the boards are quite clean and undamaged, the corners are worn with some loss to the paper covering. Head and tail of the spine worn with some loss to the cloth. A couple of small splits along the edges of the spine, which is also somewhat browned and marked through handling. Dewey number '821CAN' at the bottom of the spine. Fore edge and lower edge of text-block untrimmed. Internally there are the following library marks: City of Oxford Libraries label affixed to the front pastedown; Oxford City Libraries - Central Library, Westgate lending sheet to the front free endpaper (interestingly, the book was still being lent in 1999); ink details also written in calligraphic pen to the front free endpaper; barcode removed from the front free endpaper leaving the paper a bit thin; library stamp and label to printer's page; small stamp 'BHB 19.6.46 to last printed page; sticker removed from rear pastedown. In spite of these library marks, the contents are clean. No creases or tears. Printed on quality paper by Frederick Hall at the Oxford University Press. Interestingly, there is a shadow of a previous label over the publisher's details on the title page. The printed publisher is 'B. H. Blackwell, Broad Street, Oxford' - we have had one other copy of this rare work which retained the label which stated the publisher as 'Humphrey Milford, Oxford University Press'. Spine tight. No dustwrapper. ***80 pages. 200mm x 146mm. ***CONTENTS: Dedicatory poem: To B. B. Q.-C., The Song Royal. ***Part I.: 'Since were beloved of you'; Paris-wise; The Armistice; In an Office, in Paris; Paris, November 11, 1918.For G.A.H.; The Old Army, The Special Reserve, The O. T. C., and the Territorial Force; For a Girl. Paris, November 11, 1918; The Menin Road; Paris Leave; 'Now I will make new happy songs'; The Day's Work; Dedicatory for an Office Magazine; English Leave; Courage; Death; Fulfilment; Dusk; Young Adventure; After; A Queen Passes; Stars; Friendship, 1919; Possession; To ------; To Certain Men; 'These Lovers'; At Dawn; A New Song; Soldier-Love; 'When I Shall Come'; Good-night; In the End; ***Part II: 'These were the Splendid Days; For a Wedding in Oxford in Time of War; A Letter; For GRACE; December 1917; Love. For a Girl; To H. D. P.-T. Born after the War; Flying. July 1918. For ----; Houses. For GRACE; 'She I Love'; 'Now there were Three Women who Loved'; For One Wise; A London Lyric; The Guards' Camp, Wimbledon Common; An old Song; 'It's a Spring Morning'; The Golden Age; For -----; France; To C. M. A. O.; Peace Celebrations, July 19, 1919; Women Demobilized, July 1919; 'When the Vision Dies'.***Involved in wartime espionage in France, May Wedderburn Cannan was an important First World War poet. All three of her wartime poetry collections are extremely scarce. Only a few copies are held in the major libraries. A rare and fragile item. Of interest to collectors of First World War poetry, and to those interested in the role of women in the Great War. ***Cannan's work has been anthologized in Andrew Motion's book of First World War Poems and her poem "Rouen" was chosen by Philip Larkin to be included in the Oxford Book of Twentieth Century English Verse which he edited and published in 1973. ***For all our books, postage is charged at cost, allowing for packaging: any shipping rates indicated on ABE are an average only: we will reduce the P & P charge where appropriate - please contact us for postal rates for heavier books and sets etc.
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