Philip Larkin | XX Poems, 1951, inscribed

Philip Larkin

XX Poems. [Belfast: Privately Printed for the Author,] 1951

small 4to, FIRST AND ONLY EDITION OF THE AUTHOR'S SECOND BOOK OF POETRY, ONE OF 100 COPIES, PRESENTATION COPY, inscribed on the dedication leaf by the author ("For George [Hartley] guaranteed 1 of 100 from Philip. Hull 1956"), original paper wrappers, light spotting and abrasions, rust mark to lower cover

LARKIN'S RARE SECOND COLLECTION INSCRIBED TO THE PUBLISHER WHO MADE HIS NAME. This scarce pamphlet was privately printed for the author in an edition of 100 copies "by Carswells of Belfast... The hundred copies arrived on the 27th April [1951]" (letter by Larkin to Bloomfield). The bibliography notes that "most of the copies were sent by the author to prominent literary figures who generally did not acknowledge receipt, insufficient stamps having been put on the envelopes because postage rates had just been raised". 

George Hartley, to whom this copy is inscribed, established the Marvell Press in Hull in 1954, together with his wife Jean. They published Larkin's breakthrough third collection, The Less Deceived, in November 1955, which included 13 poems first published in XX Poems. George also edited the press's poetry magazine Listen, to which Larkin was a regular contributor. Larkin gave a second copy of XX Poems to Hartley fifteen years later (sold in these rooms, 13 December 2022, lot 257). 

LITERATURE:

Bloomfield A4