- 111
Plath, Sylvia.
Estimate
15,000 - 20,000 GBP
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Description
- The Colossus. William Heinemann, 1960
8vo, first edition of the author's first regularly published book, presentation copy inscribed by the author on her birthday to her english teacher ("For Mr. Crockett -- | In whose classroom | and wisdom | these poems | have root -- | from Sylvia | London: October 27, 1960"), original green cloth, spine lettered in gilt, dust-jacket, minor tears and some slight browning to the jacket [together with:] unpublished autograph Christmas card signed ("from Sylvia, Ted & Frieda Hughes"), to Wilbury Crocket, delighting in having "your good letter" and knowing that "the colossus is safe in your discriminating hands", referring to her recipient's recent trip to New York "...Ted & I...have always longed for the 'excuse' or 'gift' of a year in that superb city..."), conveying the happiness she and Ted find "in our small northern niche in London where Regent's Park, Primrose HIll & the Zoo are our own backyard", then discussing the various invitations for public appearances which they "studiously" avoid, their recent "wonderful dinner wtih T.S. Eliot" and "his charming Yorkshire wife & Mr & Mrs Spender" in which they discussed a collaborative project, ending with news of their new baby "Frieda Rebeca Hughes" who "is the sun of our life - we both dote on her!" (no place, no date, [Autumn 1960]); book and letter preserved in folding green cloth chemise and quarter green morocco slipcase
an extraordinarily resonant presentation copy, inscribed by sylvia plath to her high school english teacher four days before publication. The Colossus was published on 31 October 1960. The author had requested a publication date of four days earlier, on her birthday (and the date of the present inscription), "but Heinemann only publishes on Mondays and the 17th was a Thursday that year. Plath ordered ten copies for herself..." (Stephen Tabor, Sylvia Plath. An Analytical Bibliography). One of these ten is presumably the present copy, one of a few reserved for presentation. (There are only two other recorded presentation copies of the English edition: that inscribed to the poet W.S. Merwin and his wife, and the copy presented to Charles Monteith, poetry editor at Faber and Faber).
presentation copies of works by sylvia plath are very rare.
Wilbury Crockett (d.1994) taught English at Bradford High School, Wellesley, Massachusetts, and was a highly important formative influence on Plath's early development as a writer. References to him abound in her journals and letters. When, in the autumn of 1947 she showed him one of the poems he surprised her by reading four of them to the class. " I was overjoyed," Sylvia wrote in her journal, "[his comments] encouraged me greatly." He remained close to her until her suicide in 1963.
"For Sylvia Plath Gamaliel Bradford High School was marked in her memory by ambition, accomplishments, and the existence of one very special teacher - Wilbury Crockett - who taught the advanced English classes of all three years. ...to Sylvia, Wilbury Crockett was 'the teacher of a lifetime'. If Crockett were such a teacher, then Sylvia Plath...was the kind of student he had been waiting for..." (Connie Anne Kirk, Sylvia Plath)
an extraordinarily resonant presentation copy, inscribed by sylvia plath to her high school english teacher four days before publication. The Colossus was published on 31 October 1960. The author had requested a publication date of four days earlier, on her birthday (and the date of the present inscription), "but Heinemann only publishes on Mondays and the 17th was a Thursday that year. Plath ordered ten copies for herself..." (Stephen Tabor, Sylvia Plath. An Analytical Bibliography). One of these ten is presumably the present copy, one of a few reserved for presentation. (There are only two other recorded presentation copies of the English edition: that inscribed to the poet W.S. Merwin and his wife, and the copy presented to Charles Monteith, poetry editor at Faber and Faber).
presentation copies of works by sylvia plath are very rare.
Wilbury Crockett (d.1994) taught English at Bradford High School, Wellesley, Massachusetts, and was a highly important formative influence on Plath's early development as a writer. References to him abound in her journals and letters. When, in the autumn of 1947 she showed him one of the poems he surprised her by reading four of them to the class. " I was overjoyed," Sylvia wrote in her journal, "[his comments] encouraged me greatly." He remained close to her until her suicide in 1963.
"For Sylvia Plath Gamaliel Bradford High School was marked in her memory by ambition, accomplishments, and the existence of one very special teacher - Wilbury Crockett - who taught the advanced English classes of all three years. ...to Sylvia, Wilbury Crockett was 'the teacher of a lifetime'. If Crockett were such a teacher, then Sylvia Plath...was the kind of student he had been waiting for..." (Connie Anne Kirk, Sylvia Plath)
Provenance
Wilbury Crockett, presentation inscription
Literature
Tabor A2a
Condition
Condition is described in the main body of the cataloguing, when appropriate.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."