John Betjeman | Five autograph manuscript and typescript poems

John Betjeman

Five poems:

i) 'NW5 and N6', autograph manuscript signed in black ink with title, one revision, and signature in pencil, 5 six-line stanzas, 2 pages on lined paper, text on rectos only, 8vo, loss of blank lower portion of second leaf

ii) 'Baker Street Station Buffet', carbon copy typescript, autograph revisions to three lines, 6 six-line stanzas, 1 page, foolscap, dated 6 December 1952 

iii) 'Saint Cadoc', carbon copy typescript, autograph revisions to two lines, 6 six-line stanzas, 1 page, 4to

iv) 'Caprice', typescript, 4 six-line stanzas, 1 page, foolscap, dated April 1956; with an accompanying typed note signed to John Arlott presenting the poem, 43 Cloth Fair, London, 19 June 1956

v) 'Frohliches Weihnachten von der P-vsn-rreise', typescript, 8 eight-line stanzas, 1 page, foolscap 

Manuscript and typescript poems sent by John Betjeman to his friend John Arlott. The group includes a manuscript of his poignant poem on childhood fear of damnation, 'NW5 and N6' (also known as 'Highgate at Eventide'); a satire on Nikolaus Pevsner which has sometimes been attributed to Peter Clarke; and one of his evocations of "Metroland" ('Baker Street Station Buffet').