[Rarebooks] FS: 2 Early W. S. Merwin Handwritten Letters

[Charles Agvent]

MERWIN, W. S. TWO AUTOGRAPH LETTERS SIGNED (ALSs). Mallorca, Spain, 
1953. Two very early one-page AUTOGRAPH LETTERS SIGNED by Merwin, one 
dated 19 January 1953 and the other 4 December, likely in 1952, the year 
his first book was published. Both letters are addressed to W. Price 
Turner of Scotland, editor of THE POET magazine. In the earlier letter, 
Merwin submits poems [not present] for the Winter issue and briefly 
discusses "the unfortunate incompetence of the Spanish postal system." 
In the later and lengthier letter, Merwin thanks Turner for a letter and 
a copy of his magazine. In part: "It is extremely heartening, ever, to 
find a native of the British isles who is aware that American poetry 
does exist. Who, if I'm not being impertinent, and for my own amusement, 
was the 'overpraised poet' who so happily remarked that it didn't? ... 
Oxford University Press has imported 'a limited number' of copies of A 
MASK FOR JANUS [Merwin's first book] (whatever that means) at a 
horrifying price -- 16s. Which I suppose effectively renders it invalid 
in England, whether or not anything else did." Two fine and very early 
letters by Merwin, with one envelope addressed by the poet to Turner in 
Glasgow, "Escocia (Inglaterra)," with interesting content about his 
early work. Near Fine. (#011002)        $1,000.00

http://home.ptd.net/~chagvent/011002.jpg

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