SPRINGBOARD: Poems 1941-1944

First edition, first printing. Original red cloth with gilt lettering to the spine, in dustwrapper. A very near fine copy, the binding firm, the cloth bright and clean, the contents, with a neat contemporary owner inscription, are otherwise clean throughout. Very light spotting to endpapers and upper page block edge; lower edges untrimmed. There is a diagonal crease (c. 2.5 cms at its widest) to the lower edge of the rear free endpaper. The dustwrapper, with some minor loss to spine tips, a little rubbing and darkening to spine and folds, and a few marks to the rear panel, is otherwise bright and clean. Not price-clipped (6s. net to the front flap). An attractive example. Scarce in the dustwrapper.

The final volume to be published during the author's productive war years (that began with the great 'Autumn Journal' in 1939), 'Springboard' includes poems such as 'Prayer Before Birth', the two Troll poems, and the extended 'The Kingdom'. Published in December 1944, 7000 copies of the first impression were printed. (Armitage A20a).