THE BRYNMOR JONES LIBRARY, 1929-1979

First edition, first printing. Original stapled glossy card covers, illustrated with a wraparound photograph of the Brynmor Jones Library, the title is printed in white to the upper cover. A near fine copy, the binding square and firm, the wrappers sharp, with some rubbing and small nicks at the spine tips and some toning to the upper and left side of the front cover. The contents clean and unmarked throughout. Errata slip loosely laid in as called for.

Larkin wrote his short history of The Brynmor Jones Library to mark the fiftieth anniversary of the institution where he had been working since 1955. Although he isn't credited as the author (presumably at his own request), as Brian Dyson notes in a 1985 re-issue (updated by Maeve Brennan, edited by Dyson, and finally credited to Larkin), "few of those who admired his writings appeared to realise just how seriously Larkin regarded his work and career as a professional librarian. […] Indeed, many would be astounded to learn that 'The Brynmor Jones Library' was to be the last significant original prose work published in his lifetime." In his bibliography, Barry Bloomfield records that his own copy is inscribed: "To Barry / from the Author / – his last book. / 13. 3.79." Dyson reproduces a page from the original typescript, densely annotated and corrected in Larkin's hand, demonstrating the care with which he approached the task. Printed in an edition of 600 copies and invoiced to the Library on 22 February 1979, most copies of the first edition were given to library staff, other libraries, and friends. This example, although unmarked as such, is from the collection of Sir Brynmor Jones. (Bloomfield A12a).