THE WHITSUN WEDDINGS

First edition, first printing. Original burgundy cloth lettered in gilt to the spine, in the dustwrapper designed by Berthold Wolpe. With, loosely laid in, a manuscript letter from Philip Larkin to Brynmor Jones. A near fine copy, the binding square and firm, the contents clean throughout. Complete with the very near fine, first-state dustwrapper. Not price-clipped (12s 6d net to the front flap).

With a loosely laid in manuscript letter from Larkin to Brynmor Jones, dated 27 February 1964, originally sent with a copy of 'The Whitsun Weddings' and written on the poet's own headed writing paper, '32 Pearson Park, Hull' printed in upper case at the top: "Dear Vice-Chancellor, I should be very pleased if you would accept a copy of 'The Whitsun Weddings', due to be published tomorrow. No doubt you have sometimes been tempted to think that as a librarian I am an excellent poet. This may provide an excuse for thinking the opposite. With all good wishes, Yours sincerely, Philip Larkin" While 'The Less Deceived' (1955) printed the poems written during Larkin's time working in Belfast, 'The Whitsun Weddings' is the fruit of his first decade in Hull and impending middle-age (although James Booth notes that the book includes poems written as early as 1953). One of the great works of post-war British poetry, it was the first of Larkin's poetry books to be published by Faber and Faber ('A Girl in Winter', his second novel, had been issued by the firm in 1947). It was immediately popular, even Berthold Wolpe's jacket design soon attaining classic status. In 1965, he was awarded the Queen's Gold Medal for Poetry and an Arts Council prize for "the best book of original English verse by a living poet published from July 1962 to June 1965". Published on 28 February 1964, 3910 copies of the first impression were issued, selling out within two months. (Bloomfield A7). [23565]