T.S. Eliot Writes ‘Distribute’ in a Trial Copy
The Dance of Death.
London: Faber & Faber, [1933].
Price: $2,500.00
About the item
First edition, trial copy bound from proof sheets. 37 pp. 1 vols. 8vo. Olive green boards. Near fine in green printed dust jacket (spine panel toned with small loss at head. Bloomfield A4. Provenance: Bertram Rota Ltd. (sold 1988).
Item #366961
A remarkable copy of a scarce book, a trial copy bound from proof sheets date-stamped by the printer 12 October 1933 in plain olive drab cloth without lettering and with only stubs as pastedowns and no flyleaves. At the head of the half title the name “Mr Faber” has been written in pencil in an unknown hand. Beneath it in blue pencil is the word “Distribute” in the hand of T.S. Eliot.
The Dance of Death was published on 9 November in brilliant “yellowish-green” paper covered boards lettered in black, in the printed dust jacket, the front flap of which concludes, “Satirical in nature, it will extend the reputation of its author, who is already recognized as ‘one of four or five poets worth quarrelling about’.” Eliot, as a director of Faber & Faber, paid close attention to the poetry list.
