The Variorum Edition of the Poems of W. B. Yeats
- SIGNED Edited by Peter Alt and Russell K. Alspach. xxxvi, 884 pp. 1 vols. 4to
- New York: The Macmillan Company, 1957
New York: The Macmillan Company, 1957. First edition, no. 288 of 825 copies signed by Yeats. Edited by Peter Alt and Russell K. Alspach. xxxvi, 884 pp. 1 vols. 4to. Publisher's two-toned cloth; black topstain. Fine in slightly soiled publisher's slipcase, with bookplate and related typed letter signed. First edition, no. 288 of 825 copies signed by Yeats. Edited by Peter Alt and Russell K. Alspach. xxxvi, 884 pp. 1 vols. 4to. A signed, limited edition of a storied anthology of Yeats' poems with an unorthodox backstory.
In the 1930s, Yeats signed 825 unbound colophons for a planned release of his collected poems by Macmillan; the colophons were printed on paper specially made by the Oxford Paper Company, which, as the text states, was supposed to be used for the entire edition. After Yeats died in 1939, Macmillan held on to the colophons, and in 1957, nearly 20 years after the poet's passing, bound them into this handsome limited edition, though one which utilized a far less expensive paper for the rest of the pages. While the colophon is signed by Yeats, the limitation number (here, #288) was added in at publication by a different hand.
A typed, undated letter signed by Carl Kroch on the letterhead of his famous Chicago bookstore, Kroch's & Brentano's, accompanies the book, and explains not only the creation of this unusual edition, but the equally unique story of how they came to own a significant portion of it. Apparently, 250 copies of the book had been misplaced in Macmillan's New York City warehouse, and were only discovered when they were moved to storage in New Jersey. Kroch's & Brentano's purchased all the remaining volumes for the express purpose of offering it to members of the company's First Edition Circle, for, as he states, "only $14.95," less than half the cost of the original price of $30. Kroch closes the letter with a classic salesman's touch: "[W]e received only 250 copies, and there will be no more. To avoid disappointment, order yours today" Wade 211N
In the 1930s, Yeats signed 825 unbound colophons for a planned release of his collected poems by Macmillan; the colophons were printed on paper specially made by the Oxford Paper Company, which, as the text states, was supposed to be used for the entire edition. After Yeats died in 1939, Macmillan held on to the colophons, and in 1957, nearly 20 years after the poet's passing, bound them into this handsome limited edition, though one which utilized a far less expensive paper for the rest of the pages. While the colophon is signed by Yeats, the limitation number (here, #288) was added in at publication by a different hand.
A typed, undated letter signed by Carl Kroch on the letterhead of his famous Chicago bookstore, Kroch's & Brentano's, accompanies the book, and explains not only the creation of this unusual edition, but the equally unique story of how they came to own a significant portion of it. Apparently, 250 copies of the book had been misplaced in Macmillan's New York City warehouse, and were only discovered when they were moved to storage in New Jersey. Kroch's & Brentano's purchased all the remaining volumes for the express purpose of offering it to members of the company's First Edition Circle, for, as he states, "only $14.95," less than half the cost of the original price of $30. Kroch closes the letter with a classic salesman's touch: "[W]e received only 250 copies, and there will be no more. To avoid disappointment, order yours today" Wade 211N
Details
Title
The Variorum Edition of the Poems of W. B. Yeats
Author
Yeats, William Butler
Binding
Edited by Peter Alt and Russell K. Alspach. xxxvi, 884 pp. 1 vols. 4to
Condition
Fine
Publisher
The Macmillan Company: New York
Date
1957
Edition
First edition, no. 288 of 825 copies signed by Yeats