SHORT POEMS [First edition - second printing in wrappers]

Wil Ifan [William Evans]

Published by Western Mail & Echo Ltd., Cardiff, 1943

About this Item

Second printing of the true first edition - the book was first published in hardcovers in September, 1943, and then in this wrappers issue in November, 1943 - as stated on the printer's page. ***Very good in light-blue textured thin card wrappers, with a sewn binding, and with a paper panel on the front wrapper. The covers are slightly creased at the edges, being slightly larger than the page block. There is very light browning to the spine area and edges. Internally near fine, with a flourishing gift inscription on the first page: 'To The Girls, With love and all good wishes for Xmas and especially for 1944 from "Lui Edwin"' - the name is not clear but doesn't look like the author's. Pages clean. No creases or tears. No foxing. 40 pages. 224 mm x 145 mm. ***'William Evans (22 April 1883 - 16 July 1968), better known by his bardic name of Wil Ifan, was a Welsh poet who served as Archdruid of the National Eisteddfod of Wales from 1947 to 1950. He was the son of Dan Evans, a Congregationalist minister, and Mary (née Davies). He was born in Cwmbach, near Llanwinio, Carmarthenshire, but later moved with his family to Cwmafan and attended grammar school in Port Talbot. He was educated at University of Wales, Bangor, and Mansfield College, Oxford. Wil Ifan followed in his father's footsteps by becoming a Congregationalist Minister. He was ordained in the English Congregationalist Chapel in Dolgellau, Merionethshire, in 1906 and served as the chapel minister for three years. Whilst in Dolgellau he met his future wife Nesta Wyn Edwards whom he married on 28 December 1910 in Dolgellau. They had four children. In 1909 he became the minister of the English Congregationalist church in Bridgend Glamorganshire. Apart from time spent in the Richmond Road English Congregational Church, Cardiff, between 1917 and 1925, Evans spent the rest of his life in Bridgend. Like all Archdruids, he was a winner of a major poetry prize at the National Eisteddfod, winning the Crown at Abergavenny in 1913, at Birkenhead in 1917 (when Hedd Wyn was posthumously awarded the chair) and at Pwllheli in 1925. He died in Bridgend and is buried at Rhydymain in Merionethshire. [Wiki] ***Second printing of the true first edition, with a poignant wartime inscription. An uncommon publication, and of interest to collectors and readers of Welsh poetry. Only one copy appears on Jisc Library Hub Discover - at Bangor University Library. ***For all our books, postage is charged at cost, allowing for packaging: any shipping rates indicated on ABE are an average only: we will reduce the P & P charge where appropriate - please contact us for postal rates for heavier books and sets etc.

Seller Inventory # PB369

Bibliographic Details

• Title: SHORT POEMS [First edition - second printing in wrappers]
• Publisher: Western Mail & Echo Ltd., Cardiff
• Publication Date: 1943
• Binding: Original Wraps
• Edition: First Paperback Edition
• Printing: Second Printing
• Condition: Very Good
• Dust Jacket Condition: No Jacket, as Issued
• Seller catalogs:
  • First Editions
  • Collectable Paperbacks