Sangschaw

MACDIARMID, Hugh

Published by Edinburgh & London: William Blackwood, 1925

About this Item

MACDIARMID, Hugh. Sangschaw. Edinburgh and London: William Blackwood 1925. First binding, first issue. Inscribed by the author: "To William Will/ with every good wish/from/ Hugh MacDiarmid/ 31.8.25." Laid in is a two page hand written letter from Grieve to William Will of some 240 words from his 16 Links Avenue, Montrose, address, dated, as the book inscription 31.8.25. in which he asks Will to accept the book with every good wishes and continues: "I have chosen to work along very different lines from most of our vernacular revivalists partly to stimulate discussion along the principle as I have put it of 'Speak weel o my love,// Speak ill o my love,// But aye be speakin' - but our efforts will ultimately converge, and difference in method be forgotten when our end is achieved and we meet - no matter by what path we climbed on the top of the hill of a great Scots Revival." Grieve goes on to raise his need to find journalistic employment, something he is obviously finding difficulty doing, with Will, who is himself employed in the business, when he writes: ". . .but I am afraid that like (John) Buchan and (H.J.C.) Grierson you may not find it easy to discover any openings for me." Grieve concludes the letter thanking Will for his kindness to ". . .Mrs Grieve and myself in the past and - no matter how intransigent I may be - in warm appreciation of your work in connection with the vernacular circle and otherwise - yours faithfully C. M. Grieve." Also laid in is a page from The Irish Statesman dated October 3, 1925 containing a review of Sangschaw. Some fading on spine, otherwise a Fine copy in dj. Note: Blackwood printed 1050 sets of sheets for Sangschaw. The number of copies bound up in the first state binding and second state binding is unknown. To further complicate the matter there are issue points with the first state binding in that there are three issues. They primarily relate to how the publisher s name appears on the spine. The First Issue has WILLIAM/ BLACKWOOD/ AND SONS:/ EDINBURGH/ AND LONDON over four lines at the base of the spine; the second issue drops EDINBURGH AND LONDON, and the third issue drops all but the publisher s name. The third issue also lacks title, author and Celtic design from the front board. Blackwood s records show that 402 copies had gone out from their warehouse stocks up to 31 December 1925, thereafter they show a dramatic slump in sales. A superb copy of MacDiarmid's first book in Scots. William Will was born in Huntly in 1866. He was the director and London manager of Allied Newspapers. Will was also the president of the London Burns Club. Seller Inventory # ABE-1668685556275

Bibliographic Details

Title: Sangschaw

Publisher: Edinburgh & London: William Blackwood

Publication Date: 1925

Binding: Hardcover

Condition: Fine

Dust Jacket Condition: Fine

Signed: Signed by Author(s)

Edition: 1st Edition