ARCHIVE OF 16 AUTOGRAPH MANUSCRIPT POEMS, Most Unpublished
1940s. Manuscript. A collection of 16 MANUSCRIPT poems, all unsigned and undated but for two dated "16? November 1945," written in pencil on 14 8-1/2" x 11" sheets and one smaller sheet; housed in a custom quarter morocco clamshell box. Four of the poems appear in THE COLLECTED POEMS OF JAMES AGEE: "Now on the World and My Life as Well," "As in a Woodland Rarely," "Home Again Blues" (titled in manuscript as "Veteran" and containing an unpublished last line in the second stanza--"We had too much before"), and "The Passionate Poet to His Love" which has changes from the published version and a SIGNED pencil note on the verso: "Will be away for week or so will wire changes of address. Please wire immediately some news from Tennessee. Love, Jim." In addition there are 4 titled poems ("Glance," "Laughter," "Gentle, Gentle Dark," and "President") that appear complete, 4 untitled poems with corrections that appear complete, and 4 rough drafts of poems with deletions and corrections, as well as an additional 7 poems on the 3 typed sheets ("Resume," "Apotheosis," "January 1" (apparently unpublished), "A Lover's Delight," an untitled poem of 6 stanzas, the first line reading, "The sun, that late below our bed" (apparently unpublished), an untitled sonnet beginning "Lovers flame-fresh and lovers whose love wanes" (apparently unpublished), and "The Rendezvous." Agee is best known for his movie criticism and for two books: LET US NOW PRAISE FAMOUS MEN, an important work in the history of 20th-century photo-documentary illustrated by Walker Evans, and the posthumous A DEATH IN THE FAMILY which won the Pulitzer Prize. Some sheets creased along old folds; mild toning; some edgewear; scattered mild staining. Near Fine in a Fine clamshell box. Item #022564
From the William A. Strutz Library via Hamill & Barker, Chicago.
Price: $7,500.00