Watkins, Vernon; Watkins, Gwen (Afterword); Cour, Glenys (Illustrator)

Taliesin and the Mockers [Lettered copy A of the Special Edition]

Monmouthshire: The Old Stile Press, (2004). Cour, Glenys. Limited Edition. Hardcover. Copy A of the special edition, folio size, [56] pp., signed by Gwen Watkins and Glenys Cour, with prospectus. Fine. Item #CNJL1136

In his commendation, written to be printed in this book, Rowan Williams, Archbishop of Canterbury, says "the intensely disciplined beauty of Vernon Watkins' poetry is one of the still largely undiscovered treasures of twentieth century British literature." For Katherine Raine, Watkins was a singer born. He saw how light is woven out of the darkness, life out of death, to perfect a whole greater than either. This beautiful poem (redolent of the Genesis creation story) has long been a favourite of the artist Glenys Cour who, with her sculptor husband, Ronald, was part of the famous group in Swansea that included Vernon Watkins and his close friend Dylan Thomas. Her richly powerful collage images help to make a journey through this large format book an extraordinary experience. She is, still today, a near neighbour in Swansea of Gwen Watkins who has given so much kind encouragement to the project and, in the Afterword, has written compellingly about her husband's life and work. For the special edition, within the book, on every image-page, the artist has made additions by hand in gold which, as admirers of her paintings will know, is one of her trademarks along with the colour ultramarine, which also plays a key role in this production.

___DESCRIPTION: Original paper covered boards with collaged illustration printed from photopolymer plates in blue, black and gilt, lettering in gilt to backstrip, 46 illustrations all of which are collage printed from photopolymer plates with additions by the artist, by hand, in gold; Omega type, Fabriano Tiziano paper, folio size (13.25" by 14"), unpaginated with [56] pp., limited edition, this copy A of 26 special edition copies (total edition 225), signed by Gwen Watkins and Glenys Cour. Housed in a black cloth fall-down-back box with blue lining and an illustrated paper label which repeats the illustration from the commendation page. With the prospectus, one sheet printed in colour on both sides, with photographs of the illustrations from the book, and two horizontal creases.

___CONDITION: Overall fine; other than some slight creasing to the paper covering the joints, in perfect condition, crisp, clean, as new and free of prior owner markings; in a like case. The prospectus is fine, clean and without wear, with only original folds.

___CITATION: Per the web site of The Old Stile Press.

___POSTAGE: Due to the size and weight of this volume, please note that additional postage will apply; please inquire for details.

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Price: $800.00