THE FOUR QUARTETS SIGNED BY ELIOT
The Four Quartets
Faber, 1944.
First UK collected edition. Original buff cloth lettered in gilt in dustwrapper printed in black and red. Signed by the author on the title page, and accompanied by a typed and signed letter from Eliot to his long-time friend P. T. R. Gillett. A very good copy indeed, slightly cocked, in a very good dustwrapper, with the spine a little browned and some small marks to the rear cover.
A fine association copy. Gillett was a long-time friend and colleague of Eliot's during the poet's eight year career as a clerk with Lloyd's Bank from 1917 until 1925 when he left to take up the directorship of newly formed Faber & Gwyer. Eliot made a habit of sending Gillett copies of his work as, on Gillett's admission, "bank clerks have not too much money to spare" (Letter to T. S. Eliot, 6 Jan 1930).
The signed letter from Eliot accompanying the copy of Four Quartets apologises for the delay in sending it to Gillett, as in the first instance "it was sent by an odd mistake to a man I know slightly, and though no doubt he was surprised at receiving a signed copy of my book, I think he might be rather hurt by being told that it was not intended for him!"
Eliot's last great work, a set of four interlinked poems, written and originally published separately over a six year period. Rarely encountered in a signed state.
PROVENANCE: P. T. R. Gillett and thence by descent.
Stock ID: 36654
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