Association Copy : Scarce with such attributes

Eliot, T.S. ~ On Poetry And Poets : Inscribed By The Author

Faber and Faber, London : 1957

The First UK printing published by Faber and Faber, London in 1957. The BOOK is in Very Good++ or better condition. Very slight bumping at the spine tips. The gilt titling remains bright. Light toning to the cover edges. Some light spotting to the text-block with a little toning to the upper text-block. Light spotting to the prelims with some light offsetting to the blank end-papers. The WRAPPER is complete and is in near Fine condition. Light edge-wear with a small closed tear to the upper front spine fold and to the lower front panel edge. A little light toning to the edges, spine and flap folds. The wrapper is protected in a removable Brodart archival cover. The book has been inscribed by the author to the front blank end-paper : 'To Montgomery Belgian, with the author's humble compliments, T. S. Eliot'. The author's ink has slightly changed colour with the effects of offsetting. 'Montgomery Belgion was an author, who was Editor in charge of the European edition of the 'New York Herald' from 1915–16. Between the wars he worked briefly for the Paris review 'This Quarter' and some newspapers including the 'Daily Mail', 'Westminster Gazette' and the 'Daily Mirror'. For a while he was an editor for Harcourt, Brace and Company, New York. In 1929 Faber and Faber brought out (on TS Eliot's recommendation) his first book 'Our Present Philosophy of life'. Later works included 'Reading for Profit (1945) and booklets on H.G. Wells and David Hulme' (Eliot -Hale Letters 2022). Loosely inserted is a letter from Montgomery's wife Helen Belgion, in which she refers to this inscribed Eliot book as 'one of the treasures of my husband's library -T.S.E's 'On poetry ad Poets'. The volume is divided in two parts. The first part is 'On Poetry' and contains seven essays. The second part of the book is 'On Poets' and there are nine essays with each one pertaining to a poet from Virgil to Yeats and a two part essay on Milton. Accompanied with a contemporary TLS review clipping of this title. Scarce with such attributes.

BINDING: Hardcover
CONDITION: Very Good++
JACKET: Near Fine