Vela

1987 · ref. 017597 — London: Secker & Warburg 1987. 1st Edition . Soft cover. Good. First edition. Paperback stapled binding. 21 × 14cm 63pp. A remarkable association copy belonging to four poets. This copy was first inscribed by the author Lawrence Sail to poet Freda Downie: 'for Freda with love and best wishes Lawrence 10 April 1987'. Loosely inserted is a handwritten postcard from Sail to Downie mentioning her 1981 collection Plainsong. The book was later acquired at The Poetry Bookshop in Hay-on-Wye by poet publisher and filmmaker Greta Bellamacina who gifted it to her husband conceptual artist and poet Robert Montgomery. On the half-title Bellamacina has written a warm pencil inscription: 'Dear Robert I found this collection in the poetry bookshop in Hay on Wye. The first poem instantly reminded me of our game in New York. I got on the train back from London & found the postcard locked inside the book and addressed to the poet Freda Downing sic - a little surprise - like you! with love Greta.' From the back cover "Broad in range involving both private and public worlds the personal and the historical Lawrence Sail's new book focuses in particular on the tensions between hope doubt and faith. The poem from which the title of the collection comes is spoken by a medieval illuminator of manuscripts - and the intent skill of such a craftsman is apparent throughout the book in poems which have both great delicacy and real strength." Condition: A good copy. There is a faint water stain to the top edge of the front cover and some light wrinkling to the pages' top edge. There is a crease to the rear cover but otherwise this copy remains in strong readable condition. Secker & Warburg paperback