Author Archives: rdavies

(By Grand Central Station I Sat Down and Wept, a rare 1st ed. Editions Poetry London dj; design by Gerald Wilde) Elizabeth Smart (1913-1986) was born into a prominent family in Ottawa who did not approve of her long, rough … Continue reading →

(early G-G winner, scarce clean Scribner’s, 1939 dj & complementary hardback design; designed by “M”?) (her 2nd G-G winner for Fiction; this ed. Lippincott, 1944 dj; photo by Leja Gorska, design by Hallock) (from the previous copy, an ultra-rare flatsigned … Continue reading →

(signed card and letter with envelope; Knopf, 1960 dj; design: Rudolph Ruzicka) (1st trilogy: The Salteron Trilogy; on left:  book 1: Tempest-Tost; prominent Canadian designer and illustrator Grant MacDonald did the charming cover; Clarke Irwin, 1951 dj; on right: 2nd … Continue reading →

(Ryerson, 1939 chapbook; with the opening page of the most famous Canadian poem about the Depression; right: a very rare signed copy of a very rare book–250 copies; this and the next chapbook covers were done by Group of 7 … Continue reading →

(rare, clean, intact associative book; Contact Press, 1956; arguably title poem is his most famous, signature; book is dedicated to his daughter Naomi, for whom he wrote the tender poem “For Naomi”) (1959 McClelland & Stewart pb, signed by Layton, designed by … Continue reading →

(Arthur Barker, 1957–U.K. 1st ed.; uncredited artist; photo: Lingard, Ottawa; very scarce inscribed ed.) (Coach House, 1981 pb; inscribed by author) (Marlyn’s typed critical quotes for Ribs, laid into above book) John Marlyn (1912-2005) was an Austro-Hungarian who grew up … Continue reading →

(Canada Post’s well-done salute to McLuhan, Northrop Frye, and Roger Lemelin) (his most famous book; 1983 ed. of 1963 original; this one a rare signed) (Harcourt, Brace : 1963 pb, rare flatsigned) (rare 1976 signed reply letter to Margaret Beach–includes … Continue reading →

(along with Birney’s satirical Turvey and Smart’s novella By Grand Central Station, this unsung novel is also important WWII reading; Faber: 1946 dj, uncredited design; rare inscribed ed.) (as interesting was this McClelland & Stewart 1965 pb ed.; cover: Jane Brook & … Continue reading →

(1972 McClelland & Stewart 4th printing of this popular book; the attractive cover design was done by Bob Teringo) (the very rare VHS of the recommended movie adaptation starring Harold and Maude‘s Bud Cort in 1980 the 2nd largest grossing … Continue reading →

(Harcourt, Brace, Jovanovich, 1972 dj with rare inscription by McLuhan; jacket design: Ken Braren) (left: the popular 1967 Bantam pb, co-ordinated by Jerome Agel; right: the 1967 Columbia LP version, co-ordinated by Agel, produced by John Simon; cover: Sandy Speiser, … Continue reading →