Typescript copy, [1935x1955], (5 pp.), containing a few corrections in red biro in an unidentified hand, together with an uncorrected carbon copy, of a story entitled, 'The vest'. This work was first recorded in the 'Red notebook', 1934, and published in Yellowjacket magazine in 1939.
A copy of Contemporary poetry and prose, no. 9, (Spring, 1937), including the story 'The holy six' by Dylan Thomas, pp. 18-26; the front cover inscribed by him in ink, "This contains The Holy Six", and the text of the story also including amendments in his hand.
Three loose printed pages from Life and letters today, vol. XVI, no. 7, (Spring, 1937), pp. 65-70, containing the story 'A prospect of the sea' by Dylan Thomas. Eight words in the first paragraph have been marked, in an unidentified hand, for omission.
In the direction of the beginning,
Typescript copy, [1938x1955], (3 pp.), of the short story by Dylan Thomas, 'In the direction of the beginning'.
Script of an untitled short play, [1939x1953], by Dylan Thomas and Daniel Jones, composed on two sides of a single foolscap page. The play is mostly a dialogue between a man and a woman, beginning "By the way, will you marry me?", and written in the hands of both authors, but mostly that of Daniel Jones.
Corrected typescript, [1939x1953], of a short play by Dylan Thomas and Daniel Jones, entitled 'Leak before you leap'.
Ruled exercise book, [1928x1932], with the inital 'D' inscribed on the front cover, containing three stanzas by Dylan Thomas (ff. 1r, 2r, 3r), written neatly in ink in the poet's hand. The poem, consisting of twenty-two lines and beginning 'Oblique epern of paper's cellar-fear', appears to have been previously unpublished and unrecorded.
Autograph pencil draft, [1930x1932], of an untitled limerick by Dylan Thomas about his friend Daniel Jones. Two lines at the beginning of the verse have been crossed out by the author; a selection of rhyming words are noted at the top of the page. 'Bridg[e?]' and 'Brigid' are inscribed in ink on the reverse.
A Refusal to Mourn the Death, by Fire, of a Child in London,
Early pencil draft, dated Nov[ember] [19]44, by Dylan Thomas of the poem 'A Refusal to Mourn the Death, by Fire, of a Child in London', written on the back endpaper and paste-down of a copy of the anthology New Road 1944, ed. A. Comfort and J. Bayliss (London, 1944), containing two of his poems, 'Among those killed in the Dawn Raid was a Man aged One Hundred' and 'The Marriage of a Virgin'. The poem was first published in New Republic, vol. 112, no. 20, (May, 1945), and subsequently in Deaths and entrances (London, 1946). The letters 'Dy' are inscribed beneath the draft, together with a small doodle of a creature. Also included are two typescript copies, [1990x2010], (3 ff.), of 'A Refusal to Mourn the Death, by Fire, of a Child in London', being transcripts of the pencil draft.
One page of lined paper containing early untitled ink drafts, [1953], including words, phrases, and a list of possible verse forms, (recto side only), written by Dylan Thomas whilst composing the unfinished poem 'Elegy' to his father, D. J. Thomas. The work was first published in Encounter, 6/2 (February, 1956).
Undated holograph draft in biro, [1951], of 'Letter to Loren', a letter by Dylan Thomas written in verse, and sent to his friends Lloyd Frankenberg and Loren MacIver on his return to Laugharne following his first American tour. A limited edition of the verse letter was published, with an introduction and notes by Jeff Towns (Swansea, 1993); it also appeared in The London Magazine, and in P. Ferris (ed.), Collected letters (London, 2000). The manuscript appears to be a final draft with few amendments. A doodle in pencil, in an unidentified hand, is drawn on the reverse of the final page.
Two poems from The map of love,
Two typescript poems, [1937]-[1939], which appear to be the earliest known versions of 'We lying by seasand' and 'If my head hurt a hair's foot', by Dylan Thomas, published in The map of love (London, 1939). The title, 'We lying by seasand', is noted in both pencil and ink at the top of the page, with 'Dylan Thomas' inscribed in pencil and ink beneath the poem. The typescript, [1937], contains pencil corrections, with some printers' marks. 'We lying in seasand' was first printed in Poetry Chicago, (1937), and amended for its publication in The year's poetry, (1937), with further minor changes made before it appeared in The map of love. The typescript, [1939], 'If my head hurt a hare's foot', is headed 'Poem', the title under which it was published in Poetry (London), (1939). The poem is signed in ink by the author, he has corrected the word 'joy' in the fifth stanza, and added a note, 'Hope this is in time. DT', at the bottom of the page; '32' is inscribed in pencil in an unidentified hand at the top of the page.
Undated holograph letter, [1926x1928], written in pencil on a lined page torn from an exercise book (recto side only), from Dylan Thomas to Dan[iel Jones], requesting that the latter visits him to collaborate on a review and other work.
Undated holograph letter, [April 1937], by Dylan Thomas to Alban [Levy], written in black ink (recto side only) and sent from Bishopston, in reply to his letter following DT's first radio broadcast, 'Life and the Modern Poet'. DT hopes to visit Cardiff soon and read his new poems to Alban, Mervyn and Stella.
Papers, 1954, relating to the Dylan Thomas commemorative number of Dock Leaves (Spring 1954), comprising manuscript, and mostly typescript copies, some containing corrections and notes for the publishers, of contributions for the journal; letters, 1954, from Louis MacNeice, and Henry Treece (2), addressed to the editor Raymond Garlick; corrected galley proofs (15 pp.); a copy of the journal; and a letter and invoice, 1955, from an American antiquarian book dealer.
Galley proofs, 1953, of 'Poem on his Birthday', possibly for the Borestone Mountain Poetry Awards anthology (Philadelphia, 1953).
Holograph letter, (2 ff.), dated 5 March 1945, by Dylan Thomas to Augustus [John], written in blue ink (ff. 1r, 2r) and sent from New Quay, thanking the latter for his gift and referring to Mary Keene who is staying at New Quay. Also included is a typescript copy, [1950x1970], of the letter; inscribed '511/?I/NPQ/72' and '214' in pencil in unidentified hands at the bottom of the page.
Thirty-four unpublished autograph letters and cards, together with a telegram, 1947-1984, from Caitlin Thomas; among the recipients are Paul Ferris, Daniel Jones (with a draft reply by him), Mervyn Levy, Andrew Sinclair, Stuart Thomas, Ruthven Todd, and Gwen and Vernon Watkins. Also included is a handwritten and typescript copy of a letter, dated 16 December 1953, to George Reavey and Irene Rice Pereira, with a photograph of Caitlin and baby Colm; a typescript copy of a letter, 1954, to David [Higham]; and photocopies of two letters, 1951 and 1962, sent to Helen [McAlpine], held at the University of Texas. Personal matters are mainly discussed in these letters, and Caitlin's life and relationship with Dylan Thomas; several letters are written during the months following her husband's death, and some relate to the trial concerning ownership of the manuscript of 'Under Milk Wood'.
Thomas, Caitlin
Papers, [1965x1969], relating to Ralph Maud's book, Dylan Thomas in print: a bibliographical history (London, 1970), consisting of an undated typescript copy of most of the work, containing manuscript amendments and notes; page proofs set for indexing; a bibliography compiled by Ralph Maud; two letters, 1966 and 1972, from him addressed to Joseph Gold; 'A list of published comment on his [Dylan Thomas'] works'; and other related papers.