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Commonplace book of Phyllis Playter, begun [?1937] but which may contain inserts dating from the 1960s or 1970s. The book contains copied selections of poetry and prose, some from Classical sources, and includes an incomplete prose piece by Phyllis Playter entitled 'Winter in Dorchester' (ff. 1-verso), John Cowper Powys's poem 'Y Wyddfa The Tomb' (ff. 13-verso), 'Poem to JCP By Littleton Alfred October 8, 1948' (ff. 21 verso-22), and poems - one entitled 'Early Spring: New York' - by Gamel Woolsey (ff. 26 verso-27 verso, 28 verso), together with 'Pais Dinogad' (reputedly dating from the 7th century AD) and verses entitled 'Hen Benillion', with English translations (ff. 44 verso - 46). There are also diary entries made by Phyllis Playter for the inclusive dates 4 - 6 January 1937 (ff. 4-5), 'J's List of the attitude of the members of his family to "Our Maker"' (followed by the religious views of John Cowper Powys's siblings (ff. 50 verso-52 verso)), and a bibliography of John Cowper Powys's works (ff. 54-verso). Originally loose in the volume, now inserted at the front, are copies of Rainer Maria Rilke's poem 'The Bowl of Roses' and of George Barker's 'Some Confusions' in Phyllis Playter's hand, with some accompanying notes, along with a fragment of an envelope, postmark 2 July 1959, addressed to John Cowper Powys at Blaenau Ffestiniog, with rough memoranda on the back in Phyllis Playter's hand. Also originally loose in the volume are press cuttings, including poetry (now inserted at f. 18) and an envelope containing copied extracts of poetry, a birthday card made out of very thin paper and a stencil-like paper design, a stitched card depicting a cross in an embossed frame, and cut-out pictures (now inserted at f. 39). Remains of dried flowers are inserted between ff. 7 verso and 8 and between ff. 48 verso and 49, and a feather between ff. 19 verso and 20. Ff. 2, 6 verso-7, 12, 14-17 verso, 18 verso-19, 20 verso, 22 verso, 25 verso, 28, 30, 33, 38 verso, 40, 44, 48 verso, 50, 53 verso, 55, 56-verso, 57 verso, and 61 verso are blank.

Photocopies of sixty letters, 1948-1952, 1954, from John Cowper Powys to the poet Huw Menai (Huw Owen Williams), including two letters, 1952, dictated by John Cowper Powys to Phyllis Playter. The letters include references to works in progress, health matters, house-hunting in Blaenau Ffestiniog, and family news, including the death of Phyllis Playter's mother in 1953 and of Powys's son Littleton Alfred in 1954. Enclosed with one letter is a photocopy of a letter of invitation to an official lunch from the Mayor of Merthyr Tydfil to Huw Menai (f. 111). Some of the letters are illustrated with Powys's ink drawings, which include caricatures of himself and of Huw Menai, the latter sometimes depicted as a sea-serpent. Together with four poems by Huw Menai, one of which (dated 23rd February 1956) is dedicated to John Cowper Powys and includes notes on the poem.

Typescript, with some manuscript amendments, 1978, together with galley proofs and related notes [1977]x1979, pertaining to the book The hollowed-out elder stalk : John Cowper Powys as poet (London, 1979).