THE BALLAD OF THE OUTER DARK

First edition, first printing. Inscribed by Kathleen Raine. Publisher's original tan cloth with gilt titles to the spine, in the Ceri Richards illustrated dustwrapper. With an introduction by Kathleen Raine. A fine copy, the binding square and firm, the cloth clean, the contents clean and bright throughout. Complete with the original lightly rubbed and creased dustwrapper which has some fading to the spine and a couple of spots to the front panel.

Inscribed by Kathleen Raine in blue ink to the front free endpaper "To Elisabeth & Cecil / from Kathleen / Christmas 1978". The recipients are Raine's close friends the artists Cecil and Elisabeth Collins, with whom she shared a house in Chelsea for many years. Raine wrote a biography of Cecil Collins, 'Cecil Collins: Painter of Paradise', in the same year this title was published. This posthumous collection was selected by Watkins' wife Gwen from the many unpublished poems he left behind.