"A LITTLE APERITIF BETWEEN THE CRISIS & THE CATASTROPHE"

[BETJEMAN, John]. Sir John Piers. By 'Epsilon.'. Mullingar: Westmeath Examiner, [1938]. Slim octavo, original green wrappers; pp. 10. $2000.

First edition of this scarce early Betjeman publication, one of only 50 copies, with corrections to the text in Betjeman's hand.

"'Sir John Piers was merely 50 copies privately printed for circulation among friends'… In a letter to John Hayward, 15 September 1938, Betjeman describes the poem as 'a little aperitif between the crisis & the catastrophe'" (Peterson AA1). All of the copies have corrections in Betjeman's hand on five pages. Taped to the verso of the front wrapper is a note reading in part: "'Epsilon' is the pseudonym used by John Betjeman. The poem was reprinted under his own name in 'New Light for Old Chancels' (1940) and also in his 'Collected Poems' (1950). The ms. corrections in this copy are by the author."

Toning to fragile original wrappers. Early and rare.