Mervyn Peake; Maurice Collis [Foreword] — Poems and Drawings

London, The Keepsake Press, 1965 . First edition. Unbound. An exceptionally scarce trial state of Peake"s intimate combination of poetry and drawing, surviving from a handful of rejected sheets. A complete set of eight loose leaves from the pre-publication trial printing, never sewn or bound; without wrappers or xerox cover. A notably scarce trial printing of Mervyn Peake"s Poems and Drawings, preceding or prepared in connection with the first published edition of 1965. This copy corresponds to the distinct trial state recorded in Peake in Print: one of a few sets of originally rejected sheets, printed on heavier paper than the published edition.  The regular edition was hand-set and printed by Fabian Peake, Phyllida Barlow and Roy Lewis at the Keepsake Press in an edition of only 150 copies. This issue was instead stapled and had Peake"s grotesque animal-head design silkscreened in grey on fawn board, with the title and author"s name printed in red. Containing four poems printed in black, accompanied by five drawings by Peake, and a foreword by Maurice Collis. Collated, complete.  Mervyn Peake (1911-1968) was a British writer, poet and artist, now best remembered for the Gormenghast novels but also highly regarded as an illustrator and draughtsman. An exceptionally scarce survival from the production of this work, preserving the complete trial sheets in their original loose state before binding.  Eight loose leaves, comprising the complete trial-printed text and illustrations; without wrappers or xerox cover. Pages bright and clean with one or two very minor marks and spots. Fine . Ill.: Mervyn Peake. Fine .