John D. Batten — Poems

London, At the Chiswick Press, 1916 . First edition. Paperback. The vanishingly scarce first edition of artist John D. Batten's poetry collection, including a signed letter from the author to fellow poet and artist Cecil French. A very scarce first edition.With a signed letter from the author loosely inserted. Dated 1922, and addressed to poet and art collector Cecil French, in which Batten praises French's poetry in 'Between Sun and Moon', his 1922 collection: 'I have read it thoroughly with a deep sense of the beauty of the poems & admiration for the craftsmanship of the verse&apos. He does suggest a few words that he thinks French should change, and concludes 'I must in all fairness enclose a copy of my own verse - these are not a selection but are very nearly a whole output&apos.A charming collection of verse from John Dickson Batten, an English painter of figures in oils, tempera and fresco and a book illustrator and printmaker. Titles in this collection include 'The Doom of Loki', 'Demeter and Persephone' and 'The Jest&apos. In the publisher's original paper wraps. A touch of edgewear to wrap perimeters, with minor handling marks to wraps. Internally, firmly bound. Pages bright, with light spotting throughout. Very Good . Ill.: None. Very Good .