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Words Press Records
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Held at: Princeton University Library: Manuscripts Division [Contact Us]
This is a finding aid. It is a description of archival material held at the Princeton University Library: Manuscripts Division. Unless otherwise noted, the materials described below are physically available in their reading room, and not digitally available through the web.
Overview and metadata sections
This collection consists of correspondence, publishing files, administrative records, and ephemera related to Julian Nangle's Words Press, a small British publishing imprint specializing in poetry that was associated with Nangle's bookshop, Words Etcetera. Materials include correspondence, submission and proof copies and other publishing materials related to serials produced by the press, author files, prospectuses and ephemera related to other small publishers, and administrative records.
Correspondence consists of letters exchanged between Julian Nangle and a variety of British and international poets, booksellers, publishers, and other literary and political figures, and many include manuscripts of poems and other enclosures. Materials related to publications produced by Words Press include a set of Words Broadsheets, signed by the authors, as well as submission and proof copies. Many writers contributed to the Words broadsheets, such as Ted Hughes, Frank Lissauer, Nicki Jackowska, Peter Redgrove, Denton Welch and Penelope Shuttle. There are also signed copies of each of the twenty titles published by Words Press as Mir Poets in the late 1980s, including proof copies and some submission copies. Authors associated with Mir Poets include George Mackay Brown, Kathleen Raine, Iain Sinclair, Ruth Fainlight and Alan Sillitoe, and others. There are also copies of the controversial magazine Slightly Soiled made famous for its critique of the Antiquarian Booksellers Association, as well as reviews and correspondence offering congratulations on the publication. Additionally, there are proof copies, photographs, images, and ephemera related to the literary magazine Words Etcetera, as well as a guest book signed by visitors to Nangle's bookshop of the same name. Author files include typescripts for over 30 poems by Anthony Naumann, as well as materials related to Martin Booth, Hugo Manning, David Gascoyne, Leonard Clark, and Christopher Sawyer-Laucanno.
Correspondence remains in original order. Where no original order was discernible, other materials were arranged by type/genre.
Purchased from Kenny's Bookshop and Art Galleries in 2020 (AM 2021-5).
For preservation reasons, original analog and digital media may not be read or played back in the reading room. Users may visually inspect physical media but may not remove it from its enclosure. All analog audiovisual media must be digitized to preservation-quality standards prior to use. Audiovisual digitization requests are processed by an approved third-party vendor. Please note, the transfer time required can be as little as several weeks to as long as several months and there may be financial costs associated with the process. Requests should be directed through the Ask Us Form.
Baseline processing of this collection was completed by Kelly Bolding in September 2021. Finding aid written by Kelly Bolding in September 2021, incorporating some description written by the dealer.
No materials were separated from the collection during 2021 processing aside from routine appraisal practices.
People
Organization
Subject
- Publisher
- Manuscripts Division
- Finding Aid Author
- Kelly Bolding
- Finding Aid Date
- 2021
- Sponsor
- Baseline processing of this collection was sponsored by the Delafield fund.
- Access Restrictions
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Open for research.
- Use Restrictions
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Single copies may be made for research purposes. To cite or publish quotations that fall within Fair Use, as defined under U. S. Copyright Law, no permission is required. For instances beyond Fair Use, it is the responsibility of the researcher to determine whether any permissions related to copyright, privacy, publicity, or any other rights are necessary for their intended use of the Library's materials, and to obtain all required permissions from any existing rights holders, if they have not already done so. Princeton University Library's Special Collections does not charge any permission or use fees for the publication of images of materials from our collections, nor does it require researchers to obtain its permission for said use. The department does request that its collections be properly cited and images credited. More detailed information can be found on the Copyright, Credit and Citations Guidelines page on our website. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us through the Ask Us! form.
Collection Inventory
Correspondence remains in its original alphabetical order.
Includes correspondence with over 200 authors, poets, and other individuals from the fields of literature, bookselling, business, and politics. Much of the correspondence contains enclosures such as poems.
Physical Description2 boxes
Includes correspondence with Lyman Andrews, Denys Val Baker, Kenneth Baker, Nicholas Baker, George Barker, Julian Barnes, Emily Bearn, John Bell, Asa Benveniste, Anne Beresford, Sir John Betjeman, B. C. Bloomfield, Wilfrid Blunt, Martin Booth, Edgar Bowers, Richard Box, William Boyd, Glynn Boyd Harte, Jaroslav Bradac, Eve Branson, Richard Branson, Andreas Brown, Carter Burden, Jim Burns, Richard Burns, Nigel Burwood, Michael C. Caine, Sebastian Carter, Lucy Cawthron, Douglas Chambers, Jean-Louis Chevalier, Leonard Clarke, Douglas Cleverdon, Alan Clodd, Bob Cobbing, Margie Cohen, Vernon Coleman, Bruton Connors, William Cookson, Guy Cooper, Pierre Couistillas, Robert Cross, Andrew Crozier, Neil Curry, Ivor Cutler, Peter Dale, Michael De-la-Noy, Nick Dennys, Peter Dent, Jane Deverson, Patrick Dickinson, Peter F. Du Sautoy, Anthony Edkins, Royston Ellis, Gavin Eward, Ruth Fainlight, Peter Fallon, James Fergusson, Michael Ffolkes, Evelyn Fieuf-Henri, Michael Ffinch, Peter Finch, Hans Fletcher, Bryan Forbes, Clare Foges, John Fowles, Christina Foyle, Clive Francis, Antonia Fraser, John Fuller, Patrick Garland, Phillida Gili, Allen Ginsberg, Joseph Gold, Giles Gordon, Robert Greacen, Lizze Graves, Richard Perceval Graves, Tomas Graves, William Graves, John Greening, Harry Guest, Thom Gunn, Deirdre Gunnison-Wiseman, Jack Hagstrom, Michael Hamburger, James Hanley, Adrian Harrngton, Lee Harwood, Michael Hastings, Norman Hidden, Vera Hitchcock, Peter Hoida, David Holbrook, Bill Hoffer, Glenn Horowitz, Michael Horowitz, Olwyn Hughes, Patrick Hughes, G. E. Hutchinson, Nick Hughes, Ted Hughes, Elspeth Huxley, H. Montgomery Hyde, Nicki Jackowska, Alan Jackson, Rosie Jackson, Tom Jackson, David Jaffin, Clive James, Peter Jay, and David Jones.
Physical Description1 box
Includes correspondence with P. J. and Kate Kavanagh, Brian Keeble, Harry Kemp, John Kerr, Geoffrey Keynes, Miles Kingston, James Kirkup, Jonathan Kooperstein, Catherine Lambert, Thomas Land, Simon Lawrence, George Lawson, Brendan Lehane, John Lehmann, Oliver Letwin, Grevel Lindop, Frank Lissauer, Raymond Lister, Christopher Logue, David Low, Alexis Lykiard, George MacBeth, Wes Magee, Liza Mann, Chris Miller, Huon Mallalieu, Sheila Markham, John Martin, Trevor McMahon, Edward Mendelson, James Merrill, James Methuen-Campell, Barry Miles, Spike Milligan, Sheena McCall, a folder labeled "Miscellaneous Minor Poets," Adrian Mitchell, Edwin Morgan, Bradford Morrow, Ian Mortimer, Eric Mottram, Paul Muldoon, Anthony Naumann, Dee Odell Foster, William Oxley, Arnold Palmer, Derek Parker, Brian Patten, Tom Paulin, Neil Pearson, Brian Pepper, Kevin Perryman, William Peskett, Paul Peter Piech, Barry Edgar Pilcher, Ann Playfair, Tully Potter, Omar Pound, Alan Powers, John Pudney, Eric Quayle, Christopher Priest, Kevin Raine, Paul Rassam, Peter Redgrove, Jeremy Reed, Ishmael Reed, Christopher Ricks, Robin Robertson, John Rolph, Tom Rosenthal, Anthony Rudolf, Keith Sagar, Clive Sansom, William Sansom, Maurice Saatchi, Tom Scott, Howard Sergeant, William Kean Seymour, Sandra Shevey, Penelope Shuttle, Henry Silcok, Jon Silkin, Alan Sillitoe, Iain Sinclair, Christopher Skelton, Frances Spalding, Jon Stallworthy, Timothy Steele, Bernard Stone, Tom Stoppard, Julian Symons, Tambimuttu, Michael Taylor, Neil Tennant, Paul Theroux, Donald Michael Thomas, Dylan Thomas, Ronald Stewart Thomas, Christopher Tugendhat, Richard Usborne, Jim Vollmar, Harriet Walter, Miriam Waddington, John Ward, Keith Waterhouse, Donald Weeks, Hellmuth Weissenborn, Eric White, George Whitman, Benjamin Whitrow, Whittington Press, Howard Woolmer, Michael York.
Physical Description1 box
Miscellaneous correspondence with a variety of authors and booksellers, including Leo Rutherford, Andrew Samuels, Dr. Manon Williams (on behalf of Prince Charles), Brian Webb, John Stevenson, 10 Downing Street, Judy Welch (relative of Denton Welch), Margaret Drabble, Adrian Gray, Alison Seelye Howard, Julian Kitchener Fellowes, Peter Jolliffe, and Simon Heneage.
Physical Description1 folder
Consists of materials related to periodicals and books published by Words Press, including signed copies of publications, submission and proof copies, poem drafts, correspondence, reviews, publicity materials, and photographs. There are also prospectuses for books and other ephemera related to both Words Press and other publishers, as well as some administrative files.
Physical Description3 boxes
Includes proof copies of the literary magazine published by Words Press, as well as some images, drawings, photographs, letters, a stamp, and other associated ephemera.
Physical Description4 folders
Inclues publisher's file copies of each of the Words Broadsheets Nos. 1-30 (each marked No. 1). Each of these copies are signed by the respective authors, with the exception of Nos 9-16, which contain the work of Denton Welch, which was published posthumously. These copies are signed by his biographer Jean-Louis Chevalier. Included also are a complete set of the publisher's working copy (Nos. 1-20 are are No. 99, Nos. 21-30 are marked No. 200), as well as submission copies from the authors and proof copies of the broadsheets. There are also some related newspaper clippings and reviews.
Physical Description4 folders
Includes multiple copies of 'Slightly Soiled', as well as the proof copy of the highly controversial first issue. There are also letters, mostly from booksellers, and a newspaper review which relate to 'Slightly Soiled.'
Physical Description2 folders
Includes a complete set of the publisher's file copies for Mir Poets Nos. 1-20. Each of the copies are signed by the respective authors. There are also some submission copies from the authors, as well as proof copies. Similar material may be found included with correspondence relating to the author.
Physical Description3 folders
Includes material related to the publication of Bookmark Poems, which was published by Words Press in 2015. There are letters, postcards, the text of the poems included on the bookmarks, pricing lists for the bookmarks, and orders. Also included are 13 copies of the letter sent to bookshops informing them of the launch of Bookmark Poems and included with each letter is the first Bookmark Poem 'Mr. Ironfly' by Brian Patten, each one signed by the poet. Includes a contract and correspondence between Julian Nangle and Jenny Joseph (poet).
Physical Description1 folder
Includes writings of Julian Nangle: number 137-139 of 36 poems by Julian Nangle. (2014) Words Press. Edition of 150 copies; Personal Note by Julian Nangle. (2015) Words Press. Edition of 250 copies; and My Gallery: For Anna by Julian Nangle. (1990). Printed by September Press for friends of Words Press. Edition of 20 copies. Three copies of the broadside are included, as well as a letter from Alan Bultitude of September Press which mentions enclosing the proofs.
Physical Description1 folder
Includes two titles published by Words Press: 'Folklore' by William Barnes. (1996). Words Press. Dorset Series Number 1. 'Dorchester Town Walks' by Alistair Chisholm. (2005). Words Press.
Physical Description1 folder
Consists of prospectuses and other ephemera relating to a variety of small publishers, engravers, and authors, including Celtic Cross Press, Libanus Press, Old School Press, Nonesuch Press, The Old Stile Press, Chilmark Press, Grenfell Press, Paul Nash, Gregynog Press, Five seasons Press, Enitharmon Press, Clearwater Books, Whittington Press, Rampant Lions Press, Merivale Editions, Essex House Press, Fine press Book Fair, Eugrammia Press, Eric Gill, Victor Printing Company, Stingy Artist Editions, Taylor McCall, Ashendene Press, Celandine Press, Peter Koch, Christopher Skelton, Fleece Press, Black Sparrow Press, Kairos Press, Guildford Poets Press, Thomas Hardy, Carcanet, Jonathan Cape, Libanus Press, Derrick Harris, Ian Archie Beck, Babel, and others.
Some include: Prospectus for 'Poems' by Anthony Naumann, Guy Cooper, Julian Nangle. Nine copies of the prospectus are included. Included is a handwritten list of subscribers to the title. Words Press; Prospectus for 'Hellmuth Weissenborn: Painter and Graphic Artist'. (1976) Whittington Press; Prospectus for 'The Song of Songs' by Keith Bosley. (1976) Whittington Press; Prospectus for The Rime of the Ancient Mariner by Samuel Taylor Coleridge. (1964) Chilmark Press; Prospectus for 'The Bowmen of Shu' by Guy Davenport. (1983). Grenfell Press; Prospectus for 'The Silver Swaine' by Coleman Dowell. (1983). Grenfell Press; Prospectus for 'Of a Feather' by Colin See-Payton. (2008); Gregynog Press; Prospectus for 'Jonah Jonah: An Artist's Life in Wales (2008). Gregynog Press; Prospectus for 'Traditional Ditty' by Kevin Perryman (2007). Bonnefant Press; Prospectus for Stilll Life by Kevin Perryman. (2008). Bonnefant Press Words Press / Tragara Press prospectuses; Prospectus relating to an edition of 'On the Western Circuit' by Thomas Hardy which was published by Words Press in 2000. The prospectus mention that "Words Press have commissioned Tragara Press to print 125 copies…" 20 copies of the prospectus are included. Included also is a letter from Alan Anderson of Tragara Press which refers to the prospectus for 'On The Western Circuit' by Thomas Hardy.
Physical Description4 folders
1 folder
1 box
Consists of files on several individual authors whose work Words Press published. Materials include typescripts, poems, correspondence, copies of publications, clippings, and other ephemera.
Physical Description7 folders
As well as correspondence from the author, the texts of a number of poems submitted to Julian Nangle from Booth are included. There are multiple copies of 'Hands Twinning Grasses' by Martin Booth which was published by Words Press.
Twelve signed letters (10 typed, 2 handwritten) and two typed postcards. A copy of a typed letter from Julian Nangle to Martin Booth (unsigned) is included also.
Pamphlet which contains Christmas greetings for 1979 with the text of the poem 'Winter's Night: Knotting' by Martin Booth.
Typed text of a collection of two poems known as the The Raglanatantra Duet which includes 'The Alienation' and 'The Ecstasy' by Martin Booth. Written in pen on the first page are the words "Not Using". Five A4 pages with some tears to the top left hand corner which does not affect the text.
Two copies of poem 'The Salamanders' and 'Seascape with Gleaners' by Martin Booth. Four pages x 2.
Typed text of poem 'Fragments from Timaroc's Journey' by Martin Booth. Two pages.
Hand's Twinning Grasses by Martin Booth. (1974). Words Press. Edition of 150 copies. This is number 1.
Physical Description1 folder
Every Voice by Leonard Clarke, illustrated by Matthew Wright. (1971) Words Press. Edition limited to 100 copies. This is number 1. Signed by the author and illustrator. Very good condition. Second unnumbered copy.
Physical Description1 folder
The Unconscious Spirituality Catastrophe by Jean Pierre Jouve (translated by David Gascoyne). Proof copy with corrections and notes in blue pen. Another copy with corrections in blue pen is also included.
The Unconscious Spirituality Catastrophe by Jean Pierre Jouve (translated by David Gascoyne). Words Press. Edition of 400 copies. This is number 74. Signed by the author.
The Unconscious Spirituality Catastrophe by Jean Pierre Jouve (translated by David Gascoyne). Words Press. Edition of 400 copies. This is number 292.
Fifteen A4 sheets of red, marbled paper which were unused as covers for The Unconscious Spirituality Catstrophe.
One letter from Judy Gascoyne (David's wife)which makes reference to an accident David had where he "fell with his supper tray and broke his pelvis".
Physical Description1 folder
Greeting and postcards from Hinchliffe to Julian Nangle with the text of two poems 'Saddleworth Moor' and 'The Poet's Hut' with corrections in black pen.
Physical Description1 folder
Five typed, dated, signed letters. One of the letters makes reference to the poetry of Philip Larkin.
Handwritten poem 'Tread Gently Now' by Hugo Manning. Underneath the text is a typed note which states: "This verse piece was published as a broadsheet by Sceptre Press, Rushden, Northamptonshire in 1974. The holograph was made for Julian and Edith Nangle". Words Booklet No. 2: 'Instead of a Poem' by Hugo Manning. (1975). Words Press. Limited to 300 copies. This is number 1. Signed by the author.
Physical Description1 folder
Typescripts of the poetry of Anthony Naumann, which according to the envelope they were stored in, were sent to Julian Nangle by Robert Cross. It includes the following titles and prose piece: 'Came the Snow' (prose piece), 'Last Dark', 'Shall We', 'Elegy for Mabel Saunders', 'Hallgerda', 'Against a Rainy Day', 'Magnetic Rose', 'Resurrection', 'Ranges', 'Old Woman', 'Is it So Near Now', 'Watch How the Stars Bound', 'The Bud and the Word', 'The Hard Way', 'Shall my First Love', 'Take Over', 'Sometime Soon', 'Big Top', 'Madonna', 'Golden', 'Crone in the Mirror', 'Was This Foretold', 'This Yellow Moon', 'Left Alone', 'Going It Alone', 'Thank God for the Green Again', 'Crow in the Snow', 'The Fall', 'Boys', 'Drizzle', 'Instant Diving', 'Which Way', 'Outing' and 'Sidewalk'. Some of the poems are thought to be unpublished according to Julian Nangle's notes.
Physical Description1 folder
Sixteen letters from Sawyer-Laucanno to Julian Nangle. Personal content which discuss the death of Julian Nangle's daughter Poppy, the Manchester bombings and other personal matters, as well as one letter from Nangle to Sawyer-Laucanno which includes three poems written by Nangle about his daughter's death. Another includes part of a newspaper which prints some of Julian Nangle's poetry.
Physical Description1 folder
Consists of various files on topics related to bookselling, publishers, and other activities in which Julian Nangle was involved.
Physical Description5 folders
A set of the 911 Camelia Street Broadsides published by Jeff Maser (Californian bookseller) whose premises is on 911 Camelia Street, Berkeley.
'Not Quite Janine' by Kent Taylor. (2003) A 911 Camelia Street broadside designed and printed at Occasional Works. Edition of 126 copies.
'Hazard Response' by Tom Clark. (2003) A 911 Camelia Street broadside designed and printed at Occasional Works. Edition of 126 copies.
'The knife' by James Den Boer. (2003) A 911 Camelia Street broadside designed and printed at Occasional Works. Edition of 126 copies.
'What I Did on my Summer Vacation' by Richard Krech. (2003). A 911 Camelia Street broadside designed and printed at Occasional Works. Edition of 126 copies.
'The Quarry' by Duncan McNaughton. (2003). A 911 Camelia Street broadside designed and printed at Occasional Works. Edition of 126 copies.
Physical Description1 folder
Financial statements, email correspondence, letters, and other material relating to Julian Nangle's involvement with Dorchester Direct Aid, which was an organization which gave donations to refugees in the town of Calais in France.
Physical Description1 folder
Four letters, a postcard, two short notes, two greeting cards, an invoice for an order and a print-out of an email. Most of the correspondence is between Simon Lawrence and Julian Nangle. The envelope which contains the items is labelled "Fleece Press Ephemera. Given to me by Simon Lawrence, Sept 30th, 2014."
Physical Description1 folder
Draft copy of the 'Memorial Tribute for Philip Matthew Monahan at Gotham Book Mart Gallery, New York City. April 20, 1990. This contains the text of speeches delivered by Andreas Brown (owner of Gotham Book Mart Gallery), Paul Bartel (filmmaker), Brad Morrow (editor), Dana Gioia (poet), as well as family members and friends.
Physical Description1 folder
A guest book from Words Etcetera Bookshop, which includes signatures, message,s and some poems and other contributions from an array of authors who gave readings in the bookshop, including (in order of appearance in the notebook) Brian Patten, Libby Houston, David Gascoyne, John Pudney, Julian Branston, Ruth Fainlight, Martin Booth, Adrian Henri, Dannie Abse, Elaine Feinstein, Harry Guest, Michael Hamburger, Peter Dale, Michael Horowitz (a letter stapled into the guest book), Leonard Clarke, James Sutherland-Smith, Richard burns, Daniel Livingstone, Anthony Thwaite, Stephen Spender, Frank Lissauer (which includes the text of a poem 'Night's End' on separate A4 sheet of paper with the inscribed message "For Julian from F. 20.X.77"), Peter Redgrove, Ivor Cuttle, Shirley Toulson, David Gascoyne, Ted Hughes, Kathleen Raine, George Barker and Libby Houston.
Physical Description1 folder