Lillygay, An Anthology of Anonymous Poems

1920, The Vine Press, Steyning. This copy signed by Davidson Taylor to composer Bernard Herrmann

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Printing Details

First edition. Hardback, quarter cloth with paper covered boards, printed titling and design to upper board. Limited to 550 copies, of which this is No 175. 20 × 13.5cm, 78pp [1], spare spine label at rear.

This copy was given by Davidson Taylor to Bernard Herrmann in London in the 1940s. The inscription reads "for Bernard Herrmann, because of what he has taught me about Peter Warlock, Davidson Taylor, London, 1944". Bernard Herrmann was an American composer who, amongst many other works, composed for 'The Mercury Theatre on the Air' radio series, broadcast by CBS in the late 1930s and of which Davidson Taylor was the Executive Producer. This series including Orson Welles' infamous narration of The War of the Worlds, scored by Herrmann.

An anonymous collection of ballads and poetry, which was in fact authored by Victor B Neuburg. After service in the Great War, he moved to Steyning in Sussex and established The Vine Press, producing this volume from his earlier written ballads. In 1923, the British composer Peter Warlock (real name Philip Heseltine) set five of the pieces to music (under the same title, Lillygay).

Neuberg was a close friend of Aleister Crowley and was initiated into his magical Order, the A?A?, taking the name Frater Omnia Vincam. They travelled to North Africa in 1909 where they performed a series of occult rituals based on the Enochian system of Doctor John Dee. On their return, he continued his relationship with Crowley, taking the role in his rituals and dance pieces. Post-war, he wrote "The Poet's Corner" for a Sunday paper, where he published a poem by the then-unknown Dylan Thomas. He died in 1940.

Condition

Fair to good condition. The boards are heavily rubbed and bumped, and the inner binding, whilst remaining secure, is starting to weaken a little. Tanning to the endpapers, the main body of text in good clean condition, with occasional age-toning. The book remains in strong readable condition, but the binding rubbed and with a slight forward lean to the spine.

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