GRAVES ROBERT: (1895-1985) English Poet. A.L.S., Robert Graves, two pages, 8vo, World's End, Islip, Oxfordshire, n.d. (c.1926/27), to [Oliver] Simon. Graves announces 'It is very good of you to find that advance of royalties for me from Welchmans Hose: & I would gladly give you an option on my next book of verse only I have half-promised it to Heinemann who are doing my Collected Poems in the Spring' although continues 'But if I can produce any imaginative work of a character worthy of your admirable printing I'll send it along to you.' The poet adds that he had no real hope of his correspondent offering anything to Peter Quennell and also congratulates Simon on his forthcoming marriage, commenting 'as Mrs Masefield told Richard Hughes last Tuesday, Married life is great fun. If you knew Mrs. Masefield you would recognise this as one of the most sinister sayings of recent times'. A couple of very light creases, otherwise VG €125-190

Oliver Simon was one of the founders of the Fleuron Society and edited several volumes of The Fleuron, a British journal of typography which had published Welchmans Hose in 1925.

Peter Quennell (1905-1993) English Biographer, Literary Historian, Editor, Essayist, Poet & Critic.

John Masefield (1878-1967) English Poet and Writer, Poet Laureate 1930-67. Masefield had met his future wife, Constance de la Cherois Crommelin, when he was 23 and she was 35. A mathematics teacher, educated in Classics and English Literature, she proved a good match for the poet despite their age difference.

Richard Hughes (1900-1976) British Writer of Poems, Short Stories, Novels & Plays.