Stanford, Derek - Muriel Spark 98 works from Stanford's library, including those inscribed by Four works inscribed to Derek Stanford from Muriel Spark, comprising: Turgenev, Ivan Poems in Prose. London: Lindsay Drummond, 1945, inscribed: “For D.S., Prose-poet, M.S. 3-1-50”; Brother Lawrence The Practice of the Presence of God… London: The Epworth Press, [n.d.] Authentic Edition, 16mo, inscribed: “To Derek with love – M. 17.4.56”; Eliot, T.S. The Cultivation of Christmas Trees. London: Faber and Faber, [n.d.] 8vo, original wrappers, “For Derek The joy of Christmas in anticipation, Muriel 18.11.54”; Read, Herbert The Green Child. London: The Grey Walls Press, 1945. 8vo, original cloth, inscribed: “To D.S. who wished for his own Green Child from M.S. who is a Green Child in her Way. 31st March 1953”; [AND] A selection of works inscribed to Stanford, and some to Stanford and Spark, from the authors: Palmer, Herbert The Dragon of Tingalam. London, 1945. 8vo, signed by the author on the half-title and inscribed: “For Derek Stanford & Muriel Spark in admiration for their anthology “Tribute to Wordsworth”; Murry, John Middleton Things to Come. London, 1928. 8vo, signed and dated by the author; Gardiner, Wrey This Living Stone. Essex: Grey Walls Press, 1941. 8vo, inscribed: “For my dear friend Derek, from Charles Wrey Gardiner”; Brooke-Rose, Christine The World a Catechumen. Rome: Botteghe Oscure N. XIX, [n.d.]. 8vo, original wrappers, inscribed: “For Muriel and Derek in sincere friendship, Christine”; [AND] A quantity of books from the library of Derek Stanford, the majority with his annotations and manuscript notes

Footnote: Note: Derek Stanford (1918-2008) collaborated with Muriel Spark on several books during the 1950s, their work tending to focus on the Romantic Poets. Spark introduced Stanford to the talent of Dylan Thomas and Stanford subsequently wrote a book on the poet. The two are also said to have been lovers, having met through the Poetry Society: Stanford organised a protest reading when Spark was ousted from the Society, however when Stanford published his book: "Muriel Spark: A Biographical and Critical Study", Spark's reaction was frosty, writing: "If Mr Stanford had applied to me, I would have advised against this undertaking." The four works inscribed by Muriel Spark, here, date from the 1950s, with the inscriptions conveying love and affection. Several other works in the lot are presented to Derek Stanford by their authors, whilst the remaining books form an exceptional archive of reference works annotated by Stanford.