Death of A Naturalist.

A presentation copy of Heaney’s first regularly published collection.

First edition. 8vo. Original green cloth, dust jacket. London, Faber and Faber.

A presentation copy of Heaney’s first regularly published collection, inscribed by the author in the year of publication with a quotation from James Graham's 'To his Mistress': 'For E.R. Patton - He either fears too much/ or his deserts are small/ who will not put it to the touch/ And stand to lose it all. Seamus Heaney, October 1966'.  

An earlier owner has identified the recipient as Elsie R. Patton, who appears to have grown up as a daughter of the manse in Cloughwater, Co. Antrim, and later taught at Bangor Grammar School (a prize for poetry is given in her memory). She was sister in law of Leopold Richardson, Hon. Professor of Classics at TCD, described on an inserted note as a friend of Heaney’s. 

Heaney’s inscription has been added to, presumably by Patton, to include 'his fate' to read: 'He either fears his fate too much'. On the front pastedown in the same hand is a lengthy note quoting variants of the poem.

A very good copy, spine sunned as usual, some wear to extremities of jacket, and chips to the tips and head and tail of spine. 

Brandes & Durkan A2a.

Stock Code: 222539