The original holograph manuscript of an untitled and apparently unpublished short humorous poem.
ND ( 1910 ). A seven-line poem, written in manuscript in black ink on the recto only of a single sheet of plain quarto (10 1/2 x 8 inch) typing paper. A first - most likely only - draft, hastily written, with four words struck through and a substitute phrase written above it. A humorous poem that describes an attempt by an author to get his book published by the (largely medical and scientific) publishing house Bailliere, Tindall & Cox. They reject it, and, apparently as a last resort, the disgruntled author decides to offer it to Crowley's "Equinox" publishing house. Unusually Crowley, who was generally something of a pedant when it comes to spelling, misspells the name Bailliere, and is uncertain as to whether there was an "e" or "a" in Tindall - having a bet each way, but adding a pencilled "a" and question mark next to the letter "e" in his first use of the word. The poem reads:
So I worked on; at last I sprinted;
A Book was ready to be printed.
Good! I exclaimed. Let Ballière
Tindall + Cox in for a share!
Ballière + Tindall did not mind
And Cox emphatically declined
[So I sent them to The Equinox.
The poem is undated, but his publishing house "The Equinox" only ran from 1909 to the end of 1913, so it must have been written during that period. The presence of a more legible version of the word "sprinted" (pencilled above the original) amd the pencilled "a ?" next to the "e" in "Tindell" suggests that Crowley intended to publish it - he was neatening the manuscript to make sure it could be read by a copyist.
There are a couple of faint brown marks to the page, and few small tears and creases to the edges. Still VG+ condition. Obviously rare, and interesting. Item #67531
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