Stephens, A.G

Component identifier:

Item 71-74

Content Summary:

Chris: Brennan The Bookfellow, Sydney. 1933

Issued in wrappers in an edition of 400 copies. Frontispiece with portraits of Brennan, and facsimile of manuscript inserted in the text. Four copies.

In quarter-leather over the original wrappers. Inserted: Typewritten letter (unsigned) from A.G. Stephens to Shaw Neilson, 2pp, 5th December 1932. Inserted also is Neilson's letter in reply, written at dictation by his sister, Annie McKimm, 12th December 1932, signed "J.S. Neilson".

A.G.S. wanted this note from Neilson probably for insertion in his monograph which he was preparing, and which was advertised to appear in December. The volume was published posthumously. A.G.S. checked and corrected the proofs, but did not live to see the volume published. A copy of A.G's printed "Announcement" is tipped into this copy. He refers to himself as Brennan's "first editor", and that they were intimately associated during 35 years.

The proof sheets with A.G's corrections, together with copy No.1 of the printed book, and copies of relevant correspondence, were offered for sale at auction in London, by Sotheby's Limited, May 11, '64. They were purchased by Maggs Brothers for 20 guineas.

Quarter-leather over the original wrappers. Inserted: Autograph letter from Brennan to A.G.S. The letter is of 2pp, dated by A.G.S. 29th September 1898.

Tipped in are two telegrams from Brennan to A.G.S. both sent from Newport: one dated March 1920, reads simply, "A little yet and - Brennan". The other refers to Brennan's re-writing of certain copy, and that he is taking advantage of a holiday to complete the work.

Full cloth binding over the original wrappers. Inserted: Autograph letter from Brennan to A.G.S. The letter reproduced, in part, upon page 21 of the booklet. The letter, which is of 2pp, continues with discussion of the poetry of Henley, and concludes: "Kindly set me down for an early copy of Quinn. I'll call down and settle when I get a free moment, Yours, C.B."

Tipped in: Leaf from Brereton's pocket diary. A brief note in his very minute writing: "Brennan says the only English verse he was guilty of at school was a burlesque tragedy, dealing with a school incident, in verse modelled upon that of Paradise Lost and Cary's Dante. It was entitled - but not by the author - Harlequin King Kiss-my-arse, or The Hero of the Haunted Dyke. The ms, while going the round, was confiscated but was returned to the author. It was composed with great pains". Dated, 14 August 1903.

Quarter-leather over the original wrappers. Inserted: Autograph note in pencil from Brennan to A.G. Stephens: "To Don Alfredo Stefano. The Symbolist is fired from street to street / past rows of literary agencies / bad critics and the unending big drum beat / by crowds - Oh for a decent cheque / The C.B. / Symbolist Came / and / Left this as / a / Token / of Regard C.B."

Sketched alongside this note is rough drawing of what appears to be a sunflower, with the caption: "Tis but A Diminutive Decayed, Floral Excrescence"

The memo has been dated by A.G.S. "1901". Brennan is here making a parody of his own lines: "The yellow gas is fired from street to street" The reference to "literary agencies" is perhaps a sly poke at A.G.S. who at this time was advertising himself as "Literary Agent" upon the Red Page of the Bulletin. He was also purchasing literary material from various writers, much of which found its way into the pages of the journal.

Also tipped into this book is receipt given by Coral White to A.G. Stephens, for 25/-, being payment for the decorative drawing of "owls" for the Brennan booklet. The "owls" happen, however, to be kookaburras in the drawing.

Names:

Christopher Brennan

Access and use