Folded page (4 pp.) from an exercise book containing an early untitled and unpublished pencil draft, [1925x1929], by Dylan Thomas of a short story which opens "Monseiur [sic] Didot's menagerie reached the little town of Artois early in the summer morning some years ago".
Pencil draft statement of intent, [c. 1928], in Dylan Thomas's hand, headed "Introduction" and written on both sides of a single ruled page from an exercise book. The piece begins, "It is unfortunate that the younger an artist is the less he is credited with being an artist...", and was possibly intended for the journal 'The Era' or a similar project.
Pocket book with black covers containing notes by Dylan Thomas, [1951x1953], for a radio feature on the South Bank exhibition, together with a list headed "Possibilities for the observer", observations on Persia, and a list of published and proposed works by him. The notebook may have accompanied Dylan Thomas during his third trip to America as it contains notes and contacts relating to the visit, some in the hand of Liz Reitell, in the back of the volume.
Untitled typescript copy, [?1963], (4 pp.), of the beginning of 'Prologue to an adventure', published in Wales, no. 1, (1937), containing ink corrections in an unidentified hand; together with a letter, 1963, from Stuart Thomas to David Higham explaining that this is a copy of a manuscript found behind the drawer of the writing desk at the Boat House.
Manuscript, (11 pp.), of the first and only issue of 'The Era: a literary journal issued six times a year', vol. I, (January and February, [c. 1928]). An additional contents list is inserted between the folded second and third pages. Most is written in the hand of Daniel Jones; the signature of his co-editor, Dylan Thomas, appears four times. The Foreword by Jenkyn D. Jones, is signed by him; D. J. Thomas is also listed amongst the contributors. Dylan Thomas refers to his father and sister, Nancy, in his Editor's Notes.
Four separate pages of ink and pencil drawings and doodles, [1934x1953], by Dylan Thomas, including an early self-portrait; together with an autograph list by Liz Reitell of their New York drawings.
A printed double page chart, [1936x1945], entitled 'Qualities: the new confessions book', from an edition of The week-end book. Dylan and Caitlin Thomas have scored themselves and each other on various personality traits and physical attributes listed at the top of the page. Also included is a copy of The week-end book (London, 1931), containing brief notes in an unidentified hand, possibly that of Daniel Jones (p. 509).
Photocopy, [1990x2009], (3 pp.), of a letter, dated 19 November 1953, from John Berryman to Vernon Watkins, giving an account of the death of Dylan Thomas.
Early pencil draft, [1939], by Dylan Thomas of 'The House Maid's Poem', later published as 'Paper and sticks' in Seven (Autumn, 1939), and Deaths and entrances (London, 1946). The poem is written on the reverse of a fragment of a letter, dated 13 July [19]39, to Dylan Thomas by an unidentified author.
Holograph letter, dated 23 June 1946, by Dylan Thomas to Kay Dick, sent from Oxford, in which he accepts an offer to compile an Alphabet of Literary Prejudice for The Windmill. The letter has been pasted in the front of a copy of the Collected poems (London, 1953), a gift to the recipient of the letter from Kathleen [Farrell], Christmas 1953.
Holograph letter, dated 26 August 1948, by Dylan Thomas to Elisabeth [Lutyens], written in black ink and sent from Witney, discussing his work and poverty. The author has inscribed the word 'dirt', with an arrow pointing to a dark smudge on the paper, at the bottom of the letter (f. 1v).
Holograph letter, dated 28 May [19]51, by Dylan Thomas to D.[onald] R. Milner of the Times Educational Supplement, written in blue ink on blue paper (recto side only) and sent from Laugharne, declining an invitation 'to write a short survey on Wales'.
Holograph letter, 15 July 1953, by Dylan Thomas to Elizabeth Reitell, written in blue ink and sent from Laugharne, in which he refers to Under Milk Wood, financial matters, and a proposed opera in collaboration with Stravinsky. The envelope, included with the letter, is inscribed on the reverse by the author, 'from Dylan Thomas'.
Holograph letter, dated 7 January 1938, by Dylan Thomas to Keidrych [Rhys], sent from Blashford, in which he informs KR that Augustus John is trying to contact him regarding a portrait, expresses his own frustration at KR and the publication of Wales magazine, and enquires if KR is compiling a bibliography of his (DT) work.
Holograph letter, dated 31 December 1941, by Dylan Thomas to his parents D. J. and Florence Thomas, written in black ink on lined paper (ff. 1r-3r) and sent from Chiswick, thanking them for the Christmas presents; writing from London, he refers to the time spent in Oxford with Alan and Margaret Taylor over the Christmas holiday, the urgency to find somewhere for Caitlin and Llewelyn to stay near the capital, his recent work on short information films and a radio script, a visit from Vernon Watkins, and a poem published in Lilliput. The envelope is postmarked January 1942.
Bound typescript (photocopy), [1965x1968], of a paper by B. W. Murphy, entitled 'Creation and destruction. Notes on Dylan Thomas'; together with an offprint of an article based on this work published in the British Journal of Medical Psychology, 41, (1968), pp. 149-167; three related letters, 1964-1965, from the author to Vernon Watkins; and an undated typescript copy of an unsigned letter by Dylan Thomas to Marguerite Caetani.
Undated typescript, [?1966], (16 pp.), with autograph amendments, entitled 'The Parton Street poets' by Rosalind Wade, which includes references to Dylan Thomas; together with three letters, 1966, two from the author to Derek [Stanford], and another from John M. Bunting to Rosalind Wade, regarding a proposed book on the poets.
Typescript copy, [1991], of '"But he's nice", a play on the theme of Dylan Thomas' by David Wilson and Mervyn Levy, including a photocopy of a letter, 1991, from Levy to Wilson, and 'Swansea 1925. A remembrance by Mervyn Levy'. A later version of this play, 'Spitting into the sky', by David Wilson, in collaboration with Anne Aylor, was performed at the Dylan Thomas Festival, Swansea, in 2005. Also included is a cutting of Mervyn Levy's recollections of Dylan Thomas entitled 'A womb with a view', published in John O'London's Weekly, November 1962.
The notebooks of Dylan Thomas,
Papers, [1966x1967], relating to The notebooks of Dylan Thomas, ed. Ralph Maud (New York, 1967), including a typescript copy of the work and galley proofs, both containing autograph corrections and amendments.