The Thread and the Path
London: David Nutt (1895). 8vo.
Item #8978
Proof copy, with a few autograph corrections, of the extremely rare first edition of Raffalovich’s last book of poetry. From the library of the poet John Gray, Raffalovich’s lifelong partner. The work contains several poems which defend homosexual love, including ’Hyde Park - November’. Raffalovich met the poet John Gray in his London salon, and he would become his lifelong partner, continuing when Gray became a Roman Catholic priest. In 1905 he followed Gray to Edinburgh and there he financed the building of St Peter's Church in Morningside, where Gray had been appointed rector and where he attended Mass every morning. John Gray was himself one of the most significant poets of the Aesthetic Movement.
Autograph manuscript correction on both wrappers and on p.76. Original publisher’s green wrappers with title printed in red on upper side (slightly cracked on spine), within second wrap printed on thin card with the same design (minor spotting, a little dust soiled), green morocco-backed folding case. Bookplate of John Gray tipped in, bookplate of Barry Humphries on case.
Price: $8,500.00