Yeats, William Butler, Irish poet and Nobel laureate (1865-1939). Autograph letter signed ("WB Yeats").

€ 3,200.00

To D. J. O’Donoghue on "The Wanderings of Oisin": "The contents of the book will be in a great part Irish in matter - old legends and such like, mixed with a good many poems on general subjects".

Yeats opens with an apology: "I did not write before as it was not possible to answer your questions without seeing Keegan Paul, who I was to have seen some days ago, however he has been out of town until yesterday, when I saw him". He refers to the publication of a collection of poetry - "Nothing very definite is yet decided. 3/6 as far as I can see, will be the price. Things are still somewhat hazy. Keegan Paul will most likely be my publisher - even that you see is not certain" - before discussing some of the practicalities: "I have had some subscription forms printed. I send some. The 3/6 will not be asked for ‘til the book is out-a month or six weeks hence, if all goes right". Concluding, he demurs:"I hope to see more of your Southwark Club but am somewhat occupied this present evening".

O’Donoghue, a librarian of University College, Dublin, was the compiler of a dictionary of Irish poets. Yeats's first collection of poetry, "The Wanderings of Oisin", was delayed and only published in January 1889, by which time its price had been raised to 5 shillings.