D.H. Lawrence Approves the Prospectus for His Privately Printed Book, “Paintings of D. H. Lawrence”

This was formerly owned by journalist Virginia Travers, mother of Mary Travers of Peter, Paul, & Mary fame

D.H. Lawrence is regarded as one of the most influential writers of the 20th century. He published many novels and poetry volumes during his lifetime, including “Sons and Lovers” and “Women in Love”, but is best known for his infamous “Lady Chatterley’s Lover”. That graphic and highly sexual novel was published in Italy in 1928, but was banned in England until 1960 and the United States until 1959. Amidst the hubbub of Lady Chatterly coming out, Lawrence turned his attention to painting, which had always been an interest of his. It became one of his main forms of expression in the years before his death in 1930.

In late 1928 he determined to go public with his paintings and began working on a book illustrating them. His book,“Paintings of D. H. Lawrence”, was published by Mandrake Press in early 1929 in a limited edition of 500. In June of that year, a London art gallery opened an exhibition of Lawrence’s paintings. Almost 13,000 people came to the exhibition, and it was a popular success. But again Lawrence had scandalized society and the media, as most of the paintings showed nude men and women embracing or otherwise communing with themselves and one another in Arcadian landscapes of an abstract character.

Percy Reginald (Inky) Stephensen was an Australian writer, editor and publisher who had gone to university at Oxford. After graduating with honors in 1927, Stephensen joined Jack Lindsay and managed the Fanfrolico Press at Bloomsbury, London. He then devoted his energies to literary and fine press publishing, issuing about twenty titles in 1927-29; all lavishly printed and illustrated limited editions. After meeting D. H. Lawrence in December 1928, Stephensen established the Mandrake Press to publish Lawrence’s controversial paintings. As a champion of Lawrence, he took part in a spirited anti-censorship crusade, writing satirical pamphlets and arranging with Lawrence to produce a secret English edition of ‘Lady Chatterley’s Lover’.

Autograph letter signed, Bandol, Provence, France, March 6, 1929, to Stephenson, remarking on the proofs for the prospectus for his art book, and sending him a new painting of swans that he had just painted on March 4. “Dear Stephenson, The first proof of prospectus seems all right to me. Wish the ‘Moses’ had been with it – am so anxious to see if the other pictures come out clearer. ‘The Accident’ is so dim. I have sent you another watercolor today. I forgot to put the title on the back – ’Singing of Swans.’ It’s a good one – do hope it comes out well. We are staying a few days longer here – probably till Saturday. Davies is here for a day or two.” This is our first ever Lawrence letter, and written to his publisher, directly relates to his work and promoting his book.

This letter was formerly owned by journalist Virginia Travers, one of the organizers of the Newspaper Guild. Her daughters, one of whom was Mary Travers of Peter, Paul, & Mary fame, found it in her effects after her death. We obtained it directly from the family, and it has not previously been offered for sale.