31st March 2014
Press Release
+44 (0)20 7968 4180| Caroline Newton | [email protected]
Unseen Manuscript Poem By First World War Poet
Siegfried Sassoon Offered At Auction
A signed manuscript poem entitled The Dug Out (1918) by eminent First World War poet, Siegfried
Sassoon, will be offered for sale for the first time in Dreweatts & Bloomsbury Auctions’ sale of Modern
Literature on Friday 11th April.
Belonging to British anti-war writer and journalist Henry
Major Tomlinson, the manuscript is offered for sale by his
family. Tomlinson had been an official war correspondent
for the British Army in France, and met Sassoon while the
latter was working as a book reviewer for the British
newspaper, the Daily Herald. They began a lifelong
friendship that lasted until Tomlinson’s death in 1958.
Decorated for bravery on the Western Front, Sassoon‘s
poetry serves as a moving tribute to soldiers in the trenches, and often describes the horror of the situation
in vivid detail. This copy of the poem was written in pencil in August 1918, and later overwritten in ink by
Sassoon who had by then been wounded and invalided for the final time. A later note on the reverse reads:
"Siegfried Sassoon original drafted in pencil - then inked over. (H.C. Tomlinson confirmed)."
The manuscript poem is sold together with three photographs of Sassoon, two of which are signed and
include H.M. Tomlinson and his family. They are estimated to sell for £2,000 – 3,000 [Lot 133]
Also offered for sale by Tomlinson’s family is a signed, first edition, presentation copy of Sassoon’s book of
religious poetry, Sequences (1956). Sassoon converted to Roman Catholicism in 1957, and for some time
before this religion had been a principal theme throughout his work. Despite much of his religious poetry
receiving negative reviews Sequences was praised by many critics. Derek Stanford celebrated the book in his
collection of essays, Books and Bookmen, where he said: "the poems in Sequences constitute some of the
most impressive religious poetry of this century."
31st March 2014
Press Release
The presentation inscription is from Siegfried Sassoon to H.M. Tomlinson and Tomlinson’s daughter Dorothy,
and includes a further presentation inscription below to 'Mum & Dad' in Tomlinson's hand. The autographed
letter, signed from Sassoon to Tomlinson, says: “Your messages always sustain my spirit greatly (hence the
dedication). No one else understands - or anyhow expresses understanding - as you do.” This very personal
book is estimated to sell for £200-300 [Lot 134]
The auction will be held at Dreweatts & Bloomsbury Auctions’ London saleroom in the heart of Mayfair, with
viewing from Monday 7th – Thursday 10th April. The catalogue and details of online bidding with no additional
fee can be found at www.bloomsburyauctions.com.
~Ends~
The Dug-out
Siegfried Sassoon (1886-1967)
Why do you lie with your legs ungainly huddled,
And one arm bent across your sullen, cold,
Exhausted face? It hurts my heart to watch you,
Deep-shadowed from the candle's guttering gold;
And you wonder why I shake you by the shoulder;
Drowsy, you mumble and sigh and turn your head...
You are too young to fall asleep for ever;
And when you sleep you remind me of the dead.
Press Release
31st March 2014
Catalogue
The full catalogue for this auction is available online.
Click here to view a fully illustrated online catalogue.
Click here to view a pdf of the sale catalogue.
For More Information about Dreweatts & Bloomsbury Auctions
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Notes
Dreweatts & Bloomsbury Auctions are a UK 'top 5’ auctioneer of fine art and collectibles. As part of The Stanley Gibbons
Group plc we are the only UK stock-exchange listed firm of auctioneers and occupy the same stable as coin specialists
Baldwin’s, and Fraser’s Autographs. Established in 1759, we have the broadest and most regular calendar of specialist
catalogued sales in the industry, numbering over 150 per annum, and provide vendors and buyers alike access to
market-leading specialist advice in any number of collecting fields. We operate from salerooms in Donnington Priory
(near Newbury), London’s Mayfair, Bristol and Godalming.
Established in 1856, The Stanley Gibbons Group plc is the world’s leading rare stamp and prestige collectibles merchant
with offices in the UK, Hong Kong, Singapore and the Channel Islands.
Holders of the Royal Warrant as philatelists since 1914 and AIM-listed in London, the Group is debt-free and has shown
consistent double-digit EBIT growth through the recent economic downturn in the UK and Europe.