Add MS 88998/2/63

22 communications received from Ray Seaford, Paul Selby, and Robert Sheppard.

• (1). Seaford, Ray. [Bedfont, Middlesex], 20 February 2000. Autograph letter (1 sheet) enclosing photocopy cartoon (1 sheet). With envelope. 'Most people find Claude He Was either very boring or irritating, or both, but that is exactly the point - that evening mother and I spent with him was monumentally boring and irritating.'
• (2). Seaford, Ray. [Bedfont], March 2000. Autograph letter (1 sheet), enclosing 'a couple of my '81 collages that haven't seen the light of day for years' (the two collages are cartoons with humorous text beneath), and a further image entitled 'His Last Evening' (also 1981). Each image is mounted on cardboard and sealed in transparent cover. With envelope.
• (3). Selby, Paul. Buckfastleigh, 4 February 1973. Typed letter (3 sheets), with envelope (addressed to Harwood in Boston, Mass.). Comments on Harwood, 'The Long Black Veil'.
• (4). Sheppard, Robert. University of East Anglia, August 1979 (date added by Harwood in pencil). Undated typed letter (7 sheets) incorporating three typed poems. (Unrelated material on some versos.)
• (5). Sheppard, Robert. Norwich, 26 February 1981. Typed letter (4 sheets). Letter discusses the rise of post-modernist critique ('we now live in a time when for the first time criticism comes first') and also Cambridge poets. There are a number of remarks (pencil) by Harwood in the letter margins. Letter refers to a review by Harwood of Elaine Randell.
• (6). Sheppard, Robert. Norwich, 16 March 1981. Typed letter (4 sheets), with envelope. Continued remarks on 'criticism is coming first'.
• (7). Sheppard, Robert. Norwich, 30 June and 1 July 1982. Typed letter (5 sheets), with envelope. Letter refers to Harwood's request of Sheppard that he become his literary executor. Further discussion of Sheppard's thesis (on Harwood and others). Occasional notes (pencil) by Harwood in the letter margins.
• (8). Sheppard, Robert. London (Manchester postmark), 30 August, 1983. Typed letter (1 sheet), with envelope (addressed to Harwood in Bolinas, California). Refers to Rock Drill 4 (ed. Bailey and Sheppard, and including poems by Harwood). 'You mention [John] Ash's article in your letter, and his implicit criticisms of your work. Perhaps I can attempt to explain.' Letter includes Sheppard's initial thoughts on an approach to compiling a 'Selected Poems' by Harwood.
• (9). Sheppard, Robert. London, 13 September 1985. Typed letter (1 sheet) enclosing typed poem 'The Hungry Years' dedicated to Harwood (6 sheets).
• (10). Sheppard, Robert. London, 17 January 1994 (postmark). Autograph letter (1 sheet), with envelope.
• (11). Sheppard, Robert. Germany, [c 2000]. Undated autograph postcard (Marlene Dietrich) with faint postmark.
• (12). Sheppard, Robert. Amsterdam, 13 July 2000 (postmark). Undated autograph postcard.
• (13). Sheppard, Robert. Barcelona, 11 August 2001 (postmark). Undated autograph postcard.
• (14). Sheppard, Robert. Liverpool, 9 April 2002. Typed letter (3 sheets). 'The question of writers working against their "voice" (that stupid notion of stylistic consistency) or against the grain of their creativity is something I've been considering (in an idle Easter-holiday way).'
• (15). Sheppard, Robert. Liverpool, 21 January 2007. Typed letter (1 sheet). Working 'full steam ahead' on the Salt Companion to Lee Harwood (Salt Publishing, 2007) - three related questions.
• (16). Sheppard, Robert. Flyer (1 sheet) for Professor Robert Sheppard Inaugural Lecture, Edge Hill University, 13 March 2007.
• (17). Sheppard, Robert. 20 March 2007. Typed letter (1 sheet). Letter originally enclosing 'the latest version of the bibliography' (Salt Companion). There was 'a big crowd' for the Inaugural Lecture, including Allen Fisher, Peter Barry and Tim Woods.
• (18). Sheppard, Robert. [Liverpool, c 2007]. Undated spoof document ('The Last Will and Testament of Wayne Pratt, esq.') - see Sheppard, Complete Twentieth Century Blues (Salt Publishing, 2008). Typed document (2 sheets), with envelope (illegible postmark).
• (19). Sheppard, Robert, and Farrell, Patricia. [Liverpool, December 2007]. Bespoke Christmas/New Year card (1 sheet) comprising photographic image by Farrell and poem by Sheppard ('The red metronome on Letná hill').
• (20). Sheppard, Robert, and Farrell, Patricia. [Liverpool, December 2008]. Bespoke Christmas/New Year card (1 sheet) comprising photographic image by Farrell and poem by Sheppard ('The City of Culture Poem').
• (21). Sheppard, Robert. [Liverpool, 6 June 2012 - postmark]. Undated autograph postcard (Rembrandt). 'Just a quick note to say that I'm reading at The Blue Bus (The Lamb!) on 19 June'.
• (22). Sheppard, Robert. [Liverpool, 8 October 2013 - postmark]. Autograph letter (1 sheet, headed 'Mouvement Dada'), with envelope. News of various readings, including a Bob Cobbing related exhibition (organised by William Cobbing, grandson).