RELIQUIAE No 2

The second issue of Reliquiae is now available to order from Corbel Stone Press. Edited by Autumn Richardson & Richard Skelton, this finely designed journal covers the literature of landscape, folklore, ritual and myth. Contents include:

~ Thomas A Clark's collection of poetic aphorisms from the island of Colonsay.
~ Don Domanski's lecture on poetry, sacredness, and 'how each thing holds a mystery'.
~ Two visionary poems of death and darkness from Julia McCarthy.
~ An excerpt from Ronald Johnson's seminal poem of the English landscape, 'The Book of the Green Man'.
~ Peter O'Leary's poetic rendering of two runes from the Kalevala.
~ Three found poems by Autumn Richardson, derived from the journals of Knud Rasmussen.
~ Richard Skelton's interview with his father about life on a Nottinghamshire farm in the 1940s and 1950s.
~ A folkloric and literary survey by Mark Valentine on 'The Last Wolf in England'.
~ A hitherto undocumented ritual performed in rural France, written in French, Occitan and English.
~ Excerpts from the forthcoming Epidote Press book on the writing of Hans Jürgen von der Wense.
~ together with work by Yeats, Edward Thomas, Gerard Manley Hopkins and Gilbert White; and accounts of 'green children', the lore of the oak and more.

My own essay on legends of the last wolf in England surveys all the known claims to be the lonely lupine's final lair. It also traces the origin of the often-repeated statement that wolves died out here in the late 15th century, and finds that is not quite what the source says. And it notes a few examples of English werewolf stories that may be linked to 'last wolf' legends.

NIMROD IS LOST IN ORION AND OSYRIS IN THE DOGGESTARRE - Richard Skelton

For some time I have greatly admired the music and writing of Richard Skelton and Autumn Richardson, who together comprise Corbel Stone Press. They produce rare compositions and publications, works of austere beauty, with delicate attention to detail and a fine sense of form and of space. Drawing on time dwelt in landscapes they study and inhabit with care, their work is infused by melancholy and loss: but it also makes an affirmation in the way it records and memorialises the things we have lost.

The latest project from Richard Skelton, available now for pre-order and to be released in early October, is Nimrod is Lost In Orion and Osyris in the Doggestarre, an album and book inspired in part by the prose of Sir Thomas Browne, some of the most elaborate and arcane in the English language (Arthur Machen, amongst others, was a great appreciator of his work).

Here is part of the description by the Press:

"Richard Skelton's first solo album in two years is preoccupied with 'the great volume of nature', its delicacy and violence, light and dark, solace and psychological burden. The music hovers between the empyreal and the subterranean, and - framed by the accompanying book of texts, art and photography - offers what Skelton describes as a 'picture of a wood through which slanting light dimly traces other forms'."


Mark Valentine

THE PRIVATE LIFE OF BOOKS - Henry Wessells

'In musty blackness above old stables,
Forgotten shelves in crowded, disused rooms
Where a faded rose silk wallpaper blooms ; ...'

THE PRIVATE LIFE OF BOOKS: Six poems by Henry Wessells on reading, memory, books, and the second law of thermodynamics. Photographs by Paul Schütze. Published by Temporay Culture.

A fine meditation on the nature of books and of book collecting and of much else, and a fastidious example of the book-maker's craft, hand-bound and hand-assembled by a kitchen-table publisher, with delicate care and attention to detail.

With eight duotone photographs tipped-in, full of the ancient texture and dimmed light of old books. Text printed on Mohawk Via Vellum Jute. Set in original foundry Centaur types, digitized by the Nonpareil Typefoundry. Design by Jerry Kelly. Hand sewn in heavy card covers, pictorial dust jacket.

An edition of 226 copies presently emerging from the bindery.

'...sleeping gods of old empires await
Some new interpreter to light a fire
Against the slow and irreversible cold.'

The Pallid Lily Press: A Checklist

The Pallid Lily Press: A Checklist
Mark Valentine

With thanks to the Press' publisher and designer, David Cowperthwaite. All pieces by John Gale unless stated.

Remembrance: A Hunt in Masks. Single sheet, ivory paper, illustration by Wilhelm List (‘Votive Offering’, 1900), signed in jade ink to verso, with separate pale cream card stiffener with Celtic interlacing ornament and imprint label. February 1999. Limited to ten numbered copies.

Lilies of Zircon: The Final Letter from Kuusian to Baiirnah. Booklet, 8pp. Grey parchment paper covers, cream imprint label on back cover, enclosed in a white envelope with cream imprint label. October 1999. Limited to 10 numbered copies.

Two Lord Kandra Parodies by John Gale & Mark Valentine: ‘From Pillow to Post’ by John Gale. ‘Untitled’ by Mark Valentine. Booklet, 8pp. Pale yellow parchment paper covers, cream imprint label on back cover, enclosed in a manilla envelope with cream imprint label. February 2000. Limited to 10 numbered copies.

A Rhapsody for the Goddess of Autumn, For Three Female Voices, With Improvised Music on Cithara, Flute and Two Tabla. Yellow parchment paper cover, with two pages, bound in a gold ribbon, and enclosed in a white envelope with cream paper labels, with an autumn leaf attached to top left corner by gold ribbon. November 2001. Limited to 10 numbered copies.

Phulygia. Single sheet. On recto, cream paper pasted on to black card. Title and signature in gold ink. On verso, limitation and publication details in gold ink. Limited to 10 numbered copies. February 2002.

The Unpassing Sorrow of Lady Winter. Booklet, 12pp. Crimson parchment paper covers with pasted illustrated title plate on front recto, paper snowflake pasted to front verso and back recto, gilt decorated title letter on first page of text, enclosed in a golden envelope with white title label, Beardsley illustration and white snowflake to front. Limited to 10 numbered copies. October 2004.

Ashghul: A Tale of Lord Kandra. Booklet, 20pp. Cream paper wrappers with gilt and lilac decorated ornament, magenta inner wrappers, enclosed in a royal blue envelope with silver calligraphic titles and imprint. Limited to 10 numbered copies. March 2006.

Fallen are the Domes of Green Amber. With three interior decorations by Margaret Russell. Booklet, 20pp.Transparent paper wrappers, green card boards, bound with light brown ribbon. Limited to 10 numbered copies. October 2008. [There exists an earlier version, not issued, with a different cover, dated Christmas 2005].

The Votaries of Autumn. Booklet, 12pp. Scarlet paper wrappers bound with bright yellow ribbon, enclosed in a cream envelope with decorative silver and black title plate to front, and cream imprint label on flap. Limited to 10 numbered copies. Samain [ie, November] 2008

The House of Silent Ravens. Booklet, 20pp. White card illustrated covers. Together with The House of Silent Ravens: Discarded Plumage. Booklet, 12pp. The two held together by black ribbon bow with loosely inserted black feather. Limited to 10 numbered copies. October 2011.

Crimson Altar Press: A Checklist

Crimson Altar Press: A Checklist

(Crimson Altar Press is the Liverpool small press of Jeffrey Dempsey. With thanks to David Cowperthwaite for assistance in compiling the checklist).

The Bells Beneath the House by John Gale. [A narrative poem]. A4 booklet, mimeo. 1982.

Darkness Comes edited by Jeff Dempsey. [An anthology]. A4 booklet, mimeo. 1983.

When Shadows Creep edited by Jeff Dempsey. [An anthology]. A4 booklet, mimeo. 1984.

Hearts of Darkness edited by Nic [John] Howard. [A poetry anthology]. A5 booklet, mimeo. Editor’s Note by Nic [John] Howard. Artwork by C.P. Langeveld. 1984.

The Angry Dead by Mary Ann Allen. [Ten stories of Jane Bradshawe, church restorer and psychic investigator]. Introduction by Rosemary Pardoe. Artwork by Colin P. Langeveld. A5 booklet. Card covers. 1986.

14 Bellchamber Tower by Mark Valentine. [Three stories of Ralph Tyler, occult detective]. Front cover and contents page artwork by Dallas C. Goffin. Other artwork by Stella Hender. A5 booklet. Card covers. 1987.

The Living & the Dead by David G. Rowlands. [Six stories and a fragment about Mr Batchel, clergyman and sleuth of the supernatural]. Preface by David G. Rowlands. Afterword by Mary Ann Allen. Front cover and interior artwork by Alan Hunter. Back cover artwork by Nick Gadsby. A5 booklet. Card covers. 1991.

House of Moonlight: A Checklist by John Howard

House of Moonlight: A Checklist by John Howard

"I founded House of Moonlight one Saturday morning in May 1981. At least that’s how I remember it. (To begin with, House of Moonlight was called House of Moonlight Press, but the “Press” has long since vanished along the way.) I named House of Moonlight after what was, and still is, one of my favourite stories: the novella “The House of Moonlight” by the American writer August Derleth. I had started reading many small-press poetry magazines and collections, and decided that I could have a go as well. I also needed a logo. I knocked one out myself. It looked like it. Later, the noted horror artist Dave Carson produced a vastly superior one, which has symbolised House of Moonlight’s identity ever since"

Booklets

The Farthest Edges Of Day. 13 poems by Nic (John) Howard, 1981
Other Places, Other Times. 14 poems by John Francis Haines, 1981
Recollections Before Dawn. Anthology of 13 poems edited by Nic (John) Howard, 1981
Shadows On The Land. Anthology of 11 poems edited by Nic (John) Howard, 1981
Vision To The Dark. An Adventure. Long poem by Nic (John) Howard, 1986
Sister Wisdom: The Women Tell Their Stories. Series of 12 poems by Nic (John) Howard, 1987
Vision Of The City: A Transfiguration. 3 long poems by Nic (John) Howard, 1987

House of Moonlight Poetry Leaflets

1 Blueprint For A Personality by John Howard, 1989
2 Blueprints: Relationship Metaphors by John Howard, 1989
3 Spacewain by John Francis Haines, 1989
4 A Friend In Need by Steve Sneyd, 1989
5 Dreaming America by John Howard, 1989
6 Shards Of A Shatterproof Life by R S Phillips, 1989
7 Bitch Love by Jo Delfgou, 1989
8 Running For Cover by Paul Inman, 1990
9 Winter Love by John Howard, 1990
10 It Is Cold In The High Mosses by Steve Sneyd, 1990
11 Cities Of Wails by Geoff Stevens, 1992
12 After The Android Wars by John Francis Haines, 1992
13 Home By The Sea by William H Conklin, 1992
14 Winter Ghost by William H Conklin, 1992
15 Leaves Of An Autumn Past by Linda da Silva, 1993
16 “And Be A Part Of Night Itself...” by Martin Randall, 1993

Other Publications

Published by Skate Press (Chuck Connor) as being in association with House of Moonlight Press:
On The Hill: An Autumn Drama Long dramatic poem by Nic (John) Howard, 1981
Resurrection Seasons The above, with the addition of two more long dramatic poems by Nic (John) Howard, 1984

Caermaen Books: A Checklist

CAERMAEN BOOKS - A Preliminary Checklist by Mark Valentine

Arthur Machen – Apostle of Wonder edited by Mark Valentine and Roger Dobson. Booklet. 62pp. Limited to 250 copies. 1985.

Arthur Machen – Artist & Mystic edited by Mark Valentine and Roger Dobson. Booklet. Limited to 300 copies. 1986.

Taverns and Temples: A Guide to Some London Haunts of Arthur Machen by Mark Valentine and Roger Dobson. Pamphlet, 4pp. 1986.

Dreams and Visions: A Brief Journey Into the Remarkable Imagination of Arthur Machen. As Recorded by Morchard Bishop. Booklet. 1987. [A chapter from the unpublished memoir The Table Talk of Arthur Machen by Morchard Bishop].

The Town of A Magic Dream – Arthur Machen in Whitby edited by Richard Dalby. Booklet. 1987.

Machenstruck: A Choice Compendium of Tributes to the Apostle of Wonder as selected by The Society of Young Men in Spectacles. Booklet. 1988. [Includes a tribute by Michael Powell here published for the first time.]

Aklo, A Journal of the Fantastic. Edited by Mark Valentine and Roger Dobson. Booklet. Spring 1988. [First issue].

The Haunter of the Dark by H.P. Lovecraft. Adapted and illustrated by John Coulthart. Folio booklet. 1988.

Arthur Machen: A Short Account of His Life and Work by Aidan Reynolds and William Charlton. Paperback. 1988.

Aklo, A Journal of the Fantastic. Edited by Mark Valentine and Roger Dobson. Booklet. Summer 1989.[Second issue].

Aklo, A Journal of the Fantastic. Edited by Mark Valentine and Roger Dobson. Booklet. Winter 1990-91. [Third issue].

Aklo, A Journal of the Fantastic. Edited by Mark Valentine and Roger Dobson. Booklet. Summer 1991. [Fourth issue].

Aklo, A Journal of the Fantastic. Edited by Mark Valentine and Roger Dobson. Booklet. Autumn 1992. [Fifth issue].

Aklo. [A pin badge.] Yellow background with the word 'Aklo' in stylised letters in black. [Date not known, possibly 1990].

Ornaments in Jade by Arthur Machen. With an introduction by Barry Humphries. Hardback. Published in association with Tartarus Press. 1997.

Aklo edited by Mark Valentine, Roger Dobson and R.B. Russell. Hardback. Published in association with Tartarus Press. 1998. [An anthology].

The Lost Club Journal No 1, Winter 1999/2000. Edited by Roger Dobson and Mark Valentine.

The Lost Club Journal No 2, Winter 2000/2001. Edited by Roger Dobson and Mark Valentine.

The Lost Club Journal No 3, Winter 2003/Spring 2004. Edited by Roger Dobson and Mark Valentine.

Ghost titles

The following Caermaen publications were announced, but never appeared, although typescripts and proofs exist:

The White Road by Ron Weighell [subsequently published by The Ghost Story Press, 1997].

Purefoy & Arthur [a chapter from the memoirs of Hilary Machen. Published in Aklo, edited by Mark Valentine, Roger Dobson and R.B. Russell, 1998]

The Enchanted City – Arthur Machen & London by Nicholas Goodrick-Clarke.

The Lost Club Journal No 4.

(Caermaen Books was the small press established by Roger Dobson and myself from our addresses in Oxford and Northampton - and later elsewhere - to publish books and booklets about Arthur Machen and some of our other literary interests. MV)