The Special Collections and University Archives of Vanderbilt University's Jean and Alexander Heard Library The Peter Taylor Papers (MSS. 435) holds one letter from Sylvia Plath to Taylor's wife, the poet Eleanor Ross Taylor. The letter is held in Series 1: Correspondence, Incoming Correspondence, Box 4, Folder 12: Page - Plath. The handwritten letter is simply dated Friday by Plath, but the postmark on the retained envelope indicates that it was written and sent from London NW1 on Friday 27 January 1961. However, there is a faint, ghostly postmark stamp underneath from a Kensington post office, dated 1 February 1961 (a Wednesday). I wonder if there was a delay in delivering the letter? 9 Princess Street, London NW1 Speaking of postmarks... a short diversion. Did you know that when Plath lived in Primrose Hill -- at both 3 Chalcot Square and 23 Fitzroy Road -- her post office was located at 9 Princess Street ( map )? The current post office is at 91 Regents Park R...

The two lots of Sylvia Plath books being auctioned today by Bloomsbury in England as part of the Bibliophile Sale, Lot 422 and Lot 423 , comprised of eight and seven books respectively. Lot 422 sold today for £550 (roughly $835). Lot 423 sold today for £400 (roughly $607). Here are two images of the books, sent to me by Bloomsbury. I hope it is ok to show them! Lot 422 Lot 423 All links accessed 15 January 2015.

Bloomsbury Auctions is holding a Bibliophile Sale on Thursday 15 January 2015, 11:00am, at Baverstock House, Godalming, Surrey, England. As you might have guessed, there are a couple of Sylvia Plath lots in the auction! Lot no. 422  - Contains 8 books by Sylvia Plath/"Victoria Lucas" [Plath (Sylvia)], "Victoria Lucas". - The Bell Jar Estimate £150–200 1. The Bell Jar , Contemporary Fiction edition, light creasing to head, light rubbing and surface soiling, 1964; 2. The Bell Jar , first Faber edition, staining to front free endpaper, jacket rear panel stained, very light browning to head of spine, creasing to head, 1966, original cloth, dust-jackets, excellent copies; and 6 others by the same, 8vo (8) Updated: 13 January 2015 The six other titles in lot 422 are: 3. The Bell Jar , Harper & Row (hardback with dust wrapper) 4. Crossing the Water , Faber & Faber (hardback with dust wrapper) 5. Winter Trees , Faber & Faber, (hardback with dus...

Praising Sylvia Plath As a student in Smith College, Sylvia Plath published a number of poems and short stories in Seventeen magazine. Slow to start, receiving scores of rejection letters, Plath's words finally landed her in print as a high schooler with an anonymous appearance in November 1949 . Then, a story ("And Summer Will Not Come Again") and a poem ("Ode to a Bitten Plum") August and November 1950, and a story ("Den of Lions") in May 1951. Plath then saw much success between October 1952 and April 1953, practically owning page-space whilst appearing five times in those seven months (Plath did not appear in either November 1952 or February 1953). In that run of months and appearances, Plath's three poems and two stories were "The Perfect Setup (story, October 1952);  "Twelfth Night" (poem, December 1952) ; "Initiation" (story, January 1953); "The Suitcases are Packed Again" (poem, March 1953); and "...