Few modern Irish writers offer the collector as rich and varied a field as Seamus Heaney. From the modest pamphlets of his early career to beautifully produced signed limited editions, his work can be collected at almost every level.
Heaney’s international reputation was firmly established long before he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1995, but the award confirmed his position among the most important poets of the twentieth century. For collectors, however, the attraction goes beyond literary reputation. Heaney was closely involved with publishers, artists and private presses throughout his career, resulting in an unusually interesting range of first editions, signed books, pamphlets and special publications.
Where to Begin
For someone beginning a Heaney collection, the obvious starting point is with the principal collections of poetry.
Death of a Naturalist, published by Faber and Faber in 1966, was Heaney’s first major collection. It was followed by Door into the Dark in 1969, Wintering Out in 1972 and North in 1975.
These early books established many of the themes that would remain central to his poetry: landscape, memory, family, farming, language and the complicated history of Ireland.
Original first editions of these titles are among the foundations of a serious Heaney collection. As with most modern first editions, the dust jacket is important. A clean first edition in its original jacket will generally be considerably more desirable than a copy from which the jacket has been lost.
The earlier the book, the greater the challenge. Death of a Naturalist is particularly sought after, while Door into the Dark, Wintering Out and North offer opportunities to build a substantial collection of Heaney’s early work.
Before Death of a Naturalist
The collector can go considerably further.
Before the publication of Death of a Naturalist, Heaney’s poetry appeared in small publications and pamphlets. Most famous is Eleven Poems, issued by Festival Publications in Belfast in 1965.
Such early material occupies a different level of collecting from the later Faber books. Small print runs and ephemeral production mean that survival rates can be low, and these publications provide a fascinating record of Heaney before he became internationally known.
For the advanced collector, these early pamphlets and appearances are among the most desirable pieces in a Heaney collection.
Signed Copies
Heaney was a generous signer, and signed examples of many of his books can still be found.
Not all signed copies, however, are equal.
A straightforward signature on the title-page adds interest and desirability, particularly when it appears in a first edition. An inscribed copy can be more important, depending on the recipient and the nature of the inscription.
A book warmly presented to another poet, writer, publisher, artist or close friend may become an association copy of considerable significance. In these cases, the history behind the inscription can matter as much as the signature itself.
Collectors should therefore pay attention not only to whether a book is signed, but to whom it was signed, when it was signed and what Heaney wrote.
A dated inscription from the period of publication can be especially attractive.
Limited Editions
One of the great pleasures of collecting Heaney is the number of special and limited editions produced throughout his career.
Some were issued by Faber and Faber in specially bound, numbered and signed editions, often accompanied by slipcases. Others appeared through smaller presses and in collaboration with artists.
Titles such as Seeing Things, Opened Ground, Beowulf, Electric Light, District and Circle and Human Chain were all produced in special signed issues. These editions were generally made in relatively small numbers and were intended from the outset as finely produced books for collectors.
Heaney’s celebrated translation of Beowulf is particularly attractive in its signed limited form. The work introduced the Old English poem to an enormous new readership and became one of the most successful literary translations of modern times.
For someone who wants an impressive Heaney collection without necessarily pursuing the extremely scarce earliest publications, these signed limited editions offer an excellent area in which to specialise.
Private Presses and Collaborations
Beyond the principal Faber publications lies another world of Heaney collecting.
Throughout his career, Heaney contributed poems and texts to small presses, commemorative publications and collaborations with artists. Some were produced in only a few hundred copies; others in considerably smaller numbers.
These books can be among the most beautiful objects associated with his work.
They also demonstrate that collecting Heaney need not simply mean assembling a row of Faber first editions. A collection might instead concentrate on signed pamphlets, private press publications, collaborations with artists, translations or presentation copies.
This is often where a collection begins to acquire its own personality.
Condition Matters
As with all modern literature, condition has a significant bearing on desirability.
Collectors should look for copies that retain their original dust jackets, with minimal fading, chipping or restoration. With limited editions, the original slipcase or accompanying material should ideally also be present.
Books signed by Heaney should be examined in exactly the same way. A signature does not make condition irrelevant.
A fine unsigned first edition can sometimes be preferable to a badly worn signed copy, although much depends upon the rarity and importance of the inscription.
Building a Heaney Collection
One of the advantages of collecting Seamus Heaney is that there is no single correct approach.
A new collector might begin with first editions of the major poetry collections. Another might concentrate entirely on signed books. A more ambitious collection could pursue limited editions, pamphlets and private press publications.
Others may choose a particular period, such as the great sequence of books from Death of a Naturalist through North, or concentrate on works connected with individual poems and themes.
The most important thing is coherence. Ten carefully chosen books that tell a story can make a more interesting collection than fifty unrelated volumes.
A Modern Irish Collecting Field
Heaney died in 2013, but his position in Irish and international literature has only become more firmly established. His work is taught throughout the world, while his poetry continues to reach readers far beyond the traditional audience for poetry.
For the collector, his bibliography offers something increasingly unusual: the opportunity to build a collection around a writer of unquestioned literary importance while a considerable amount of significant material remains obtainable.
At one end are accessible first editions and signed copies. At the other are scarce early pamphlets, important presentation copies and finely produced limited editions.
Together they document the career of a poet whose work moved from rural County Derry to the highest levels of international literature.
And, as with the best collections, the pleasure lies not simply in owning the books, but in finding them.
