Guide to the Sceptre Press Papers, 1959-1984

Collection number: MC 62
Size: 15 boxes (5.00 cu.ft.)

About Sceptre Press (est. 1969) and Martin Booth (1944-2004)

The Sceptre Press, owned by Martin Booth, began at Frensham, Surrey, England in 1969. Later it moved to Rushden, Northamptonshire, but for the major part of its existence it was in Knotting, Bedfordshire. Its first publication was a broadside of a poem by Alan Brownjohn entitled “Being a Garoon” (100 copies were printed). More broadsides followed, and in late 1970 the press published its first booklet, “A Crow Hymn,” by Ted Hughes. In 1979 an anthology appeared, Decadal: Ten Years of Sceptre Press Poetry. The press ceased operation in 1981, but in 1984 the rights to the name “Sceptre Press” were purchased by Nora Aldridge.

Martin Booth (1944-2004) was born in Lancashire, England and was educated at the King George V School in Hong Kong (1960-1964). After graduation, he tried his hand at many different pursuits. In addition to running Sceptre Press and writing poetry and literary criticism, Booth’s curriculum vita (taken from an interview he conducted in 1999 with the King George V School) includes being a legal clerk, a long-distance lorry driver, a wine waiter in a classy hotel, a student at the University of London reading Natural Sciences, a trainee teacher (at Trent Park College of Education, Barnet, Hertfordshire), a laborer digging the Victoria line underground tunnel system, a journalist in Vietnam (during the war), a school teacher (of English), an Oxford don teaching comparative literature as a fellow of St. Peter’s College, a head of faculty (English) and head of the VIth Form at an English high school, and a fellow at Corpus Christi College, Cambridge. He also, in his own words, “wrote two atrocious novels, children’s TV plays and, later, wildlife documentaries,” before resigning from teaching and devoting himself full-time to writing.

His books of poetry include The Crying Embers (1971), Coronis (1973), Brevities (1974), Snath (1975), The Knotting Sequence (1977), and Devils’ Wine (1980). After this last, Booth discontinued writing poetry, turning instead to prose. He produced a prodigious number of books – novels, children’s books, nonfiction works, and biography, as well as continuing to edit. His works include Bad Track (1980), Bismarck (1980), Killing the Moscs (1985), Hiroshima Joe (1985), Carpet Sahib: A Life of Jim Corbett (1987), The Jade Pavilion (1987), Chameleon (1988), Dreaming of Samarkand (1989), The Triads (1991), The Humble Disciple (1992), Book of Cats (1992)(co-edited with George Macbeth), Toys of Glass (1995), War Dog (1997), Opium: A History (1998), The Industry of Souls (1999), The Dragon Syndicates (2000), The Doctor, the Detective and Arthur Conan Doyle: A Biography of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (2000), and Panther (2001).

About the Sceptre Press Papers

The Sceptre Press Collection was purchased between the mid-1970s and 1986. It consists of over 6000 letters, the vast majority of them to Martin Booth, proprietor, spanning the years 1965-1984. Correspondents include W.H. Auden, Robert Bly, Brigid Brophy, Alan Brownjohn, Robert Creeley, Cid Corman, Michael Hamburger, William Heyen, Ted Hughes, George MacBeth, Christopher Middleton, Peter Redgrove, Alan Sillitoe, and William Stafford. Also included with the collection are fifty representative publications of the Sceptre Press, mostly small poetry pamphlets. The last three boxes in the collection are personal correspondence, short prose, and stories/documentaries written for television production.

Administrative Information

Access Restrictions

This collection is open, except for Box 13 Folders 5-7, which are sealed until 2025.

Copyright Notice

Contents of this collection are governed by U.S. copyright law. For questions about publication or reproduction rights, contact Special Collections staff.

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item], [Folder], [Box], Sceptre Press Papers, 1959-1984, MC 62, Milne Special Collections and Archives, University of New Hampshire Library, Durham, NH, USA.

Acquisitions Information

Purchases: Martin Booth, August 3, 1981 and June 5, 1985; Bert Babcock, February 15, 1982 (Accession numbers: 8113, 8160, 8485)
Donations: William B. Ewert, October 28, 1981 and July 7, 1986; Martin Booth, November 29, 1982 (Accession numbers: 8134, 8230, 865)

Collection Contents

Series 1: Correspondence, 1959-1984
Series 2: Publications, 1969-1980
Series 3: Correspondence and Writings, 1971-1991

Series 1: Correspondence, 1959-1984

Box 1
Box 1, Folder 1		Michael Abbott [editor], 1981-1982 and undated (5)
Box 1, Folder 2		Sigmund Abeles [artist], 1979 (1), Dannie Abse [poet/critic], 1967-1969 (13), and Fleur Adcock [poet], 1969 (1); Ada Aharoni, 1975 (1)
Box 1, Folder 3		Nora Aldridge [proprietor of Hawthorn Books], 1981-1982 (22)
Box 1, Folder 4		Nora Aldridge, 1983 (27)
Box 1, Folder 5		Nora Aldridge, 1984 (21)
Box 1, Folder 6		Nora Aldridge, undated (18)
Box 1, Folder 7		Tony Aldridge [proprietor of Hawthorn Books], 1984 (2), Martin Amis [novelist and son of Kingsley Amis, literary editor of The New Statesman], 1978 (1), Patrick Anderson [poet/novelist/critic], 1970-1975 (4), and Lyman Andrews [poet/critic, University of Leicester], 1972 (1)
Box 1, Folder 8		Michael Armstrong, 1970-1971 [poet/publisher] (18)
Box 1, Folder 9		Michael Armstrong, 1972 (16)
Box 1, Folder 10		Michael Armstrong, 1973 (33)
Box 1, Folder 11		Michael Armstrong, 1974 (13)
Box 1, Folder 12		Michael Armstrong, 1975-1978 (14)
Box 1, Folder 13		Neil Astley [poet/editor/publisher], 1979-1984 (20)
Box 1, Folder 14		W. H. Auden [poet], undated (2), and Leo Aylen [poet/broadcaster], 1967 (2)
Box 1, Folder 15		Trevor Bacon, undated (1); Jill Balcon [actress/widow of C. Day Lewis], 1973 (1), and Bananas magazine (various staff), 1979-1980 (8)
Box 1, Folder 16		Stan Barstow [novelist], 1984 (1); Taner Baybars [poet/critic], 1973 and undated (4), and Fred Beake [secretary, Bath Poetry Festival Committee], 1982 (2)
Box 1, Folder 17		J.D. (Doug) Beardsley [Canadian poet], 1970-1975 (24)
Box 1, Folder 18		Samuel Beckett [playwright/poet], 1980 (1); Patricia Beer, 1982 (2); Roy Bennett [poet], 1981 (1), and Asa Benveniste [poet/publisher/printer/artist], 1970-1971 (3)
Box 1, Folder 19		Anne Beresford [poet/wife of Michael Hamburger], 1972-1979 and undated (9)
Box 1, Folder 20		Alison Bielski [poet], 1979 (1); Earle Birney [Canadian poet], undated (1), and Doug Blazek [American poet], 1973 (1)
Box 1, Folder 21		Edmund Blunden, Claire Blunden, and Margi Blunden, 1968-1978 (6); Wilfred Blunt [poet/brother to Sir Anthony], 1971 (1)
Box 1, Folder 22		David Bly [poet/nephew of Robert Bly], 1975 and undated (14)
Box 1, Folder 23		Robert Bly [poet], 1972 (9)
Box 1, Folder 24		Robert Bly, 1973 (8)
Box 1, Folder 25		Robert Bly, 1975-1981 (9)
Box 1, Folder 26		Robert Bly, 1982-1984 and undated (11)
Box 1, Folder 27		Dirk Bogarde [actor and author], 1978 (1), and Alan Bold [poet/editor/critic], 1969-1983 (9)
Box 1, Folder 28		Keith Bosley, [poet/translator], 1974-1980 (7); Louis Bourne [editor], 1982-1984 (6)
Box 1, Folder 29		Marilyn Bowering [Canadian poet], 1977-1982 (22)
Box 1, Folder 30		D.G. Bridson [poet], 1972-1973 (3); William Bronk [poet], 1973-1977 (8), and one letter to Bronk from Booth, 1977
Box 1, Folder 31		Brigid Brophy [novelist], 1973-1982 (18)
Box 1, Folder 32		Peter Brown [lyricist - Cream, Jack Bruce], 1982-1983 and undated (5)
Box 1, Folder 33		Stewart Brown [poet], 1979-1982 (19)
Box 1, Folder 34		Alan Brownjohn [poet/critic/novelist/editor), 1967-1968 (30)
Box 1, Folder 35		Alan Brownjohn, 1969 (33)
Box 1, Folder 36		Alan Brownjohn, 1970 (35)
Box 1, Folder 37		Alan Brownjohn, 1971-1972 (22)
Box 2
Box 2, Folder 1		Alan Brownjohn, 1973-1975 (29)
Box 2, Folder 2		Alan Brownjohn, 1976-1984 (39)
Box 2, Folder 3		Alan Brownjohn, undated (24)
Box 2, Folder 4		John and Marjorie Brunner [poet] (15); George Buchanan [poet] (5); Bill Buford [editor of Granta Magazine] (3)
Box 2, Folder 5		Michael Bullock [Canadian poet] (13); Edward Burman [teacher and writer], 1981-1982 (19)
Box 2, Folder 6		Edward Burman, 1983-1984 and undated (41)
Box 2, Folder 7		Jim Burns [poet/editor](10); Richard Burns [poet], 1972-1973 (35)
Box 2, Folder 8		Richard Burns, 1974-1983 (28)
Box 2, Folder 9		John Carder Bush [poet/novelist/brother of Kate Bush], 1969-1984 (24)
Box 2, Folder 10		John Carder Bush, undated (26)
Box 2, Folder 11		Kate Bush [pop singer/writer/musician] (20)
Box 2, Folder 12		Ric Caddel [proprietor of Pig Press] (1); Carmen Callil [Chatto and Windus] (2); Charles Causley [poet] (5); Glen Cavaliero [poet/critic] (2); Ian Caws [poet] (23)
Box 2, Folder 13		Leonard Clark [poet/critic/editor] (24)
Box 2, Folder 14		Gillian Clarke [editor] (10); Alan Clodd [Enitharmon Press] (5); Anne Clysenaars [poet/critic], 1969 (1); Bob Cobbing [poet] (12)
Box 2, Folder 15		Neville Coghill [translator of Chaucer's Canterbury Tales] (1); Stewart Conn [poet] (1); Tony Connor [poet] (4); R. L. Cook [Lomond Press] (1); Seamus Cooney [critic/publisher, Black Sparrow Press] (54)
Box 2, Folder 16		Cid Corman [poet], 1973-1974 (38)
Box 2, Folder 17		Cid Corman, 1975-1982 (32)
Box 2, Folder 18		John Cotton [poet/editor/critic], 1972-1976 (33)
Box 2, Folder 19		John Cotton, 1979-1982 and undated (29)
Box 2, Folder 20		Jeni Couzyn [poet] (3); Oliver Cox [poet] (1); Andrew Cozens [editor] (1); Robert Creeley [U.S. poet], 1973-1980 (34)
Box 2, Folder 21		Kevin Crossley-Holland [poet/editor at MacMillan and Victor Gollancz Ltd.], 1968-1970 (29)
Box 2, Folder 22		Kevin Crossley-Holland, 1971-1974 (29)
Box 2, Folder 23		Kevin Crossley-Holland, 1975-1976 and undated (23); M. Cumberlege, 1983 (1); Michael Curtis [physician, book collector], 1982-1983 (8)
Box 3
Box 3, Folder 1		Mats Dahlberg [critic], 1973-1980 (27)
Box 3, Folder 2		Mats Dahlberg, undated (19)
Box 3, Folder 3		John Daniel [poet], 1968-1970 and undated (9); Judy Daniel [poet], undated (2); Hilary Davies [poet/editor], 1980-1982 and undated (10); Richard Davies [Buckingham Palace], 1983 (1); Cecil Day Lewis [Poet Laureate], 1969 (1)
Box 3, Folder 4		Peter Dent [poet], 1974-1983 and undated (14); George Dowden [poet], 1972-1973 (11); Joan Downar, 1983 (1); Margaret Drabble [novelist], 1972 (2)
Box 3, Folder 5		Robert Druce [poet/novelist/critic/educationalist], 1968-1984 (14)
Box 3, Folder 6		Robert Druce, undated (27)
Box 3, Folder 7		Maureen Duffy [novelist/poet[, 1973-1980 and undated (13); Douglas Dunn [poet], 1971-1982 (2)
Box 3, Folder 8		Roger Elkin [poet/critic], 1978-1980 (28)
Box 3, Folder 9		Roger Elkin, 1981-1982 and undated (14)
Box 3, Folder 10		John Elliot [scriptwriter], 1984 and undated (10); William Elliott [poet/critic], 1972-1979 (26)
Box 3, Folder 11		Florence Elon [Zwerdling] [poet] (16); D.J. Enright [poet/editor], 1971 (1); Gavin Ewart [poet], 1970-1982 (14)
Box 3, Folder 12		Ruth Fainlight [poet/wife of Alan Sillitoe], 1970-1984 (21); John Fairfax [poet/editor], 1984 and undated (3); Peter Fallon [Gallery Press], 1983 (2)
Box 3, Folder 13		Michael Farley [editor], 1982-1984 (10); Seymour Faust [poet], 1974-1975 (12); Graham Fawcett [novelist], 1982 (1); Elaine Feinstein [novelist/poet], 1972-1981 (8); Tom Fenton [Salamander Press], 1982 (1)
Box 3, Folder 14		Paul Feroe [editor/critic], 1973-1981 (30)
Box 3, Folder 15		Peter Finch [Welsh Arts Council], 1981-1982 (4); Roy Fisher [poet], 1973-1980 (9); Michael Foot [Leader of the Labour Party], 1980 (1); Norman Franklin [Routledge and Kegan Paul], 1983-1984 (11); Antonia Fraser [biographer/editor], 1975 (1); George Fraser [critic], 1971 (2)
Box 3, Folder 16		Tony Frazer [poet], 1981-1982 (13); M. Freeman [Carcanet New Press], 1982 (1); Margaret Frishman [artist], undated (3); Yasuko Fujiwara [translator], 1981-1984 (13)
Box 3, Folder 17		Jean Overton Fuller [biographer of Shelley, Swinburne], 1967-1968 (23)
Box 3, Folder 18		Jean Overton Fuller, Jan-June 1969 (33)
Box 3, Folder 19		Jean Overton Fuller, July-Sept 1969 (21)
Box 3, Folder 20		Jean Overton Fuller, Oct-Dec 1969 (23)
Box 3, Folder 21		Jean Overton Fuller, 1970 (31)
Box 3, Folder 22		Jean Overton Fuller, 1971 (21)
Box 3, Folder 23		Jean Overton Fuller, 1972-1973 (32)
Box 4
Box 4, Folder 1		Jean Overton Fuller, 1974-1978 (19)
Box 4, Folder 2		Jean Overton Fuller, 1979-1981 (29)
Box 4, Folder 3		Jean Overton Fuller, 1982 (36)
Box 4, Folder 4		Jean Overton Fuller, 1983-1984 (15)
Box 4, Folder 5		Jean Overton Fuller, undated (22)
Box 4, Folder 6		John Fuller [poet/small press editor], 1969-1982 and undated (14); Roy Fuller [poet], 1970-1973 (3)
Box 4, Folder 7		Robin Fulton [poet/translator of Tranströmer), 1974-1982 and undated (29)
Box 4, Folder 8		Bernard Galtier, 1983 (1); Helen Gardner [critic/editor], 1973 (1); Roger Garfitt [poet/editor], 1970-1984 and undated (24)
Box 4, Folder 9		Karl Gay [poetry curator, State University of New York at Buffalo], 1969-1978 (23)
Box 4, Folder 10		Karen Gershon [poet], 1977-1980 (8); Terry Gifford [critic], 1979-1980 (9); Robert Gittings [critic/biographer of Hardy and Keats], 1974 (2)
Box 4, Folder 11		Denis Goacher [poet/editor for T.S. Eliot], 1975-1980 and undated (37)
Box 4, Folder 12		Giles Gordon [editor, Victor Gollancz; poet/novelist], 1970-1971 (23)
Box 4, Folder 13		Giles Gordon, 1972-1977 (25)
Box 4, Folder 14		Giles Gordon, 1978-1980 and undated (20)
Box 4, Folder 15		Yannis Goumas [poet/industrialist], 1974-1982 (25)
Box 4, Folder 16		Robert Graves [poet], 1970 (1); Robert Greachen [poet], 1975-1977 (14); James Green [publisher], 1981-1982 (12)
Box 4, Folder 17		Margaret Gregory, undated (1); David Grubb [poet], 1971-1981 and undated (34)
Box 4, Folder 18		Frederick Grubb [socialist], 1967-1969 [includes 2 letters from Booth to Grubb] (32)
Box 4, Folder 19		Frederick Grubb, 1970-1983 [includes 1 letter from Booth to Grubb] (23)
Box 4, Folder 20		Frederick Grubb, undated (26)
Box 4, Folder 21		Harry Guest [poet/translator/novelist], 1970-1982 and undated (31)
Box 4, Folder 22		Harry Guest, undated (34)
Box 5
Box 5, Folder 1		Thom Gunn [poet], 1972 (1); Donald Hall [poet/editor], 1979-1983 (2); Robert Haller [critic], 1977-1979 (7); Daniel Halpern [poet/editor], 1978 (2)
Box 5, Folder 2		Michael Hamburger [poet/critic/translator], 1969-1982 (52)
Box 5, Folder 3		Ian Hamilton [poet/critic], 1972 (1); Christopher Hampton [poet/political writer], 1972-1984 and undated (19)
Box 5, Folder 4		Geoffrey Handley-Taylor [editor], 1968-1980 (37)
Box 5, Folder 5		Sir Rupert Hart-Davis [Siegfried Sassoon's literary executor], 1980 (1); Lee Harwood [poet and bookseller], 1971-1974 (6); Robert Hass [poet], 1977-1979 (3); Seamus Heaney [poet], 1970-1984 (8); Val Hennessy [critic], 1975-1984 and undated (4); Adrian Henri [poet], undated (3); Phoebe Hesketh [poet], 1971 (1)
Box 5, Folder 6		William Heyen [poet], 1973-1977 (21)
Box 5, Folder 7		William Heyen, 1978-1982 (39)
Box 5, Folder 8		William Heyen, 1983-1984 and undated (15)
Box 5, Folder 9		Norman Hidden [editor], 1982 (2)
Box 5, Folder 10		Douglas Hill [editor/novelist/critic], 1972-1976 (35)
Box 5, Folder 11		Douglas Hill, 1977-1982 (42)
Box 5, Folder 12		Douglas Hill, undated (74)
Box 5, Folder 13		Daryl Hine [editor], undated (1); Jack Hirschman [poet], 1971 (1); George Hitchcock [poet], undated (1); Hannah Hobsbaum [poet], 1970-1984 (7); Philip Hobsbaum [poet/critic], 1968-1969 (8); Harold Hobson [theatre critic], 1977 (1); Daniel Hoffman, 1973 (1); Leigh Hofrey [Argo Publishing], 1982 (1); David Holbrook [poet/editor], 1969 (1); John Hollander [poet], undated (1), Michael Holroyd [biographer], 1969 (1)
Box 5, Folder 14		John Horder [poet], 1971-1981 (25)
Box 5, Folder 15		Frances Horovitz [poet], 1969-1980 (26)
Box 5, Folder 16		Michael Horovitz [poet/editor, New Departures/critic], 1966-1984 (18)
Box 5, Folder 17		Michael Horovitz, undated (20)
Box 5, Folder 18		Michael Horovitz, undated (14)
Box 5, Folder 19		Libby Houston [poet], 1982-1983 (4); Nicholas Hughes [Morrigu Press], 1984 (1); Olwyn Hughes [literary agent/sister of Ted Hughes], 1970-1981 (30)
Box 5, Folder 20		Ted Hughes [poet], 1970-1984 and undated (26)
Box 5, Folder 21		Daniel Huws [poet], 1974-1975 (7); Paul Hyland [poet], 1983-1984 (12)
Box 6
Box 6, Folder 1		Nicki Jackowska [poet], 1971-1982 (27)
Box 6, Folder 2		Nicki Jackowska, undated (26)
Box 6, Folder 3		Nicki Jackowska, undated (42)
Box 6, Folder 4		Nicki Jackowska, undated (32)
Box 6, Folder 5		Fred Rue Jacobs [playwright], 1973-1980 (26)
Box 6, Folder 6		David Jaffin [poet], 1975 and undated (14)
Box 6, Folder 7		Peter Jay [editor, Anvil Press], 1969-1984 and undated (21)
Box 6, Folder 8		Elizabeth Jennings [poet], 1970 (1); Roland John [Hippopotamus Press], 1981-1984 (5); Bryan S. Johnson [poet/editor/critic], 1972 (2); Josephine Johnson [novelist, critic], 1981-1983 and undated (17)
Box 6, Folder 9		Peter Jones [Carcanet New Press], 1982 (1); P.J. Kavanagh [poet], 1983 (3); Judith Kazantzis [poet], undated (1); Peter Keen [photographer], 1983 (1); Jane Kenyon [poet], 1979 (1); Galway Kinnell [poet], 1970-1977 (7); James Kirkup [poet], 1971-1984 (13); Ted Kooser [poet], undated (1); Michael Korda [Simon & Schuster], 1981-1982 (2); Charles Kormos [poet], 1980-1981 (2)
Box 6, Folder 10		Norbert Krapf [poet], May 1972-June 1974 (25)
Box 6, Folder 11		Norbert Krapf, July 1974-March 1975 (18)
Box 6, Folder 12		Norbert Krapf, May 1975-Dec 1976 (41)
Box 6, Folder 13		Norbert Krapf, 1977 (18)
Box 6, Folder 14		Norbert Krapf, 1978-1979 (26)
Box 6, Folder 15		Norbert Krapf, 1980 (16)
Box 6, Folder 16		Norbert Krapf, 1981-1982 (28)
Box 6, Folder 17		Norbert Krapf, 1983-1984 (15)
Box 6, Folder 18		Norbert Krapf, undated (12)
Box 6, Folder 19		Cosmo Landesman [Jay Landesman Ltd.], 1981 (1); Philip Larkin, 1971-1982 [poet] (2)
Box 6, Folder 20		Hugh Lauder [poet], 1969 (12)
Box 6, Folder 21		Hugh Lauder, Jan-April 1970 (19)
Box 6, Folder 22		Hugh Lauder, May 1970-Dec 1971 (24)
Box 6, Folder 23		Hugh Lauder, 1972-1974 (20)
Box 6, Folder 24		Hugh Lauder, June 1976-June 1978 (24)
Box 6, Folder 25		Hugh Lauder, July 1978-Nov 1979 (23)
Box 7
Box 7, Folder 1		Hugh Lauder, 1980 and 1983-1984 (25)
Box 7, Folder 2		Hugh Lauder, undated (30)
Box 7, Folder 3		Hugh Lauder, undated (16)
Box 7, Folder 4		Hugh Lauder, undated (16)
Box 7, Folder 5		A.W. Lawrence [brother of Lawrence of Arabia], 1970 (2); B. C. Leale [poet], 1978-1981 (10); Bruce Leary [poet], undated (2); Laurence Lerner, [poet/critic] 1970 and undated (10)
Box 7, Folder 6		Roy Lewis [Keepsake Press/Times editor], 1971-1972 (40)
Box 7, Folder 7		Roy Lewis, 1972-1984 (33)
Box 7, Folder 8		Roy Lewis, undated (31)
Box 7, Folder 9		Eddie Linden [Aquarius Magazine], undated (1); Grevel Lindop [poet/critic] 1980 (2); Susan Lipper [photographer], 1984 (1); Edward Lowbury [poet/novelist], 1982 and undated (2); Edward Lucie-Smith [poet/art critic], 1970-1972 and undated (5); Alexis Lykiard [poet/novelist], 1975-1984 (11)
Box 7, Folder 10		George MacBeth [poet/novelist/editor], 1967-1969 (26)
Box 7, Folder 11		George MacBeth, 1970 (38)
Box 7, Folder 12		George MacBeth, 1971-1972 (40)
Box 7, Folder 13		George MacBeth, 1973-1974 (28)
Box 7, Folder 14		George MacBeth, 1975-1980 (35)
Box 7, Folder 15		George MacBeth, 1981-1984 and undated (44)
Box 7, Folder 16		George MacBeth, undated (60)
Box 7, Folder 17		Michael McCrum [master of Corpus Christi College, Cambridge], 1981-1982 (2); Roger McGough [poet/performer], undated (1); P. McSorley [editor], undated (1)
Box 7, Folder 18		Wes Magee [poet], 1969-1978 (29)
Box 7, Folder 19		Wes Magee, 1979-1984 and undated (21)
Box 7, Folder 20		Hugo Manning [poet], 1972-1977 and undated (24); E.A. Markham [poet], 1973-1980 (11)
Box 7, Folder 21		Tom Marshall [Canadian poet/critic], 1967-1969 (28)
Box 7, Folder 22		Tom Marshall, 1970-1974 and unddated (17)
Box 7, Folder 23		Alan Marshfield [poet], 1967-1982 (24); John Matthias [poet], 1976-1980 (28)
Box 7, Folder 24		Christopher Middleton [poet], 1974-1983 (25); Brian Miller [BBC radio drama producer], 1984 (2); Ewart Milne [poet] 1969 (3)
Box 8
Box 8, Folder 1		John Moat [poet], 1971-1975 and undated (9); John Mole [poet], 1970-1971 and undated (5); Nicholas Moore [poet], 1971 and undated (3); Pete Morgan [poet], 1980-1984 and unated (9); Blake Morrison [writer/editor], 1980 and undated (5)
Box 8, Folder 2		Philip Mosley [translator], 1980-1982 and undated (19)
Box 8, Folder 3		Howard Moss (editor, New Yorker), 1980 (1); Andrew Motion [poet, editor, British poet laureate], 1981 (6); Eric Mottram [critic], 1971-1974 (5); Paul Muldoon [poet], 1971 (4); Iris Murdoch [novelist], undated (1)
Box 8, Folder 4		Susan Musgrave [Canadian poet/novelist], 1970-1973 (29)
Box 8, Folder 5		Susan Musgrave, 1974-1976 (28)
Box 8, Folder 6		Susan Musgrave, 1977-1981 (26)
Box 8, Folder 7		Susan Musgrave, undated (25)
Box 8, Folder 8		Susan Musgrave, undated (38)
Box 8, Folder 9		Edward Mycue [poet], 1970-1975 (22)
Box 8, Folder 10		Edward Mycue, 1976-1982 and undated (14)
Box 8, Folder 11		Julian Nangle [poet/bookdealer], 1969-1976 (48)
Box 8, Folder 12		Julian Nangle, 1977-198? (32)
Box 8, Folder 13		Julian Nangle, undated (38)
Box 8, Folder 14		Leslie Norris [poet], 1971-1982 (39)
Box 8, Folder 15		Robert Nye [novelist/playwright/poet], 1973-1982 (37)
Box 8, Folder 16		George Oppen [poet], undated (1); William Oxley [poet], 1982 (1); Philip Pacey [poet], 1971-1981 (5); Derek Parker [editor], 1969-1970 (12); Brian Patten [poet], 1970-1976 and undated (21)
Box 8, Folder 17		Maeve Peake [artist and widow of Mervyn Peake], 1972-1976 (4); John Perlman [poet], 1977 (1); A. D. Peters [agent], 1967 (1); Robert Peters [poet], 1969-1972 (4); Ryan Petty [poet], 1974 and undated (3); Robert Phillips [poet], 1981-1984 (18)
Box 8, Folder 18		Christopher Pilling [poet], 1971-1972 (2); William Plomer [poet], 1971 (8); Peter Porter [poet], 1967-1977 (5); Al Poulin, Jr. [poet, critic, publisher], 1981 (4); Omar S. Pound [poet and son of Ezra Pound], 1973 (2)
Box 8, Folder 19		Neil Powell [critic/poet], 1969-1980 (34)
Box 8, Folder 20		Hugh Probyn [critic], 1975-1980 (5); Kathleen Raine [poet], undated (3); Antoinette Raliez [translator], 1981 (3); James Ramholtz [editor], 1978 (1); Elaine Randell [publisher], undated (1)
Box 9
Box 9, Folder 1		Peter Redgrove [poet/novelist], 1970-1972 (32)
Box 9, Folder 2		Peter Redgrove, 1973 (24)
Box 9, Folder 3		Peter Redgrove, 1974-1976 (17)
Box 9, Folder 4		Peter Redgrove, 1977-1979 (33)
Box 9, Folder 5		Peter Redgrove, 1980-1984 (35)
Box 9, Folder 6		Peter Redgrove, undated (26)
Box 9, Folder 7		John Rice [South East Arts], 1981 (2); Alan Riddell [poet], undated (2); Cecil Roberts, 1969 (1); Jane Robinett [poet], 1976-1977 (3); Ian Robinson [publisher, Oasis Books], 1981-1982 (3); Caroline Root [publisher, Anvil Press Poetry], 1981 (2); Alan Ross [editor, London Magazine/poet], undated (2); Royal Society of Literature, 1982 (2)
Box 9, Folder 8		Anthony Rudolf [poet/critic/publisher/translator], 1970-1976 (31)
Box 9, Folder 9		Anthony Rudolf, 1977-1980 (27)
Box 9, Folder 10		Anthony Rudolf, 1981-1982 and undated (45)
Box 9, Folder 11		Anthony Rudolf, undated (35)
Box 9, Folder 12		Anthony Rudolf, undated (22)
Box 9, Folder 13		Anthony Rudolf, undated (27)
Box 9, Folder 14		Peter Russell [poet], 1972-1973 (2); John Ryle [editor, Quarto], undated (2); Keith Sagar [critic], 1978-1984 (13); Laurence Sail [writer, teacher], 1981-1984 (10)
Box 9, Folder 15		Andrew Sant [editor], 1981-1982 (6); Toni Savage [poet], 1981 (4); Teo Savory [editor], 1976 (1); Vernon Scannell [poet], 1970-1980 (8); Susan Fromberg Schaeffer [poet/novelist], 1973-1980 (17)
Box 9, Folder 16		Michael Schmidt [publisher, Carcanet Press/poet], 1970-1980 (30)
Box 9, Folder 17		Michael Schmidt, 1981-1982 and undated (15)
Box 9, Folder 18		Rainer Schulte [poet/editor], 1967 (1); Peter Scupham [poet/publisher], 1970-1984 (33); Eric Sellin [poet], 1973-1983 (3)
Box 9, Folder 19		Howard Sergeant [editor/poet], 1977-1983 (33); Brocard Sewell [priest (SJ)/editor], 1969-1972 (3); William Kean Seymour [poet/critic/editor of Yeats], 1969-1972 (23)
Box 9, Folder 20		William Shepherd [avant-garde writer], 1970-1980 (33); John Shrapnel [critic], 1977 (1)
Box 10
Box 10, Folder 1		Penelope Shuttle [poet/novelist/wife and collaborator to Peter Redgrove], 1971-1973 (32)
Box 10, Folder 2		Penelope Shuttle, 1974-1980 (23)
Box 10, Folder 3		Jon Silkin [poet/editor, Stand], 1969-1984 and undated (62)
Box 10, Folder 4		Alan Sillitoe [novelist/poet], 1977-1984 and undated (20)
Box 10, Folder 5		Norman Simms [editor], 1978-1981 (40)
Box 10, Folder 6		Valerie Sinason [editor], undated (1); Robin Skelton [Canadian poet/critic/editor, The Malahat Review], 1972-1979 (17); William Slaughter [poet], 1983-1984 (8)
Box 10, Folder 7		Ken Smith [poet], 1974-1980 and undated (11); Timothy d'Arch Smith [book dealer], 1982 and undated (6); Colin Smythe [publisher], 1982 and undated (9); Stephen Sossaman [poet/editor], 1972-1974 (5); John Sparrow [critic], 1977 (2)
Box 10, Folder 8		Lisa St. Aubin de Terán [novelist, memoirist, wife of George MacBeth], 1980 (2; William Stafford [poet], 1978-1984 (16); Jon Stallworthy [poet/editor, Oxford University Press/critic], 1967-1974 (11)
Box 10, Folder 9		Derek Stanford [novelist], 1971-1980 (14); John Stathatos (?) [photographer], 1981 (1); Ralph Steadman [cartoonist], undated (1); Anne Stevenson [poet], 1976-1983 and undated (10); Bernard Stone, 1983 (1); Glenn Storhaug [Five Seasons Press], 1981-1983 (8)
Box 10, Folder 10		Steven Stretch [student], 1984 (2); Lucien Stryk [poet], 1976 (21)
Box 10, Folder 11		Lucien Stryk, 1977 (32)
Box 10, Folder 12		Lucien Stryk, 1978 and undated (23)
Box 10, Folder 13		Matthew Sweeney [poet], 1981 (1); John Symonds, 1969 (2); George Szirtes [poet/artist, Star Wheel Press], 1979-1980 (16); Tambimuttu [editor, The Lyrebird Press], 1972-1973 (6); Alan Tarling [set-maker/publisher of avant-garde work], 1969-1981 (24)
Box 10, Folder 14		I.P. Taylor [poet], 1978-1979 (4); Jon Teicher [novelist], 1973-1984 (26)
Box 10, Folder 15		D.M. Thomas [novelist/poet], 1970-1981 (25); Elizabeth Thomas [editor/political writer], 1980 (1); Myfanwy Thomas [daughter of Edward Thomas], 1969 (1); Anthony Thwaite [editor/poet], 1970-1977 (5)
Box 10, Folder 16		David Tipton [publisher], 1981-1984 and undated (19); Allan Titmuss [photographer], 1981-1984 (10); Nick Toczek [writer], 1982 (2); Charles Tomlinson [poet/artist], 1972-1983 (4)
Box 10, Folder 17		Shirley Toulson [poet/editor], 1969-1970 (34)
Box 10, Folder 18		Shirley Toulson, 1971-1982 and undated (28)
Box 10, Folder 19		Tomas Tranströmer [poet], 1973-1975 (3); David Tribe [poet], 1968-1972 (17) Sean Vergo [poet/novelist], 1971-1972 (4)
Box 11
Box 11, Folder 1		Jim Vollmar [poet/publisher], 1972-1979 (37)
Box 11, Folder 2		Jim Vollmar, 1980-1984 (27)
Box 11, Folder 3		Charles Wadsworth [publisher, The Tidal Press], 1978-1980 (8); David Wagoner [poet], 1971 (1); Ted Walker [poet], 1972-1984 (17); Elizabeth Walter [editor, Collins], 1981 (1)
Box 11, Folder 4		Donald Ward [poet], 1968-1971 (4); Philip Ward [publisher, The Oleander Press], 1982 (2); Francis Warner [poet/editor/playwright] 1972-1977 (25)
Box 11, Folder 5		Francis Warner, 1978-1984 (14); Michael Waters [poet], 1982 (1); Colin Webb [editor], 1981 (3)
Box 11, Folder 6		James L. Weil [poet/publisher/editor, The Elizabeth Press], 1973- 1974 (42)
Box 11, Folder 7		James L. Weil, 1975-1976 (43)
Box 11, Folder 8		James L. Weil, 1977 (34)
Box 11, Folder 9		James L. Weil, 1978-1979 (33)
Box 11, Folder 10		James L. Weil, 1980-1982 (54)
Box 11, Folder 11		James L. Weil, 1983-1984 and undated (24)
Box 11, Folder 12		Bernice Weiss [book dealer], 1981 (5); Lambersy Werner, 1981 (1); Sir Huw Wheldon [broadcaster/writer], 1977 (1); Eric W. White [poet/translator of Brecht/Arts Council of Great Britain], 1970- 1980 (30); Helen White [poet], 1981-1983 (5)
Box 11, Folder 13		George Wightman [poet], 1967 (19)
Box 11, Folder 14		George Wightman, 1968 (28)
Box 11, Folder 15		George Wightman, 1969 (19)
Box 11, Folder 16		George Wightman, 1970-1976 and undated (23)
Box 11, Folder 17		Jonathan Williams [Executive Director, The Jargon Society, Inc.], 1980 (1); Kemble Williams [poet/editor, Samphire], 1970-1972 (28)
Box 11, Folder 18		Kemble Williams (40)
Box 11, Folder 19		Henry Williamson [novelist], 1970 (1); Clive Wilmer [poet], 1980 (1); Mary-Kay Wilmers [editor, London Review of Books] (1); G. Wilson- Knight [critic], 1969 (1); Gerald Yorke [occultist/writer/ trustee for Aleister Crowley], 1959-1974 and undated (34); Grahaeme Barrasford Young, [editor], undated (5)
Box 11, Folder 20		Unidentified correspondents: Belinda, undated (1). Celeste P., Exeter, 1983-1984 (2). David, Cambridge U., 1981 (1). Duncan, S. Glamorgan, 1983 (1). Frank, n.p., undated (1). Gerald, British Columbia, undated (1). Glyn P., Swansea, 1983-1984 (3). Jenny, Knotting, Beds., undated (2). John, Bowling Green, Ohio, 1977 (3). Jon, Washington, D.C., 1983 (2). Kate, Exeter, 1984 (1). Lawrence C., Streatham, London, 1973 (1). Lorna, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, undated (1). Lynne (Pitt Rivers Museum, Oxford University), undated (3)
Box 11, Folder 21		Unidentified correspondents: Mary, Surrey Square, London, 1967-1981 and undated (7). Melissa, Petersfield, Hampshire, 1982 and undated (3). Michael, Bromley, 1984 (1). Michael, Poetry Society, undated (1). Peter, 1975 and undated (3). Priscilla [artist], Ashington, Northunberland, 1983 (1). Richard, Gisele, and Frédérique, 1984 (2) Rosalind and Willam, Bruges, 1969 (1). Susannah, undated (1). Walin, 1970 (1)
Box 11, Folder 22		Correspondence between Booth and The New Statesman regarding Eric Homberger's article "The Uncollected Plath" (The New Statesman, September 22, 1972) in which he accuses the Sceptre Press of "profiteering" on the fame of Sylvia Plath
Box 11, Folder 23		Miscellaneous fragments and one unidentified black and white photograph (3.5 x 3.5)

Series 2: Publications, 1969-1980

Box 12
Box 12, Folder 1		Hobsbaum, Philip. Some Lovely Glorious Nothing. 1969. Copy H of 26 lettered copies. Signed by the poet.
Box 12, Folder 2		Bush, John Carder. The Creation Edda. 1970. Copy Q of 26 lettered copies, handbound in card, and signed by the poet. Bush, John Carder. The Creation Edda. 1970. Copy 43 of 74 numbered copies.
Box 12, Folder 3		Bridson, D. G., trans. Ballade des dames du Temps Jadis after Francois Villon. 1971. Copy 105 of 150 numbered copies.
Box 12, Folder 4		Hum-Wills, Iago. Poems. 1971. Printed and published by David Barron at the Black Turd Press.
Box 12, Folder 5		Kirkup, James. Broad Daylight. 1971. Copy 91 of 150 numbered copies.
Box 12, Folder 6		Patten, Brian. At Four O'Clock in the Morning. 1971. Copy 80 of 100 numbered copies.
Box 12, Folder 7		Armstrong, Michael. Revelation. 1972. Copy 45 of 100 numbered copies.
Box 12, Folder 8		Didsbury, Pete. Runnung. 1973. Copy 20 of 150 numbered copies. Nos. l-50 are signed by the poet.
Box 12, Folder 9		Dowden, George. Poem For Jayne. 1973. Copy 20 of 150 numbered copies. Nos. 1-50 are signed by the poet.
Box 12, Folder 10		Hamburger, Michael. Conversations With Charwoman. 1973. Copy 146 of 150 numbered copies.
Box 12, Folder 11		Redgrove, Peter. In the Country of the Skin. 1973. A radio script. Edition is limited to 500 copies.
Box 12, Folder 12		Sellin, Eric. As-Shamsu. 1973. Copy 15 of 150 numbered copies. Signed by the poet.
Box 12, Folder 13		Tranströmer, Thomas. Elegy and Some October Notes. Translated by Robert Bly, 1973. Copy 114 of 150 numbered copies.
Box 12, Folder 14		Brownjohn, Alan. She Made of It. 1974. Copy 94 of 150 numbered copies.
Box 12, Folder 15		Huws, Daniel. Buzzards. 1974. Copy 13 of 150 numbered copies. Signed by the poet. Huws, Daniel. Buzzards. 1974. Copy 74 of 150 numbered copies.
Box 12, Folder 16		Huws, Daniel. From An Old Book of Riddles. 1974. Copy 145 of 150 numbered copies.
Box 12, Folder 17		Leary, Bruce. Green Apples. 1974. Copy 20 of 150 copies. Signed by the poet. Leary, Bruce. Green Apples. 1974. Copy 89 of 150 numbered copies.
Box 12, Folder 18		Scannell, Vernon. Meeting in Manchester. 1974. One of 200 copies printed as a tribute to Edmund Blunden.
Box 12, Folder 19		Crossley-Holland, Kevin. Petal & Stone. 1975. Copy 70 of 150 numbered copies.
Box 12, Folder 20		Guest, Harry. The Enchanted Acres. 1975. Copy 147 of 150 numbered copies.
Box 12, Folder 21		Levy, John. The Imperial Tomb. 1975. Copy 109 of 150 numbered copies.
Box 12, Folder 22		Musgrave, Susan. Two Poems. 1975. Copy 27 of 150 numbered copies. Signed by the poet.
Box 12, Folder 23		Silkin, Jon. A 'Jarapiri' Poem. 1975. Copy 148 of 150 numbered copies.
Box 12, Folder 24		Goacher, Denis. Three Songs From The Romany King of Wembworthy. 1976. Copy 143 of 150 numbered copies.
Box 12, Folder 25		Shuttle, Penelope. Four American Sketches. 1976. Copy 99 of 150 numbered copies.
Box 12, Folder 26		Booth, Joyce. Branches of Bamboo. 1977. Edition limited to 300 copies.
Box 12, Folder 27		Rilke, Rainer Maria. The Voices. Translated by Robert Bly. 1977.
Box 12, Folder 28		Booth, Martin. The Dying. 1978. Copy 63 of 150 numbered copies.
Box 12, Folder 29		Bowering, Marilyn. Third Child and Zian. 1978. Copy 54 of 150 numbered copies.
Box 12, Folder 30		Burns, Richard. Earthquake. 1978. Copy 100 of 150 numbered copies. Burns, Richard. Earthquake. 1978. Proof.
Box 12, Folder 31		Creeley, Robert. Desultory Days. 1978. Copy 91 of 250 numbered copies.
Box 12, Folder 32		Goumas, Yannis. Athenians Go To Work. 1978.
Box 12, Folder 33		Leale, B. C. Fouquet's. 1978. Proof.
Box 12, Folder 34		Crick, Philip. To The Third Trajectory. 1979. Copy 98 of 150 numbered copies.
Box 12, Folder 35		Heyen, William. The Children. 1979. Copy 41 of 150 numbered copies. Signed by the poet.
Box 12, Folder 36		Hughes, Ted. Four Tales Told By An Idiot. 1979. Copy 160 of 450 numbered copies.
Box 12, Folder 37		Stafford, William. Around You, Your House and A Catechism. Copy 105 of 150 numbered copies.
Box 12, Folder 38		Vollmar, Jim. Hoy: The Seven Postcards. 1979. Copy 133 of 150 numbered copies.
Box 12, Folder 39		Vollmar, Jim. Orkney Poems. 1979. Copy 65 of 150 numbered copies.
Box 12, Folder 40		Fainlight, Ruth. Two Wind Poems. 1980. Edition of 125 numbered copies. Out of series copy.
Box 12, Folder 41		Gurney, John. The R101. 1980. Copy 48 of 150 numbered copies.
Box 12, Folder 42		Hamburger, Michael. Variations on Suffolk IV. 1980. Copy 132 of 150 numbered copies. Hamburger, Michael. Variations on Suffolk IV. 1980. Proof.
Box 12, Folder 43		MacBeth, George. Typing A Novel About the War. 1980. Copy 66 of 125 numbered copies.
Box 12, Folder 44		Plath, Sylvia. Two Poems. 1980. Copy 46 of 300 numbered copies, the first 75 of which are especial.
Box 12, Folder 45		Tranströmer, Thomas. How The Late Autumn Night Novel Begins. Translated by Robin Fulton. 1980. Copy 135 of 150 numbered copies. Tranströmer, Thomas. How The Late Autumn Night Novel Begins. Translated by Robin Fulton. Proof.
Box 12, Folder 46		Buzan, Tony. Obsession. n.d. postcard.
Box 12, Folder 47		Horder, John. Cecil and Baba. n.d. Published in an edition of 100 copies.
Box 12, Folder 48		Typescript of introduction by Martin Booth to Decadel: Ten Years of Sceptre Press Poetry. With holograph corrections and note by Booth. 2pp.

Series 3: Correspondence and Writings, 1971-1991

Box 13
		Travel Diaries and Other Writings This box contains descriptions of Booth's papers at other repositories, two travel diaries, and a folder of writings signed by Booth. The last three folders, not included in this description, are restricted at Booth's request and may not be accesed until 2025.
Box 14
		Correspondence, 1971-1991 The first two folders are correspondence to Booth from American publisher William Ewert (Concord, N.H.), while the remaining ten are correspondence from other individuals and British publishers.
Box 15
		Television Materials Novels and Book Reviews written by Booth, as well as television scripts, scenes, promotional pitches, and documentary scripts. Most have to do with Hong Kong or nature.