Reply (crumpled on her desk) written by Florence H. Williams ; designed & printed by Stephanie Mahan Stigliano
Originally published in 1930.
The cover is enamaled wood with a silver strap enclosure and seal entitled “Reply F.W.” It’s intended to look like a refrigerator, yet also like a sealed letter. Accordian fold.
“I took a letterpress class because I was attracted to the beauty of the print; type slightly embossing the paper, and sensitively spaced. I had expected to set pages of copy, but the teacher recommended we set a poem, and a short one at that. I chose two poems by William Carlos Williams: “This is Just to Say” and “Poem”. The clarity and precision seemed appropriate for the letterpress medium. I was advised that if I wasnted to sell the books (both prints were made into books), I would need reprint permission from the publishers. Part of the agreement required sending a copy of each book to them. These were forwarded to the sons of William Carlos Williams. In return I received a letter from his son, thanking me. He also enclosed a poem written by his mother Florence H. Willims [sic], remarking that it would make an interesting companion piece, as the poem was writeen in response to “This is Just to Say”…” from artist’s statement housed with This is Just to Say.
MCA: Number 9 of 25.