In this Archive, Finlay indicates that this booklet is a collection of 'one-word poems' about boats. The boats are illustrated, as types, in silhouette-form, and the words are to be thought of as being a kind of 'verbal silhouette' or boat-epigram. He explains the reasons for selection of the boat types into the booklet and states that "the idea will be to keep the printed text the same size - as it were - as the illustrations, so that the text can be thought of as kind of a 'verbal' silhouette." These instructions are provided to Laurie Clark for the illustrations and to Michael Harvey for the text layout. In a letter dated 15 August 1973 to Tom and Laurie Clark about the project, he discusses the writings of Simone Weil, is pleased that they liked "Straiks," brings up the Fulcrum Press controversy, mentions ideas for the illustrations of "Silhouettes" that Laurie should draw, and recommends two books to be read. In a letter dated 1 October 1973 to Tom and Laurie Clark, Finlay states that he approves the drawings for the boats except for the "Thonier" and here he offers suggestions to improve it. Laments the fact that some Scottish collaborators do not deliver his projects whereas the English do - "If it wasn't for my English collaborators I would have had to give up - this is a fact." Finlay also recommends some reading material and expresses enthusiasm for the technique of ceramic set in concrete to make garden poems. In a letter dated 16 October, 1973 to Tom and Laurie Clark, Finlay thanks Laurie for redoing the Thonier boat and indicates that material is ready to be sent to printer. The Archive contains three letters by Finlay to Stellar Press from December 1973 to March 1974 regarding instructions for the printing of the book. Thomas Clark writes Finlay on 10 October 1973 that the drawings for Silhouette are complete and hopes to visit him on New Years when he visits his parents nearby. Michael Harvey writes Finlay on 10 December 1973 that he has completed the layout of the booklet and suggests that it be printed letterpress. -- Source of annotation: Marvin or Ruth Sackner.