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Page 54 is titled "1945. Dante & the Turf 81 - 86" and the theme is horse racing .On the bottom centerof the page is a card of the "Winner of the Derby 1945 - Dante." Other collaged newspaper and racing scraps of paper contain the name of Dante. Phillips writes about the horse Dante's Rogue that seems to have been withdrawn from racing. -- Source of annotation: Marvin or Ruth Sackner.

Scope and Contents This fifty-ninth page of the Dante Diary, dated December 10, 1982, is stamped in capital letters on the lower right corner "Working out the final page." On the left hand portion of the page is a collaged, hand-drawn diagram of the quilt-like design of the central image of the fourth illustration of Canto 34 . There are, in fact, 34 separate images starting with Dark Wood in the upper left hand corner, and including excerpts from Virgil in his study, Heads, No entry, Papal skull and crossbones, Concrete poem etc. Small print fragments making up seven of the squares are collaged to the top half of the page. Phillips' handwritten text indicates that talks about publishing Dante as a trade book continue. He notes that the first bound copy of Vol II is almost on schedule. He is finishing up bits of work on the last pages and is starting on the acknowledgements and the justification of the tirage. Phillips writes a particularly poignant account of the creation of the final page in the...

Scope and Contents Page 55 is titled "Dante & the Laser Scanner in Stuttgart." A large printed collage from the printed Dante showing three feline animals is pasted on the left side of the page.The upper right corner contains a torn portion of an announcement from the British Library exhibition celebrating Virgil's 200th anniversary. The middle section contains watercolor drawings ink drawings and diary notes. Phillips writes, "the nine large prints all finished now. Alan rings to say that T&H are interested in my version of Dante, but more promising in NY Abbeville Press aptly named to partner Talfourd Press since I used to go along Abbeville Road every day to school )are also keen. I'll believe it when I see it. Canto XXXIII rescued now with a concrete poem. Saw Peter Greenaway's ' The Draughtman's Contract' ...Brilliant. In him I meet my match (& more). Vol II now all printed and ready for binding. Bad days at 102. Gave up smoking again." -- Source of annotation: Marvin or Ruth...

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Page 56 is titled "Binding I." This page contains several ink and graphite drawings of binding designs and collaged prints of the same, along with a sample leather piece. Also collaged in the lower irght hand corner is the"First proof of the end paper later revised and made darker."Phillips writes, "The two preliminary bindingsof blank books go to the V&A for the Francis Williams Memorial Prize. Pella now has (II.VI.LXXII) the complete sections of Vol I...."First bound book completed (Vol L) XXXVII/VI/LXXXII. 1/4 vellum with designed cloth & endpaers. First order for same from Ann Berthoud." -- Source of annotation: Marvin or Ruth Sackner.

Scope and Contents Page 57 is titled "Dante Wins a Prize." The image on the page is an abstract watercolor with a painting of three dancing figures at the bottom left and a black and white collage of two cut-up fleurs de lys on the bottom right. In his diary Phillips writes about his childhood memory of Dante."Talking to my Mother this past Saturday confirmed a half memory: when my brother and I were collecting scrap paper and books during the war (when I must have been six or seven. )We collected a lot of books (for pulping!) and amongst them was, red and gold and by far the most spectacular which we looked through before delivering to the depot.This was Dante's Inferno: the large edition with the Gustave Dore illustrations (a book which I've since acquired and reprints of which I've plundered for collage purposes). I remembered the book and size and feel & magnificence of it but it took my mother's memory to tell me what it was." Page 58 in PVC laminate is missing. -- Source of annotation:...

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Page 58 is not numbered.There are Roman numerals LXXXVIII on the right hand side of th page. It is titled in stenciled letters "Thinking of a postcard hell." It contains a partially ripped postcard of a holiday camp over which Phillips has painted very small figures in a large pool. The main portion of the page is a block of 36 small squares filled with painted sketches of what Phillips titles" Postcard Inferno." -- Source of annotation: Marvin or Ruth Sackner.

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This 60th page is titled "Dante in South London." In large letters on the center of the page Phillips has printed " The first book sold on the open market XIVth April LXXX." There are three photographs of the Dante statue at the Crystal Palace taken by Jill Phillips on the bottom of the page. On the top right of the page is a torn portion of a card printed with the only actual quotation from Dante appearing in S. London on a card from a Peckham sweet shop. It reads "Abandon hope all you who enter here." Phillips writes "Standard error in translating this line" and draws an arrow to reposition the word "all" to be placed before "hope." On this diary page Phillips reveals his financial and distribution problems in completing the Dante project. -- Source of annotation: Marvin or Ruth Sackner.

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Page 61 contains a great deal of diary writing.Phillips writes ,"Last page delivered by Nick Hunter on the 700th anniversary of Dante's meeting with Beatrice on the bridge. 3 copies were sold by Waddington. first of the Production of Talfourd Press London. from November 1976 - April 1988. six & a half years!" There is a small profile of Dante on the upper right side of the page with a bubble saying "Whew!" An extended paragraph of Phillips' writing gives acknowledgement to all those at the press who made this production possible.He also expresses disappointment with Thames and Hudson and Abbeville Press in not supporting the book.This page also contains several small sketches and rubberstampings. -- Source of annotation: Marvin or Ruth Sackner.

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Page 62 contains a stencilled title on the page bottom "First production of the Talfourd Press - LXXXIII." There is a photograph on the top left of Basil Bunting with Stuart and Mrs. Montgomery looking through the Inferno.The upper right corner contains a copy of a review of '''"The Daughtman's Contract by Peter Greenaway.Phiillps writes that he has started work on notes for a film version of Inferno with Peter Greenaway.The center of the page contains three lar adn several small sketches of Phillips' initials signature at the end of the Inferno. -- Source of annotation: Marvin or Ruth Sackner.

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This eighty-eighth page of the Dante Diary, dated July 10, 1979-81, is stamped in capital letters on the bottom "Thinking of a postcard hell." Thirty four small square gouache drawings each with calligraphic descriptions form a 6x6 grid. The first square contains the title "Postcard Inferno" and the final square is a swimming scene of two bathers from an old postcard fragment. The left side of the page depicts a scene of a bathing pool from Butlin's luxury holiday camp. According to the artist box that was sent to the Sackners by Phillips the last drawing in this series should have been No.62 but is labeled No.83. -- Source of annotation: Marvin or Ruth Sackner.

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This fifth page from the Dante Diary, which is dated June 24, 1979 to September 15, 1979, depicts four graphite renderings of hands and several sketches of ideas for illustrations to the Inferno. Phillips describes several ideas specifying the source of light in his drawings, e.g., from an opened shutter onto an opened book. Two sketches depict Dante at his desk writing in a book. -- Source of annotation: Marvin or Ruth Sackner.

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This sixth page from the Dante Diary, which is dated September 15, 1979, depicts several sketches for illustrations to the Inferno. He mentions dividing the work into three books and indicates that he is working on a piece entitled 'Virgil in His Study.' He includes a Jewish star, perhaps an idea for a collage later executed in [Persecution] 1993 and held by the Sackner Archive. -- Source of annotation: Marvin or Ruth Sackner.

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This seventh page from Dante Diary, which is dated November 2, 1979, has the caption, "MY HAND NOW VIRGILS HAND," rubberstamped at the bottom of the page. The images depict five graphite renderings of hands holding a pencil and a skull placed at the center with Escher-like rooms and figures walking and falling within the skull. The latter was selected by Phillips for his large montage print of illustrative elements from the Dante Diary. In the handwritten text, Phillips describes his problems in finding the right drapery for his figure of Virgil. The verso contains repeated hand sketches in graphite. -- Source of annotation: Marvin or Ruth Sackner.

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This eighth page from Dante Diary is dated September 30, 1979 in Roman numerals. The caption, "dante in brazil," is stencilled on its top left corner. The phrases, EDIFICIO DANTE SP [Sao Paulo] and O COPACABANA ! are rubberstamped in red ink at the top and bottom of the page, respectively. Phillips has made an ink, line drawing of a beach scene, which is populated with many nude figures, on the bottom half of the page. The latter image is similar to one utilized in Phillips' TV Dante made for British TV4 in 1987. The handwritten text deals with Phillips' adventures in Sao Paulo, Brazil, and includes mention of Dante's name cited on commercial buildings. -- Source of annotation: Marvin or Ruth Sackner.

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This tenth page from Dante Diary which is Oct 1979, was drawn in Sao Paulo. Text at the top left corner reads, "In search of the CATAGRAMMA NEGLECTA" - a butterfly specimen that Phillips continued to search for. He writes tht David Attenborogh has two specimens in his attic. This page is collaged with two sugar packets that give astrological signs and fortunes, two collaged drawings of female nudes and collaged papers containing the name Dantesco and Do Inferno. There are also rubberstamped butterflies. -- Source of annotation: Marvin or Ruth Sackner.

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This eleventh page from Dante Diary which is not dated is titled" Dante in Somerset" on the top in yellow stencilled letters. A large gray painted oblong at the botton center of the page contains a white signature of Tom Phillips.There are several rubberstamped butterflies on the right with the stamped name borboleta.On the left lower side printed in stencilled letters is the statement "A victory for Dean Plumtre XVIII X LXXIX" -- Source of annotation: Marvin or Ruth Sackner.

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This twelth page from Dante Diary which is dated 15 November1979 contains many ink drawings of constructed brick-like forms. In one a young painted face emerges.Tom writes of his efforts to find backers for the Dante project. He is looking for a helper/factotum and John Furnival sent a girl called Debbie who seems promising.Tom writes that he "finished complete first boo kof 2nd draft. Did study for frontspiece for Stereo Headphones..Virgil drawing finished." -- Source of annotation: Marvin or Ruth Sackner.

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This thirteenth page from Dante Diary which is dated 30 November1979 contains several colorful small gouache drawings on the right side of the page.The left edge of the paper has a burnt portion missing. There are two sketches of arrangements for pages to be displayed and the bottom center contains a blank outline of a man's torso. -- Source of annotation: Marvin or Ruth Sackner.

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This fourteenth page from the Dante Diary, which is dated Jan 2,1980 finds Tom Phillips in Italy.The page is collaged with several Italian stamps illustrating scenes from The Divine Comedy and portraits of Dante, Italian newspaper fragments and Phillips' sketches. -- Source of annotation: Marvin or Ruth Sackner.

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This nineteenth page from Dante Diary contains fragments from the Ghanian Times, torn letters spelling Dante, a map segment, portion of a cigarette box, photos taken by Phillips, a newspaper photo of the visit of Pope John Paul II and a label from Ghana Guiness. -- Source of annotation: Marvin or Ruth Sackner.