This first page from Dante Diary, which is dated from February 28, 1979 to March 19, 1979, includes several indirect references to Ruth and Marvin Sackner. First, there is a sketch of a large drawing which was subsequently acquired by the Sackner Archive, "Letters from a Crane Skin Bag." Then Phillips mentions that Grove Press is working on a portfolio of Dante heads for "Martin Ackerman's [financial] scheme. Phillips introduced Ackerman to the Sackners who became became a close personal friends as well as continuing supporters of Phillips' work. Tom Phillips writes that a portrait of Hilary Hugh-Jones is in progress in the studio. Hugh-Jones was a friend of the Sackners. "Pella meets me from Edinburg" refers to Pella Erskine-Tulloch, Tom's bookbinder and friend whose work is well represented in the Archive. Finally, Phillips composed a poem about Mallarme whose most important work, "Un Coup de Des," became the initial starting point for the Sackner Archive collection. [There was a French poet (Mallarme) - Who otherwise wouldn't harm a - Fly. Yet if you trouble to look - It up you'll find he insists - That everything in the world exists - Only in order to become a book.] Other sketches on the page include a study for a binding cover, several variations of 'African' heads, and four studies for 'In the dark wood.' All of the first 31 works of the Dante Diar are housedin a single artist box. The dimensions of all the drawings are based on their sizes not the PVC laminates that measure 37.7 x 40.8 cm. -- Source of annotation: Marvin or Ruth Sackner.