New York: N.p., 1963

Single leaf, folded once to make 4 pp., 148 x 112 mm, printed on front panel only. A little bumping to corners, some light marking, but very good.

Printed invitation to a party celebrating Auden's birthday and the publication of Chester Kallman's Absent And Present. HARRIET McELWEE'S INVITATION, HER NAME WRITTEN IN IN AUDEN'S HAND.

The party took place on 21 February 1963 at Auden's home in New York's East Village. Harriet McElwee was the daughter of Bill McElwee, a longstanding friend of Auden's from his university days. McElwee had been an undergraduate at Christ Church, Oxford, and the two friends spent part of the Christmas vacation of 1926 visiting Austria together. Auden had clearly been attracted to McElwee, writing poetry to and about him which left no doubt, but most biographers agree that the relationship was always platonic, which probably explains its longevity.

At McElwee's request Auden had invited Harriet, new in town, to a dinner party the previous year. The two had got on well, and Harriet subsequently found herself on Auden's guest list for social events such as this.