A collection of manuscripts and draft poems written by David Wevill will be returned to the Canadian poet ahead of Bonhams' planned auction of the Roy Davids Collection on May 8.

Wevill (second from right), pictured here with other poets, was friends with Ted Hughes and Sylvia Plath

The "rediscovered" collection was due to be sold in London for £10,000 ($15,311), but Wevill expressed his distress on hearing of the sale, apparently fearing that the 1,000+ pages may not be accessible to himself or scholars in the future.

As such, Bonhams has stated that Roy Davids has decided to give the collection to Wevill as a gift, with the poet telling Postmedia News that he was grateful for the "thoughtfulness and generosity" of the collector.

More of the Roy Davids collection - considered the finest selection of poetry ever offered at auction - was seen on April 10, setting a new world record for a poem by Charlotte Bronte.