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Literature
622. James M. Barrie Autograph Letter Signed. ALS signed “J. M. Barrie,” one
page, 5.5 x 7.25, personal letterhead, March 17, 1910. Handwritten letter about royalties for Peter Pan, in part: “This to acknowledge receipt of the royalties due me for Peter Pan…up to end of season 1909–1910.” Affixed to a larger page and In fine condition; reverse of the page bears affixed signatures of Stuart Robson and Blanche Whiffen. A desirable autograph with reference to his most famous work, which had debuted at the Duke of York’s Theatre in 1904. Starting Bid $200
Beset by “plans & projects & other obstructions,” Mark Twain declines an invitation
signed “S. L. Clemens,” one page, 4.75 x 7.75, Riverdale on the Hudson letterhead, [April 1, 1901]. Handwritten letter to “Miss Howard,” in full: “I thank you very much for your kind invitation, which is certainly enticing, but unfortunately for me my plans & projects & other obstructions will not allow me the privilege of accepting it. You must forgive my tardiness—I have been South a month, & have since been over-burdened with arrears of work.” Nicely matted with a portrait to an overall size of 14 x 11. In fine condition. Starting Bid $300
“Love is the law, love under will”—extremely rare letter from “A. Crowley,” written from his newly opened Collegium ad Spiritum Sanctum
625. Aleister Crowley Typed Letter Signed.
English occultist, ceremonial magician, painter, mountaineer, and prolific writer (1875–1947) who founded the religion of Thelema, identifying himself as the prophet entrusted with guiding humanity into the Æon of Horus in the early 20th century. TLS signed “A. Crowley,” one page, 9 x 5.75, November 2, 1920. Written from the Collegium ad Spiritum Sanctum in Cefalu, Sicily, a letter to the publishing house George Bell & Sons, in part: “You will by now have received the balance of the account due to you. I have transferred my interests in the stock to the Collegium ad Spiritum Sanctum and authorize you to deliver same to their order. Love is the law, love under will.” In very good to fine condition, with scattered light staining and creasing. The first Crowley letter that we have ever offered. Starting Bid $300
626. Philip K. Dick Typed Letter Signed. TLS signed
“Love, Phil,” who adds a heart with arrow,” one page, 8.5 x 11, January 13, 1981. Letter to science fiction author Patricia Warrick, in part: “I experienced enhanced perception fused with enhanced conception...it is a step ahead in terms of seeing-conceiving world...I saw what is extant as it really is. Although just for a short time. It was incredibly beautiful, exactly as Pythagoras says. I saw his living, self-completing kosmos! This most of all!” In fine condition. Accompanied by the original mailing envelope. Starting Bid $200
Dickens agrees to review a manuscript, but warns: “I have never known myself to possess the least influence with any publisher”
one page, 4.5 x 6.5, Tavistock House letterhead, April 5, 1858. Handwritten letter to Nelson Lee, agreeing to look over his manuscript. In full: “I will with pleasure look over your manuscript and tell you what I think of it, if you will address it to me here at your convenience. But I am bound. to add that here my power of rendering you any service will stop, for I have never known myself to possess the least influence with any publisher, on behalf of another person.” Attractively double-matted with an engraved portrait to an overall size of 13 x 10. In fine condition. Accompanied by a full letter of authenticity from JSA. Starting Bid $200
628. Charles Dickens Signed Free Frank. Hand-addressed and free-franked mailing panel, 5 x 2.75, no date, addressed by Dickens to “A Monsieur: Mons’r J. C. d’Armond Gerkens, The Hague,” and franked in the lower left, “Charles Dickens.” Matted and framed with a portrait and biographical caption to an overall size of 18 x 18. In very good to fine condition, with scattered light foxing, toning, and soiling. Starting Bid $200
signed “A. Conan Doyle,” one page, 5 x 7, Windlesham, Crowborough, Sussex letterhead, April 30, [no year]. Handwritten letter to a gentleman, in full: “You certainly should be a Spiritualist after your experiences—this that is the only Philosophy which has a place for such things. Should raps come again try to establish a code. Say ‘Please rap twice’ and so on. That was really how this movement began. I send some literature which may open up avenues.” In fine condition, with horizontal stains from onetime storage in a magnetic photo album. Starting Bid $200
630. Henrik Ibsen Annotated Visiting Card. Revered
Norwegian playwright and poet (1828–1906) whose works, including A Doll’s House and Hedda Gabler, made him one of the seminal figures of modern drama. Personal visiting card imprinted with Ibsen’s name, 4.25 x 2.75, annotated below in his hand, “Adresse: Herrn Jacob Hegel, Kopenhagen, Danemark.” In very good to fine condition, with overall soiling, and old mounting remnants on the back. Starting Bid $200 631. Samuel Pepys Partial Document Signed. \ Partial
manuscript DS, signed “Pepys,” one page, 7 x 4.75, June 1, 1667. Partial financial document concerning funds allocated by Parliament, signed at the conclusion by Samuel Pepys (“Pepys”), William Penn (“W. Penn”), John Mennes (“Jo: Mennes:”), and William Brouncker (“Brouncker”). Affixed to a larger sheet and in very good condition, with overall foxing and a clipped corner affecting the bottom of Pepys’ signature. Starting Bid $200
Marvelous, content-rich handwritten letter from Tolkien, refuting the presence of symbolism or allegory in Middle-earth: “To ask if the Orcs ‘are’ Communists is to me as sensible as asking if Communists are Orcs”
633. J. R. R. Tolkien Autograph Letter Signed.
Magnificent ALS from J. R. R. Tolkien, one page both sides, 6.75 x 8.5, personal 76 Sandfield Road, Headington, Oxford letterhead, November 17, 1957. Handwritten letter to Herbert Schiro, in part: “I was delighted with your letter, which I shall certainly keep. There is nothing much really to say (beyond recording the pleasure that your enjoyment and sympathy give me), as you understand the matter so well. There is no ‘symbolism’ or conscious allegory in my story. Allegory of the sort ‘five wizards = five senses’ is wholly foreign to my way of thinking. There were five wizards and that is just a unique part of history. To ask if the Orcs ‘are’ Communists is to me as sensible as asking if Communists are Orcs. That there is no ‘allegory’ does not, of course, say there is no applicability. There always is. And since I have not made the struggle wholly unequivocal: sloth and stupidity among hobbits, pride and escapism among Elvs, grudge and greed in Dwarfheart, and folly and wickedness among the ‘Kings of Men,’ and treachery and power-lust even among the ‘Wizards,’ there is I suppose applicability in my story to present times. But I should say, if asked, that it is not really about Power and Domination: that only gets the wheel going; it is about Death and the desire for deathlessness. Which is hardly more than to say it is a tale written by a Man!” Matted and framed with Tolkien’s original hand-addressed mailing envelope to an overall size of 12 x 19.75; the frame’s glass backing allows viewing for the second page. In fine condition. Starting Bid $2500
636. Voltaire Letter Signed. LS in French, signed “Voltaire,” one page, 7.5 x 9.25, November 4, 1761. Letter to ClaudePhilippe Fyot de La Marche, in part (translated): “My body is ill, Monsieur; my soul is well, because it is full of you...I am at a loss about a large packet that I sent you concerning fetishes, but you may be sure that the great Corneille is still more precious to me than the little President de Brosse. I had requested that you let me know whether your engraver could undertake a dozen prints; half of the monument would be set up under your auspices...You have reawakened my old passion for you, and you will not leave me there after having turned my head. Wherever you are, have the kindness to give me your orders, and accept the tender respects of an ill man.” In fine condition, with scattered light stains. Starting Bid $300
signed “Voltaire,” one page, 7.25 x 9.75, May 26. Handwritten letter to Monsieur Fabri, sent from his home in Geneva, “Les Délices,” commenting on some financial difficulties. In full (translated): “I await each day, Monsieur, the money coming to me by way of public conveyances, considering that the exchange rate in Geneva is too high. Once I have something, I will be at your orders. I ask you to have a little empathy for my small troubles. I have been forced to send the workers off on circuit. Once I am at Ferney, I will have the honor of requesting an hour of your time.” In fine condition. Starting Bid $300
