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Art, Architecture, and Design
498. Michael Collins Signed Beta Cloth. An 8.5 x 9.25
swatch of Beta cloth bearing a central design of the Apollo 11 mission insignia, signed in black felt tip “Michael Collins, Apollo XI CMP.” In very fine condition. Accompanied by a photograph of Collins holding this piece at an Astronaut Central private signing. Starting Bid $200
French, signed “Dali,” one page, 5.25 x 8.25, 1934. Handwritten letter to an unidentified recipient, ostensibly the art dealer Julien Levy, in part (translated): “Dear friends, we think we will leave on the 31st or maybe the 7th, I am bringing the best paintings that I’ve recently painted. There are 6, you will find the titles in the little catalogue from a little exhibition of paintings in Barcelona.” Dali then describes the paintings, “‘Instantaneous presence of Luis II de Baviera, Salvador Dali, Lenin and Wagner on the beach at Roses,” before continuing: “I am leaning towards your idea about creating an amusing catalogue using the paintings you have. I think we might have to change the word Brayette [codpiece] to homelete [omelette], which signifies the same thing.” The reverse side contains the first page of a letter penned in the hand of his wife, Gala Dali, presumably to the same recipient, which is dated October 17, 1934. In fine condition, with a very short edge tear due to ink erosion. Starting Bid $500
More images available online at www.RRAuction.com
585. Buckminster Fuller (4) Signed Items as Part of the Roger W. Stoller Design Archive. Archive from the
personal collection of sculptor Roger W. Stoller, dating to the mid-1970s when he worked as the personal assistant to visionary architect and geodesic dome creator Buckminster Fuller. The archive contains four items signed by Fuller: a sketch of a “3 Human Octahedron,” drawn inside a notebook used extensively by Stoller as Fuller’s assistant; a copy of the album Dymaxion Ditties: The Greatest Hits of Buckminster Fuller album; a TLS dated July 30, 1976, referencing an exhibit for the Cooper-Hewitt National Museum of Design; and a Walt Disney World ID card, dated October 31, 1975. In overall fine condition. A more comprehensive listing of this impressive archive can be found in our online description. Starting Bid $200
Rare image of Gauguin with the Pont-Aven group
586. Paul Gauguin Photograph. Rare original unsigned
sepia 6.25 x 4.25 albumen photograph of three artists of the Pont-Aven School—Paul Gauguin, Ferdinand du Puigaudeau, and Charles Laval—outside a coffee shop in the village of Pont Aven, circa 1886–1887. Annotated on the image and below in an unknown hand, identifying the subjects. In very good to fine condition, with tears to the edges of the image. Original photographs of Gauguin are very scarce, especially those showing him with fellow artists. Starting Bid $200
Gauguin writes to Pissarro: “The Renoir exhibition has a little less people than that of Claude Monet”
587. Paul Gauguin Autograph Letter Signed. ALS in
French, signed “P. Gauguin,” three pages, 3.75 x 6, [1882]. Handwritten letter to his friend and mentor Camille Pissarro, comparing the turnout for exhibitions by their Impressionist colleagues. In part (translated): “Your orders will be faithfully carried out and your paintings will be taken to his house; I’m going there this evening to come to an understanding with him on this subject. I hardly expect to see you until around the 21st of this month. The Renoir exhibition has a little less people than that of Claude Monet; saw yesterday at my brother-in-law’s house a Norwegian art critic who thought that we should put a painting by Claude Monet in Luxembourg—I am sending you a little thing by Théodore de Banville is that of the movement we are talking about or of a man in Mr. Arosa was buried Thursday I received a letter to share for you entrusted to my care (we did not know your address). I am not sending it to you, it is useless but I am warning you so that you send your card, like me, moreover, who did not go there. You’ve had a streak of good weather. I hope you have been able to work very well. And your dinner went well you don’t tell me about it. Was the union formed with the irremovable and was the death of the yellows decreed?” In fine condition. A significant handwritten letter by the influential painter, recording his artistic observations in the year of the the seventh Impressionist exhibition at the Durand-Ruel Gallery in Paris. Starting Bid $2500
588. Oskar Kokoschka Original
Sketch. Rare and sought-after original sketch by Oskar Kokoschka of what appears to be a figure reading a book, accomplished in fountain pen on an off-white 9 x 7.25 sheet, signed by Kokoschka, who adds an untranslated sentiment above. In fine condition, with small chips to the top edge, easily matted out. Starting Bid $500
Manet provides instructions for the sale of “La Liseuse by Miss Cassat” after the fourth exhibition of the Impressionists
French, signed “E. Manet,” one page, 4.25 x 6.75, April 17, [1879]. Fantastic handwritten letter referring to a painting by Mary Cassett, in full (translated): “At the end of the exhibition, you will send La Liseuse [The Reader] by Miss Cassat to Mr. Antonin Proust deputy 32 Bd Haussmann where you will receive the agreed 300 francs.” Matted to an overall size of 7 x 9. In fine condition.
Manet refers to the fourth exhibition of the Impressionists, in April 1879, at 28 avenue de l’Opéra. Mary Cassatt exhibited twelve paintings there, including her Reading Woman (today at the Joslyn Museum in Omaha, Nebraska). The art critic and politician Antonin Proust (1832–1905), a friend of Manet, was one of Mary Cassatt’s first buyers. A significant association piece. Starting Bid $300
590. Pablo Picasso Signed Book.
Signed French language book: Pour Voir… Aix en Provence by Marie-Louise Bataille. Paris: Maison du Livre Francais (Collection Helios), 1933. Softcover, 6.5 x 7.75. Signed on the title page in ballpoint, “Picasso.” In fine condition, with a short hinge separation to the top of the front cover. Starting Bid $200
591. Auguste Rodin Autograph Letter Signed. ALS
in French, signed “Rodin,” one page, 4.5 x 7, 182 rue de l’Universite letterhead (the address of his studio), no date. Untranslated handwritten letter to a friend. In fine condition. Starting Bid $200 593. Zao Wou-ki Typed Letter Signed. Chinese-French
painter (1920–2013) known for his large abstract works. TLS, one page, 8.25 x 4, personal letterhead, no date but postmarked June 27, 1994. Letter of thanks to an admirer, in part (translated): “It is my turn to send you my warmest thanks for your wishes and the interest you have shown for many years in my work.” In very fine condition. Accompanied by the original mailing envelope. Starting Bid $200
Lautrec accepts an 1887 exhibition invitation from fellow painter Theo van Rysselberghe
593. Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec Autograph Letter
Signed. ALS in French, signed “H. de T. Lautrec,” four black-bordered pages on two adjoining sheets, 4.5 x 7, no date [November 1887, Paris]. Handwritten letter to the Belgian neo-impressionist painter Theo van Rysselberghe, in part (translated): “I want to thank you for the invitation that I owe obviously a lot more to your recommendation than to my own worth. I have urged Forant to send things to you most probably and I hope so because his work is a real delight. Now I must ask to make a request without wanting to exaggerate or to count too much on your kindness. One of my good comrades Albert Adolphe who has shown at the exhibition of the eintransigeants in Paris has asked me to ask you if there is still some room for new invitations and please think about it. He would be very happy to show his painting with yours and mine. I send you his request asking to do for him what you have done so kindly for us all. Now to thank you in advance. I ask you to believe me very cordially yours.” Lautrec also adds his address. In fine condition. An exquisite letter from Lautrec, unknown at the time and flattered by Van Rysselberghe’s invitation to a popular Parisian exhibition. Most letters from Latrec are directed to his mother, with this uncommon, beautifully signed example, which boasts wonderful artistic connections, the first of a recorded 10 sent to Van Rysselberghe. Starting Bid $500
