21 minute read
Literature
Handwritten poems in Danish and French by the beloved fairy tale author
530. Hans Christian Andersen Autograph Manuscript Signed. Beloved Danish author (1805–1875) best
known for such classic fairy tales as The Ugly Duckling, The Red Shoes, and The Emperor’s New Clothes. Fantastic autograph poems in Danish and French, one page, 13 x 10.25, signed at the conclusion, “Souvenir de H. C. Andersen, Paris 26 April 1843.” Andersen pens four bilingual stanzas of one of his poems, headed “Le Soldat” on the French side. In very good to fine condition, with a trimmed left edge, some small edge tears, and reinforcement on the back of the separated central vertical fold. An impressive handwritten piece from the famed writer, whose literary manuscripts are very rare in the autograph market. Starting Bid $500
Rare signed first edition of Karel Capek’s R.U.R.—the play that introduced ‘robot’ to the global lexicon
531. Karel Capek Signed Book. One of the most influential
Czech writers of the 20th century (1890–1938) who introduced and made popular the word ‘robot,’ which first appeared in his 1921 play R.U.R. (Rossum’s Universal Robots). Extremely rare signed Czech book: R.U.R.: Rossum’s Universal Robots. First edition. Prague: Aventinum, 1920. Softcover, 6 x 8.75, 96 pages. Signed on the first page in fountain pen by the author, “Karel Capek.” Autographic condition: fine, with light edge toning to the signed page. Book condition: VG-, with professional restorations made to losses on the spine and wrapper extremities, textblock clean but with several pages detached from the binding, and some light toning and soiling. Accompanied by a custom-made clamshell case.
This first edition of R.U.R., published in an edition of 2,000, preceded the play’s premier in Prague in early 1921. It came stateside with performances in New York in 1922, and was released in an English translation in 1923. Karel Capek and his brother Josef derived ‘robot’ from the Czech word ‘robota,’ meaning ‘forced labor,’ and introduced the word in R.U.R. Starting Bid $1000
Hand-addressed envelope panel by the Russian master of the short story
532. Anton Chekhov Handwritten
Envelope Panel. Exceedingly rare address panel from the front of a mailing envelope, 5.25 x 3.25, addressed in Anton Chekhov’s hand to Captain Alexander Ivanovitch of the 22nd East Siberian Front Regiment, 10th Company, with an affixed postage stamp and two postal cancellations, one dated April 13, 1904. Affixed to a slightly larger card and in very good condition, with a few tears and rough edges. Accompanied by a letter in French by his wife, signed “Olga Tchekhova Knipper,” sending her correspondent the front panel from her husband’s envelope, explaining that it was sent by Chekhov from the Crimea while he was serving in the Manchurian Army in the war against Japan in 1904. Starting Bid $300
Scarce ‘Savage Club’ portrait signed by Mark Twain
533. Samuel L. Clemens Signed Photograph.
Significant vintage matte-finish 5.25 x 7.5 photo of Samuel Clemens gazing directly into the camera, taken by Ernest H. Mills of Hampstead, signed in fountain pen, “Mark Twain.” Presented in its original 10 x 12.5 mat, imprinted with the facsimile signatures of members of the Savage Club and the legend, “Mark Twain, From his Brother Savages, July 6th 07.” Archivally matted and framed to an overall size of 14.5 x 17.25. In good to very good condition, with heavy silvering, toning, and staining to the image; the mat is also stained, scuffed, and likely clipped at its lower right corner. Starting Bid $300
534. Samuel L. Clemens Signature. Large pencil signature,
“Mark Twain,” on a 7.25 x 8.25 book page with printed text: “Book of Words.” Collector’s notation to the lower left dates the autograph to August 1908. In very good to fine condition, with folds, creases, and scattered light foxing. Starting Bid $200
Dick and his wife rent a house in Fullerton “where he composed the final draft of A Scanner Darkly”
535. Philip K. Dick Document Signed Twice. Twice-signed DS, one page, 8.5 x 11, March 14, 1975. Rental agreement between Cecil and Dorthy Knudson and “Philip K. & Tessa B. Dick,” who agree to rent an “Unfurnished 3 bedroom house located at 2461 Santa Ysabel Street, Fullerton, California, for a tenancy from month-to-month…at a monthly rental of…$275.” Signed at the conclusion in blue ballpoint by both Dick and his wife, with both also signing again on the reverse. In very good to fine condition, with short edge tears, and a light stain to the left edge. Accompanied by a handwritten letter of provenance from Leslie “Tessa” Busby, Dick’s fifth wife, who writes: “This is the little 3-bedroom house where he composed the final draft of A Scanner Darkly, working from the rough draft that he had composed in our apartment.” Starting Bid $200
Dick on the second part of The Unteleported Man—“I really doubt if it would be worth your time to read it; I don’t think it’s worth my time, and I wrote the darn thing”
536. Philip K. Dick Typed Letter Signed. TLS, one page, 8.5 x 11, October
11, 1977. Letter to Mr. Hughes, in part: “Part two of THE UNTELEPORTED MAN was written in 1964, a number of years after Part One was written—for Amazing/ Fantastic, by the way, in response to a cover they had gotten and wanted to use. They needed a story to go with the cover, so they sent me a photo of the cover and I came up with 40,000 words…As to the contents of Part Two…the writing wasn’t very good, and I don’t blame Don for rejecting it. I really doubt if it would be worth your time to read it; I don’t think it’s worth my time, and I wrote the darn thing.” In fine condition. Starting Bid $200
537. Charles Dickens Autograph Letter Signed. ALS, one page, 3.75 x 4.75, Office of All the Year Round letterhead, October 30, 1869. Handwritten letter to “Fitzgerald,” in part: “Make yourself quite easy. There is not the slightest need for hurry, and you can take your own time. I have a story in 2 parts still to place in No.’s not made up.” Matted and framed with a portrait and calligraphic transcript to an overall size of 19.75 x 12.25. In very good condition, with creasing, soiling, and wrinkling. Starting Bid $200
signed “Gv. Flaubert,” one page, 5 x 8, August 24, 1869. Beautiful handwritten letter by the illustrious author to his “dear and venerable friend” Jean Clogenson, a month after the death of one of their common friends, Flaubert’s best friend and poet Louis Bouilhet. In part (translated): “Yes! Certainly! Your verses should be printed. Nothing good should be lost...I shall have less trouble next week, and would like to spend quite a long time with you. I embrace you tenderly, my dear and venerable friend.” The verses he references are probably Bouilhet’s verses rather than Clogenson’s verses. The recipient has clipped and affixed the original address panel (also penned in Flaubert’s hand) to the second integral sheet. In fine condition. Starting Bid $200
539. Robert Frost Autograph Quotation
Signed. AQS on an off-white 5.75 x 4.5 album page. Frost pens a line from his poem ‘Mending Wall,’ in full: “Something there is that doesn’t love a wall, Robert Frost.” In fine condition, with light edge toning and scattered light foxing, all easily matted out. First published in 1914’s North of Boston, ‘Mending Wall’ has become one of the most-anthologized and studied pieces of American poetry. Starting Bid $200
Anti-slavery poem from the hand of Victor Hugo
540. Victor Hugo Autograph Poem Signed. Autograph
poem in French, signed “Victor Hugo,” one page, 7.25 x 9, inscribed at the head, “A Madame de Santoret.” Handwritten anti-slavery poem by Hugo, a leading spokesman for the abolitionist cause in France. In full (translated):
“Saint-Gervais horsemen of granite and basalt Teutonic prince penguins adorned with the Maltese cross Stood on pedestals at the crossroads From Herculaneum to Saint-Romain Doomed pedestals, surreptitious cornices Here are the slave traders with their hookah pipes Horse escorts with their crushing hooves The tumbling pebbles disturbing the crows Cover yourself with saltpetre and dress in mourning Because these slavers will mow down the Cinqfoils [French flower with heraldic symbolism].”
In fine condition, with a light paperclip impression to the top edge, and small pieces of tape to the top corners. A highly desirable and evidently unpublished original poem by the great French writer. Starting Bid $300
Hugo rebuts a “bizarre attribution” in relation to his most important play, “Hernani”
541. Victor Hugo Autograph Letter Signed. ALS in
French, one page, 4.75 x 7.5, no date. Handwritten letter by the illustrious author, about religion and politics, and mentioning his most important play, ‘Hernani.’ In part (translated): “In a volume entitled Review of the Latin Races (30 September 1850), I read what the following: ‘I want the Pope in Rome and Charlemagne in Paris. And why not? Is it not the great democratic solution admirably put in verses by a poet which our century extols as the greatest among all poets? Read Hernani again, my dear colleague, and you will understand that Victor Hugo has once written to me: Everything which is not Catholicism and Monarchism is nothing but crime, daydreaming and fallacy.’ After this citation, only one word. These two lines, purported to be mine, have not been written by me. This bizarre attribution is, I think, the result of some mistake, and the author of this mistake will certainly very soon acknowledge it. Otherwise, I will challenge him to show the letter of which he writes about.” In fine condition, with a few small tears and creases. Starting Bid $200
Scarce handwritten letter from war correspondent Jack London, while embedded with the “First Japanese Army”
542. Jack London Autograph Letter Signed. ALS, one page, 8.75 x 4.5, May 6, 1904. Handwritten letter to Edgar Allen Forbes, written from “Headquarters, First Japanese Army,” during his time in Manchuria covering the Russo-Japanese War for the Hearst Syndicate. In full: “Your letter of March 14th has just come to hand to me here in the depths of Manchuria. This will explain long delay & my inability to send you a photograph.” In very good to fine condition, with trimmed edges, creases, and tears to the right side of the letter, and several small repairs on the reverse. Accompanied by the original mailing envelope, addressed in London’s hand and incorporating his name in the return address area. Starting Bid $200
543. Rudyard Kipling Autograph Letter Signed. ALS, one page both sides, 4.5 x 7, embossed Naulakha letterhead, January 25, 1896. Handwritten letter author and illustrator Mary Hallock Foote, known for her stories of the American West. In part: “Our babe has approached literature in a large & serene spirit, arguing from the Jungle Books she assumes that all the Books on my shelves were written by ‘Faver’ and the pictures to them were drawn by ‘Gran’faver’—all for her. It’s a good view to take when you come to consider it: and I grieve for her awakening. She is a great child and the delight of our days. We are expecting her successor in a few days and so far thank God all omens point favourably.” He adds a handwritten postscript, initialed “RK,” in full: “If you wouldn’t think it impertinent, I’d like to have three (3) copies of the Cup of Trembling to send over the other side with an eye to reviews.” In fine condition. Accompanied by the original mailing envelope addressed in Kipling’s own hand, as well as a letter to Foote by his wife, Caroline Kipling, dated February 19, 1893, commenting on her daughter, home, and travels. Both letters, along with interpretive research, were published in the June 2021 issue of The Kipling Journal, a copy of which is included. A superb letter in which Kipling refers to his “Jungle Books”—The Jungle Book (1894) and The Second Jungle Book (1895)—two of his most famous and popular works. Starting Bid $200
544. Maurice Sendak Signed Sketch. Original ballpoint sketch
of Carol from Where The Wild Things Are, accomplished by Sendak on an off-white 8 x 10 sheet, signed and inscribed in black ballpoint, “To Dave Zimmerman, Maurice Sendak, Feb. 91.” In fine condition. Starting Bid $200
Dr. Seuss sends wishes for a “Very Merry Grinch-less Christmas 1989”
546. Dr. Seuss Signed Sketch. Amazing
original signed felt tip sketch of the Grinch in a Santa Claus outfit accomplished by Dr. Seuss on a white 10.5 x 10 sheet, nicely signed and inscribed in black felt tip, “A Special Grinch and a Very Merry Grinch-less Christmas 1989 to Nellie Frye, from Dr. Seuss.” Handsomely double-matted and framed to an overall size of 16.5 x 16. In very fine condition. Starting Bid $200
Magnificently rare signed first edition of the final Dr. Seuss book, Oh, the Places You’ll Go!
545. Dr. Seuss Signed Book. Signed book: Oh, the Places You’ll Go! First edition. NY: Random House, 1990. Hardcover with dust jacket, 8.25 x 11.25, 44 pages. Signed and inscribed adjacent to the half-title page in black ink, “With very best wishes to Amy! Dr. Seuss.” Autographic condition: fine, with a tiny stain to extreme top edge. Book condition: VG+/VG+, with a tiny stain to the top edge of the textblock, slightly bumped corners, a soft diagonal crease to the front dust jacket flap, and some very subtle toning and soiling to the jacket. Accompanied by a letter of provenance from the original owner: “This book was given to me as a gift from my Grandmother when I was 3 years old in 1990. She was a personal acquaintance of Theodor Geisel / Dr. Seuss, they lived near each other and ran in similar social circles in La Jolla, CA.”
Signed examples of Oh, the Places You’ll Go!, the last Seuss book to be published during his lifetime, are virtually nonexistent, with RR Auction having sold one other last June; prior to that, our research reveals that no other example had sold at auction within the past 15 years. Starting Bid $1000
A birthday wish and sketch from Dr. Seuss
547. Dr. Seuss Signed Print with Sketch. Color 5.5 x 8.5 print
of the Cat in the Hat, signed and inscribed in black ink in three speech bubbles, “Happy fortieth Birthday to Tom Burford…,” “…from the cat…,” and “…and Dr. Seuss,” who has colored the speech bubbles with crayon and has added a small sketch of a worm-like creature seated on the brim of the iconic red-and-white-striped top hat. In very fine condition. Starting Bid $200
The great gonzo journalist lands his first writing gig in the Air Force
548. Hunter S. Thompson Document Signed. DS, signed
“Hunter Thompson,” one page, 8 x 10.5, July 9, 1956. A Military Personnel Base Clearance Record, TTAF (Technical Training Air Force), issued for the departure of “Thompson, Hunter S.,” from the 3327th STURON (Student Squadron) Air Force Base to be reassigned to “3201st CMN Sq., Elgin AFB, Fla.” Signed at the conclusion in black ink by Thompson. In fine condition, with some creasing, and rusty staple holes to the upper left corner. Encapsulated in a Beckett authentication holder. Boasting a rare full signature, this spectacularly early document predates and presages Thompson’s entrance into the world of journalism. Starting Bid $200
A day after winning the ‘International Fantasy Award,’ Tolkien writes a warm letter to his presenter, Oscar-winning screenwriter Clemence Dane
549. J. R. R. Tolkien Autograph Letter Signed. ALS, one page, 7 x 9, 76 Sandfield Road letterhead, September 11, 1957. Handwritten letter to Miss Dane, in full: “I did not succeed in thanking you as I should have liked for your kindness to me—in the full sense of that use-battered word: generosity and penetrating sympathy. It was a great pleasure meeting you. I wish we could have had more conversation.” In very good to fine condition, with scattered stains and light overall creasing. Clarence Dane CBE is the pseudonym of novelist, playwright, and Academy Award winner Winifred Ashton (1888-1965). Dane and Tolkien had met a day earlier on September 10, 1957, at the World Science Fiction Convention where Tolkien was presented with the International Fantasy Award. Starting Bid $300
Lengthy letter by Tolstoy on politics and religion: “Your ideas…on the horror of patriotism, of wars and of the armed peace it engenders, are very dear to me”
550. Leo Tolstoy Letter Signed. Remarkable LS in French,
signed “Votre ami et frére, Leon Tolstoy,” seven pages four sheets, 5.25 x 8.5, February 8, 1908. Letter to Franco-Polish journalist Sergei Zimaco, penned in French in the hand of Sophia Tolstaya, with a few annotations by Tolstoy himself. In part (translated): “You ask me if I share your ideas expressed in your letter and the brochure addressed to Nicholas II. I will try to answer this question as frankly and seriously as possible. Your ideas on property, especially on the odious ownership of land, on the horror of patriotism, of wars and of the armed peace it engenders, are very dear to me and I have made for a quarter of a century everything I could to popularise them as much as possible. To fight against the terrible superstition of landed property, I wrote to the head of the government, offering him the fine role of putting himself at the head of this restitution to the vast majority of the people of their most sacred rights. I repeat the same steps again now…
As for militarism, I am happy to say that every day I receive letters from my unknown friends, true Christians, who suffer imprisonment and the misery of their families, for the refusal of military service… So that as regards your fundamental principles and the results to which you tend, I completely agree with you. I think I can say that however small the results obtained by people who try to follow Christian principles to their full extent, these results are greater than those which the anarchist communists have hitherto achieved.
This brings me to the heart of the matter and the only difference of opinion that exists between us. You say that the social problem is above all an economic problem. I do not think so. The social problem, as you say, or the coming of the kingdom of God as you understand it and as I understand it is much larger. The economic problem is only a very small part of the arc of the circle. There are the relations of the sexes, the education of children, nationalities, the way of acting towards assailants, madmen, animals and a number of personal actions which do not enter into the economic problem, and which are the most important for humanity. All these problems cannot be solved by solving the economic problem. The solution of these problems and of all those that may arise before man is not in economic laws, but in the spiritual realm. Their solution is that given by the apostle John in his epistles. The solution is in the revelation of love.
I say ‘revelation’ because I believe that love is not a prescription but an interior law of man’s life; that love is the only means for man to attain happiness, to which he tends naturally. This law was revealed not only by Christianity, but by all the sages of the world: Egyptians, Chinese, Indians, Greeks etc. But it has only been accepted and understood by a very small minority. The history of mankind is nothing but the progressive realisation of this law, the acceptance of this law, the replacement of selfishness with love, not to reward them from beyond the grave, but for the true happiness of this life. This, my dear friend and brother, is my creed with which I lived the happiest last part of my life, and with which I await death at every moment, without desiring it and without being able to fear it.”
Reverse bears a note written in Zimico’s hand, in part (translated): “[Tolstoy]…consoled me for the many setbacks I received from certain French journalists in wanting to expose them… and defend the true doctrine of Jesus Christ.” In very good to fine condition, with light staining, toning, and soiling. Starting Bid $1000
Handwritten letter by Tolstoy with his advice on marriage: “Be careful not to be carried away by the carnal aspect”
551. Leo Tolstoy Autograph Letter Signed. ALS in
French, three pages on two adjoining sheets, 5.25 x 8.25, February 5, 1900. Rare and beautiful handwritten letter by the illustrious author, giving some advice on marriage to his “dear friend.” In part (translated): “What is good is that you are unhappy about yourself. This is the only way to make moral progress regarding your marriage project. I can only repeat what I already said several times and of which I am fully convinced: that one who cannot reach complete chastity makes ‘the next best,’ as the British put it, by marrying with the firm resolution not to forsake their wife until death. Only be careful not to be carried away by the carnal aspect of marriage, i.e. to marry a woman whose convictions are different from yours and who does not have enough humility and affection towards you in order to accept your convictions. In any case, this is a difficult and dangerous step, and one should think twice before making it.” In fine condition, with professional repairs on the reverse. Starting Bid $500
552. Leo Tolstoy Signature. Large ink signa-
ture, “Leo Tolstoy,” on an off-white 5.5 x 3.25 card. In very fine condition, with a trivial brush to the end of the signature. Starting Bid $200
553. Ivan Turgenev Autograph Letter Signed. ALS in French, signed “Iv. Tourgueneff,” three pages on two adjoining sheets, 5.25 x 8.25, personal monogram letterhead, March 5, 1873. Handwritten letter, in part (translated): “I am very pleased about the success of the concert given by Gounod… It’s a further nail in the heads of these dear Englishmen. I am also pleased to see that you have finally decided to go to London. You will have great times… your name and your talent, you have finally arrived and you will no longer need to travel incessantly on the railways… I haven’t responded to your question regarding a concert here… if it was a way to begin to establish you here, I have no issue. But from a creative point of view the concert would be, with the greatest of respect, worth nothing to you. It’s not worth taking the trip just to see what could be gained here.” Turgenev concludes by sending regards to his recipients ‘Papa,’ stating that he is preparing “an epistle in verse pertaining to a certain project I discussed with him in a letter to Madame Viardot.” In fine condition, with light creasing and soiling to the bottom edge. Starting Bid $200
