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Literature
459. Philip K. Dick Typed Letter Signed.
Lengthy TLS, “Love, Phil,” who adds a heart with arrow, two pages, 8.5 x 11, January 14, 1981. Letter to science fiction author Patricia Warrick, in part: “The enantiodromia in my thinking that I predicted in my last letter has now taken place. I now believe that in March 1974 I was in God’s mind, and when I saw the macrometasomakosmos I was seeing the universe as he sees it, which is to say, conceptually. In contrast, on 11-17-80 I was aware of him externally; I was not in his mind but in contact with his mind.” Dick makes a few handwritten corrections to the text. In fine condition. Accompanied by the original mailing envelope. Starting Bid $200
Dual-signed by Mr. and Mrs. Dickens
460. Charles and Catherine Dickens Signa-
tures. Desirable ink signatures, “Faithfully yours, Charles Dickens, Twenty ninth June 1844” and “Catherine Dickens, June the 29th 1844,” on an offwhite 8.5 x 11.25 guestbook page. In very good to fine condition, with light creasing, soiling, and edge toning. A distinctly uncommon—perhaps unique—union of Dickens autographs. Starting Bid $200
461. 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 $200 462. Julia Ward Howe Signed Photograph. Sharp 4.25
x 6.5 cabinet card portrait of Howe seated in her modest black dress and white lace cap, signed and inscribed in black ink, “Julia Ward Howe, for Miss Laura A. Charsley.” Published by L. Alman & Co. of Newport. In fine condition, with some light scuffing and silvering to the image, and minor surface loss to the upper left corner. Accompanied by a contemporary printing of the words to ‘Battle Hymn of the Republic.’ Starting Bid $200
463. J. K. Rowling Signed Book. Signed
book: Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. First edition. London: Bloomsbury, 2003. Hardcover with dust jacket, 5.25 x 8, 766 pages. Signed on the dedication page in black ink, “J. K. Rowling.” In fine to very fine condition. Accompanied by a compliments slip from Bloomsbury Publishing. Starting Bid $200
464. Dr. Seuss Signed Book. Signed book: The King’s
Stilts. Early edition. NY: Random House, 1939. Hardcover with sunshine-yellow boards and dark red-stamped title, 9.25 x 12, 44 pages. Signed and inscribed in ballpoint opposite the title page, “Special bird for Dick, with best wishes—Dr. Seuss,” who draws an arrow to an amusing sketch of a long-necked bird. Autographic condition: fine, with a small tear to the far right bottom edge of the signed page. Book condition: VG/None, with some dampstaining to board’s and a child’s handwritten inscription to the dedication page. Starting Bid $200
Verne resumes writing after his 1886 attack: “My legs are pretty much the same and there isn’t much improvement”
465. Jules Verne Autograph Letter Signed. ALS in
French, one page, August 1, [1887]. Handwritten letter to his collaborator Adolphe d’Ennery, in part (translated): “The delay... in responding to your kind letter will be explained...by my presence at Treport, where I have been for a dozen days...My legs are pretty much the same and there isn’t much improvement. However, I walk without too much fatigue, but slowly.” Verne adds a postscript along the left side. In fine condition, with the blank integral leaf affixed to a same-size piece of light cardstock along its left edge. Accompanied by the original mailing envelope hand-addressed by Verne. On March 9, 1886, Verne was shot by his 26-year-old nephew Gaston. It took several operations to remove the bullet from his leg bone, and for months he remained in bed unable to write. Starting Bid $300
To his Parisian publisher on “the fourth and fifth canto of the Henriade”
466. Voltaire Auograph Letter Signed. ALS in English, signed “Volt,” one page, 5.25 x 7.25, no date but circa early 1740s. Letter to Prault, a printer and bookseller. In full: “I have receiv’d madam a parcel of sheets taken from the fourth and fifth canto of the Henriade. You and yr husband have both thought the little marqs signified some new alterations, made in these places, and lost by negligence and oversight. No. These little marques were only memorandum for me. I designed to alter these passages but upon better thoughts I wav’d it, therefore go on without any scruple. I wish that work would be left unworthy of the trouble you take.” Apparently affixed to a slightly larger sheet and displayed within a rotating wooden frame with an engraved portrait on the opposite side to an overall size of 10 x 12. In fine condition.
Inspired by Virgil’s Aeneid and first published in 1723, La Henriade was one of Voltaire’s two epic poems. It follows Henry IV of Navarre on his personal journey to take back the French throne, thereby achieving his destiny. Written in ten cantos, the first half of the work maintains historical accuracy while the second half transitions into a more imaginary tale—the fourth and fifth cantos mentioned in this letter represent this turning point in plot and style. Voltaire intended La Henriade to be his masterpiece, but despite enjoying commercial success—it was reprinted several times throughout his life—it met with lukewarm reception by critics. The Prault edition was published in 1746 and featured a new preface written by Jean Francois Marmontel as well as notes on the text. Related to the editing and publication of what Voltaire considered his magnum opus, this is a significant letter of the utmost desirability. Starting Bid $300
